CO2 or no CO2???

[mtdewlover]

I've been told different things. I plan to set up a 55 gallon planted aquarium with my african cichlids. I plan to get the special plant substrate and nutrients etc. I want to get Java Ferns, some Vals of some sort and grassy type plants my fish won't chow down on. So, do I need a CO2 tank system?

[bobalston]

It really depends on what kind of plants, how much growth and what kind of lighting. If you intend to have a fairly high light tank and want good growth of faster growing plants, then CO2 is great. I wouldn't do it if you have under 3 watts per gallon.

If you decide to do co2, why not start out with DIY co2. It is cheap and you will see some of the results. For a 55 gallon, you will need two 2-liter bottles going at once.

My web site has a bit of info on DIY co2 and quite a bit on pressurized co2 systems.

http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/AquaticPlants.htm#High%20Pressure%20CO2

Bob

[mogurnda]

One of the nice things about Java fern is that it does well without CO2. I have also had decent growth of vallisneria without CO2. I think val is a genus that can make use of carbonate, so it should do fine in a high-alkalinity tank without CO2.

[Captain Hook]

I think you will be fine without CO2 if you plan on growing pretty tough plants that only require low light. Some good ones that the fish won't eat (at least I think they won't) are crypts, vals, anubias, java fern and java moss. They are all pretty easy to care for and have little demands. CO2 shouldn't be needed for them.

[odessa]

C02 will lower your Ph correct me if I'm wrong but don"t Africans require a high Ph? (7.5-80). To get any benefit from using Co2 you would have to use enough to lower your Ph significantly I would recommend using flourish excel by Seachem.

[djlen]

CO2 will aid/benefit plants in any lighting situation. DIY(2bottles)
would be a way to start and see how it works for you.

On the other hand, many cichlids don't mix well with plants. Especially the larger ones. They eat and dig plants. I would do some research on yours as to their adaptability to a planted environment before investing too much money in plants and a CO2 system.

Len

[125gJoe]

I think Java Ferns would be fine with most Cichlids...
A 55g with lots of driftwood and Java Ferns would look nice. There must be some other plants that the fish wouldn't like to snack on.

[Captain Hook]

Originally posted by 80gJoe
There must be some other plants that the fish wouldn't like to snack on.

See my post.

[DIYMatt]

I agree with all the plants Captain Hook suggested plus I have seen big swords survive without supplemental CO2 with Cichlids given decent light and nutrients. Other plants I have had do well without additional CO2 are Barclaya, Rotala Indica, Wisteria, and Nymphea sp. I don't how they fair with "regular cichilds". My dwarfs love them and of course don't eat or dig them. My vals seem to do well in hard water.

[Captain Hook]

Matt I am happy to hear you have no problems with rotala indica and no CO2 because I am planning on putting that in my tank soon. I haven't set it up yet but will be adding Excel to it. Some people said it would be difficult to grow without adding CO2.

[mtdewlover]

So if I don't use a CO2 tank would I still need to add Excel as a CO2?

[mogurnda]

I get quite decent growth of anubias and java fern in the Tanganyikan tank with nothing but fishpoo. The Java fern in the tank with CO2 and ferts grows a little faster, but it's not a huge difference.

[odessa]

Your plants will grow better with more lush growth with excel than without. "Flourish Excel is a simple organic source of readily available organic carbon." this is taken form the label on the bottle. With the Java ferns and anbias that you plant to use you should be OK without fertilizers. I might also suggest a Vallsneria sp. as these do not require C02 and grow well in hard water that is typical in an African Cichlid tank.