I have a new 31.3 gallon that I just started 2 weeks ago. I only started with 6 live plants. Should I look at adding a CO2 system now or worry about it a little later as I add more plants in? Also, what kind of system should I be looking at getting? Any recommendations?
Should I get a CO2 system?
- Thread starter biffba
- Start date
The best thing would be to make your own system using a 2L bottle. The pressurized systems might be a bit much for a smaller tank not to mention really expensive.
It depends on what type of plants and how much lighting you have.
CO2 is pointless if you don't have enough light. If you have too much light and no CO2, then you are an algae farm waiting to happen.
So, what type of plants and how many watts per gallon do you have?
Roan
CO2 is pointless if you don't have enough light. If you have too much light and no CO2, then you are an algae farm waiting to happen.
So, what type of plants and how many watts per gallon do you have?
Roan
First, I have 2 - 20 watt flourescents. Maybe it's not enough?
Here are the plants I purchased:
1. Alternanthera reineckii ''roseafolia'', which was doing really well until it developed a some algae over the last few days.
2. Ceratopteris thalictroides, which is doing really well. Growing and has nice color.
3. Echinodorus palaefolius var. latifolius, which struggled right from the onset. After removing decaying leaves, it seems to be coming around.
4. Hygrophila corymbosa ''Siamensis 53B'', which has been doing well all along, except it has started developing the same algae as the roseafolia over the last few days. I've removed a few affected leaves.
5. Eleocharis acicularis. I bought 2 of these and broke them up and planted them around the foreground of the aquarium, spacing them about 1" apart, hoping it'll fill in. They appear to look very healthy and are growing.
I've had the temperature steady at 77* and have been running the lights approx. 12hrs a day.
You can probably tell from my plant selections that I'm a rookie. My main concern at the moment is that I've developed this algae over the last few days and am not sure what to do about it. My LFS had me add a phosphate remover to my filter media, which I've done. Iron level is .25, PH level 8, ammonia 0, nitrites 0. This is my first aquarium & I just want to do this right, which is why I decided to go with live plants. I realize there's alot to it and even more to learn, which is why I'm here. Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
Here are the plants I purchased:
1. Alternanthera reineckii ''roseafolia'', which was doing really well until it developed a some algae over the last few days.
2. Ceratopteris thalictroides, which is doing really well. Growing and has nice color.
3. Echinodorus palaefolius var. latifolius, which struggled right from the onset. After removing decaying leaves, it seems to be coming around.
4. Hygrophila corymbosa ''Siamensis 53B'', which has been doing well all along, except it has started developing the same algae as the roseafolia over the last few days. I've removed a few affected leaves.
5. Eleocharis acicularis. I bought 2 of these and broke them up and planted them around the foreground of the aquarium, spacing them about 1" apart, hoping it'll fill in. They appear to look very healthy and are growing.
I've had the temperature steady at 77* and have been running the lights approx. 12hrs a day.
You can probably tell from my plant selections that I'm a rookie. My main concern at the moment is that I've developed this algae over the last few days and am not sure what to do about it. My LFS had me add a phosphate remover to my filter media, which I've done. Iron level is .25, PH level 8, ammonia 0, nitrites 0. This is my first aquarium & I just want to do this right, which is why I decided to go with live plants. I realize there's alot to it and even more to learn, which is why I'm here. Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
1.25wpg isn't enough to need CO2.biffba said:
Checking on the plants you bought for light needs et al. Post in a bit.
Prime concern is your nitrate level. I suspect you don't have a nitrates test kit? You should really get one as your plants need nitrates to out-compete the algae.
The LFS told you to use a phosphate remover because the algae needs that to flourish, however your plants will also use phosphates if they have enough nitrates. The ratio of nitrates to phosphates should be 10:1. It's entirely possible that your tap water is high in phosphates and the remover they sold you won't be enough to do the job.
Pick up a nitrates and phosphates kit and test your tap water and your tank water. Post the numbers here and let's take a look at what we're dealing with.
Roan
Red temple. That's a high light plant. Not going to do too well with 1.25wpg. Most red colored plants need high light. It'll grow, but very slowly which is why it has algae. The slower growing the plant, the more chance it will have hair algae on it.
Water sprite. Will grow anywhere, even as a floater. Good choice, but a nitrate hog.
Medium light root-feeder plant that needs a lot of nutrients in the substrate. Very difficult to grow. This guy will probably end up with algae on it.
Giant hygro. Grows fast and easy with a rich substrate. Heavy root feeder. Needs medium light. Growing slow for you so has algae.
Dwarf hairgrass. Very high light plant. Grows very slowly or not at all in under 2wpg. It'll either die off on you or grow straight up. It's a funny plant as it just doesn't grow for some people no matter what their wpg is.
With these plants you might want to consider redoing your lighting to at least 2.5wpg and adding CO2. The only one that will really flourish in your current set up is the watersprite.
Roan
Agreeing with Roan Art…
You need more light for some of those plants.
I had algae problems early on in my 30g that cleared up almost instantly with the addition of CO2. DIY is interesting. Pressurized is easy once you get over the initial cost (makes a lot of folks flinch, figure around $200 +/- a bit).
Check out AH Supply for light kits that you may be able to retrofit into your existing fixture. I have a 2x36w over my 30 (2.4 wpg), would get the 1x96w if I were doing it over again.
You need more light for some of those plants.
I had algae problems early on in my 30g that cleared up almost instantly with the addition of CO2. DIY is interesting. Pressurized is easy once you get over the initial cost (makes a lot of folks flinch, figure around $200 +/- a bit).
Check out AH Supply for light kits that you may be able to retrofit into your existing fixture. I have a 2x36w over my 30 (2.4 wpg), would get the 1x96w if I were doing it over again.
Nod, carpguy. AH has great retrofits. I would have gone with them had I lights TO retrofit 
I wouldn't go over 2.5wpg, even with very high light plants. Let them grow a little slower for you. They'll get some nice red anyhow, just not as red as with high light. Don't forget to fertilize! That's very important. No ferts, no plants growing well, no plants growing well, lotsa algae instead.
The higher the light, the more CO2 you'll need and the more problems you can run into.
Roan
I wouldn't go over 2.5wpg, even with very high light plants. Let them grow a little slower for you. They'll get some nice red anyhow, just not as red as with high light. Don't forget to fertilize! That's very important. No ferts, no plants growing well, no plants growing well, lotsa algae instead.
The higher the light, the more CO2 you'll need and the more problems you can run into.
Roan
Would I be wiser to start replacing some of these with more plants that require less lighting rather than changing my lighting or adding CO2? If so, which ones would do well in my set up?
I don't have test kits for nitrates and phosphates yet (probably the only test kits I don't have), but I plan on picking them up first thing Monday morning. I will post my results soon after.
It's been 13 days now since I set up the aquarium. I'm now getting ammonia and nitrites readings. About .25mg/l on each. Still have algae, but with a little cleaning and water changes, it's a little better. Since I'm new to this, any advise from here would help. I understand water changes are the way to go to keep things in check. Is 20% the right amount? Daily?
I don't have test kits for nitrates and phosphates yet (probably the only test kits I don't have), but I plan on picking them up first thing Monday morning. I will post my results soon after.
It's been 13 days now since I set up the aquarium. I'm now getting ammonia and nitrites readings. About .25mg/l on each. Still have algae, but with a little cleaning and water changes, it's a little better. Since I'm new to this, any advise from here would help. I understand water changes are the way to go to keep things in check. Is 20% the right amount? Daily?