Is 2.2 WPG enough?

[Aussie_hippie_2]

I'm getting a Coralife for my 29g and was wondering if 2.2WPG is enough for a fairly heavily planted tank? I imagine I'll be put CO2 in there soon aswell.

[phanmc]

2.2wpg of CF lighting should be more than enough to grow most plants. CO2 will be necessary and ferts as well.

[fishcatch22]

yeah, that is enough fo most low to moderate light plants.

you don't really need CO2 unless you are doing delicate plants or have a very strong HOB filter. my tank has high levels of dissovled CO2, almost as high as if I was using injection, and all I do is keep surface movement to a minimum.

[Aussie_hippie_2]

I only have one plant that I worry about, which ironically is my favorite; my Nuphar Japonica. I just worry about if it needs CO2. I also have 2 Amazon Swords.

Thanks for the help.

[phanmc]

If you allow the leaves of the N. japonica to reach the surface, you'll have to worry less about CO2 since it will be able to absorb CO2 from the air. Still, at that light level, CO2 is recommended for your other plants.

[Mgamer20o0]

its worth it for the co2. plants grow fast look better and started to pearl for me when i added co2.

[Aussie_hippie_2]

OK, I'll do the CO2. I just need to DIY the system which might take my a while :rolleyes:

[Mgamer20o0]

diy co2 is fast and cheap the start with. after 2 bottles of co2 i quit and bought a co2 tank. over all it saves money and something you cant set and forget about it for months. i hope never to do diy co2 again.

[Ms.Bubbles]

C02 is not usually necessary below 3 wpg of lighting. 2.2 wpg is actually the low end of a medium-light tank, and most plants will be fine without it.

I've got a planted tank full of hygrophila and at 3 wpg and it does fine without C02. It doesn't grow fast and require constant pruning, but the plants are quite lush.

If you plant heavily with low and medium-light plants, you should be fine with just the light. Add C02 if you want, but it likely won't be necessary.

[CaitxSith]

i think this is :OT: but I have 1.25 wpgs, what can I add? and do i need co2?


now back on topic, i heard 2.2 wpgs were high amount of lighting and that you definitely need co2 for anything over 2 wpgs........

[Marinemom]

I have 2.8 watts of light on two of my planted aquariums and I do not use co2. The plants are fine and growing nicely. I do however use Florish excel which is a liquid form oof co2 almost on a daily basis and I dose Florish as well just about every day. Usually co2 injection is not needed on tanks that have less then 3 watts of lighting per gallon of water.

Marinemom

[loaches r cool]

WPG is only a ballpark, like its been said a million times. If you have CF lighting your wpg will be higher seing how the light is more effecient, and this still depends on what type/brand bulb you have to some extent. If you have a good quality reflector, this will increase you light as well. CO2 will usually always benefit the tank, so long as you dont go crazy with it lol. Excess CO2 isnt usually attributed to algea or anything, but excess or not enough ferts are, so I would be more worried about getting the ferts right. FWIW i have around 2.5wpg, keep my pressurized co2 at 30-35ppm and dose EI. My tank has never been completely algea free but its better now than its ever been with increased co2 and EI dry ferts (used to do co2 at 15-20ppm and 1 weekly fert dose).

What are your intentions? Do you want low-tech, low maintanence, or high growth/dialy fert dosign?