Can I use Co2 with just 2wpg?

drunkenmastera said:

Can I use Co2 with just 2wpg?

I going to make diy co2, any warnings I should take beside the ones I have already read?

This is on a 29 galleon tank.

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Yes, you can always use CO2 in a planted tank no matter what your lighting is, especially DIY CO2. You'll not even come close to overdosing your tank.

Best wishes!

CO2 will drive greater growth in a planted tank than a small increase in lighting. CO2 is the limiting factor in most tanks.

if you look at my SE asian tank, that's about 7 months of plant growth stemming from a handful of java moss and 3 4" java ferns with 2.5wpg and DIY CO2. I now about java moss covering the better portion of 2 20g tanks, about about 10 8" ferns.

do an internet search for a small DIY reactor made with a Hagen Mini Elite filter. unless you have a canister filter you plan on misting into, this idea will work best to get CO2 dissolved and distributed well in the 29. i took the original idea further and meshmodded my umpellar. I am using it with pressurized CO2 with awesome results. also consider doing the two bottle method with the DIY. Alternate with one fresh mix of yeast/sugar weekly. one bottle is too inconsistent and will trigger black brush algae.

The more nutrient/growth elements added will help plants. Any one item will help over having nothing but won't be the great solution. A combination of elements will be the great additive to spur substantial growth.

Even adding some fertilizer without any other element will help. No matter what it is, if it is a part of a plant's environment, it will help to some degree.

I have minimal lighting and only add some ferts on a weekly basis. I have found the addition of ferts does in fact help. I have compared tanks with same water, same fish and same lighting - 1 with ferts the other without. There was a clear enhancement of the plants that got a little ferilization over the one that didn't. I also compare brands of liquid ferts and have found Seachem to be a better value.


My lighting is less than 2WPG and I am going to do DIY CO2 on one (or more) of the tanks.

Lighting is simply one component of the plants needs. As is nourishment, etc.

What kind of light do you have?

drunkenmastera said:

Can I use Co2 with just 2wpg?

I going to make diy co2, any warnings I should take beside the ones I have already read?

This is on a 29 galleon tank.

Click to expand...

What warnings have you already read?

Also what kind of light do you have?

peanutbowl said:

[...] also consider doing the two bottle method with the DIY. Alternate with one fresh mix of yeast/sugar weekly. one bottle is too inconsistent and will trigger black brush algae.

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:iagree:
I alternate the fresh mix bottles on my 29g, and I am able to maintain a nice green color in my drop checker. I was having a problem with BBA before adding the second bottle, and now the BBA is slowly abating. It also helps to have a couple nice stands of fast growing stem plants to out-compete the algae for nutrients.