View Full Version : When does it become necessary if ever.
DLV082
01-22-2009, 10:43 PM
Ok I have set up a new tank(2 months ago) 6 x 2 x 2. This is the first planted tank I have tried and my question is. When does it become necessary if ever to add Co2 to a planted tank. Currently the tank is not thickly planted, and their is plently of movement on the top of the water in the tank.
Bk718
01-22-2009, 10:50 PM
when the lighting is high then it becomes necessary to add co2.
DLV082
01-22-2009, 10:54 PM
when the lighting is high then it becomes necessary to add co2.
I have used any plants that require high lighting only low light plants. Any other time.
Dr. Awkward
01-22-2009, 10:58 PM
If you get staghorn algae you'll want to start adding CO2. That's the only way to get rid of it. With a low light tank I wouldn't bother with CO2 unless you have to.
Bk718
01-22-2009, 11:41 PM
whats your lighting?
NeonFlux
01-23-2009, 2:38 AM
Bk is right.
joestyx
01-23-2009, 3:27 AM
yes medium to high light you need co2, more on the high side....if not you will get algae problems like said above
DLV082
01-23-2009, 9:58 PM
whats your lighting?
Just the stock light that came with the tank. Also the tank does receive good natural light.
rocker92
01-23-2009, 10:07 PM
look at the bulb. what does it say for wattage???
DLV082
01-23-2009, 10:18 PM
look at the bulb. what does it say for wattage???
Just checked the light I have 2 x 3' long 30w globes over the tank side by side. The tank is 6'.
THE V
01-23-2009, 11:31 PM
So that makes in 120W of lighting over a 470L (180 gal) tank. That is not much artificial light. So you don't need CO2 based upon that.
How much natural light does the tank receive? How many hours of direct sunlight or how many hours of indirect light?
DLV082
01-24-2009, 8:57 PM
So that makes in 120W of lighting over a 470L (180 gal) tank. That is not much artificial light. So you don't need CO2 based upon that.
How much natural light does the tank receive? How many hours of direct sunlight or how many hours of indirect light?
Ok the tank is actually 700ltrs (180 US gal). As for natural light it is sitting between two windows and receives easliy 8 hrs of natural light each day probably more in summer and direct sunlight in the afternoons for about 2-3 hours.
Jag1980
01-24-2009, 9:23 PM
Ok the tank is actually 700ltrs (180 US gal). As for natural light it is sitting between two windows and receives easliy 8 hrs of natural light each day probably more in summer and direct sunlight in the afternoons for about 2-3 hours.
I could be wrong, but it sounds like you are going to have some bad algae problems soon with the sun light on the tank.
Kashta
01-25-2009, 1:02 AM
Yes, agree. The natural light it's getting is a lot.
If the algae does start to become a problem you might want to think about C02.
2 hours of sunlight at 33 degrees S in the summer is generally about the equivalent of 5 hours of "high" light. (If I'm doing my math right).
This means that you probably will have some issues with algae but not extremely so. If the tank starts to build up algae investing in a CO2 system would be wise. The more plants you have in that tank the better.
DLV082
01-26-2009, 4:53 PM
If the algae does start to become a problem you might want to think about C02.
2 hours of sunlight at 33 degrees S in the summer is generally about the equivalent of 5 hours of "high" light. (If I'm doing my math right).
This means that you probably will have some issues with algae but not extremely so. If the tank starts to build up algae investing in a CO2 system would be wise. The more plants you have in that tank the better.
I do have running on the tank a 18w UV I don't know if this helps with anything other than green water issues. Question why will more plants in the tank be better, being new to a planted tank I could use all the info I can get.