Are co2 injectors necessary?

[oscarfish1395]

I am going to set up a 30 gallon planted aquarium. the plants that i am going to use are 1 regular Amazon sword, 1 Vallisneria corkscrew, 2 red ludwigia, and 2 java ferns. the fish would be 12-18 platies and the substrate would be seachems fluorite black. my light would be 1 t5 fluorescent lamp. Would this setup benefit from co2 injections?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

it isnt a must but it can help. what t5 lamp are you getting?

 

[oscarfish1395]

the t5 starcoat

 

[WaywardSon]

Like they say: Co2 = steroids for plants!

 

[Bk718]

I agree isnt necessary but it can help alot with plant growth

Like they say: Co2 = steroids for plants!

looks like someone is hooked on this drug..

 

[WaywardSon]

BK - after all I've been through to get the darn stuff in the tank I am now seduced by madness!!

 

[Riiz]

Like they say: Co2 = steroids for plants!

I like to call it plant crack.

But to the OP, you would most likely need a double T5 fixture for your plant selection.

 

[jmhart]

Depends on total wattage you are putting in there. Sounds like you are sticking mostly to low light. CO2 wouldn't hurt, but benefit vs. effort may not be worth it. DIY CO2 is kind of a headache if you're doing it for low light, because the benefit isn't large. Cost of a pressurized system doesn't make sense for a low light tank.

Seachem Excel might be good. Dump in half a dose 2-3 times a week.