Do I need Co2...

[skiboarder72]

I have a 26 gallon bow front tank right now and I just bought a new 65W CF light for it (which should be here soon) to help with plant growth. I haven't had a chance to test any of the water parameters. The growth has been ok with my 30W lights right now but I really want something that will help it to grow more but I don't really feel like messing with yeast and sugar containers to ad Co2 (plus I don't really have room for a system like this in my small dorm room). I've read about Flourish Excel possibly adding Co2?

Well my question is, with 2.5wpg (or possibly 3 wpg) am I going to NEED Co2 injection? I know it will probably help with the plant growth but if I keep the surface of the water fairly still should I be ok? I just don't like the idea of having to mix up a new batch of yeast and stuff every few weeks and find a place to keep it. I also don't like the idea of running Co2 systems that cost more that my entire tank... Am I out of luck? Will the flourish excel help? I am adding 1-2mL of normal (2 year old) Flourish to my tank every week.

 

[Goatman]

Just mix up a yeast bottle, it's not that hard. With that much lighting it _is_ a requirement. Also, two year old flourish is probably quite spent by now. Go to GregWatson.com and buy a pound of CSM+B, KNO3, and KH2PO4. Read up on EI (estimative index) dosing, and away you go.Increasing light without adding CO2 and macro/micro dosing is asking for deficiencies and algae...

 

[Hound]

Well, if I were still in my old dorm room I'd go with the Flourish Excel myself. It is cleaner looking than a DIY set up and in a dorm room which is pressed for space already that is a plus. Keep in mind in the long run Excel will probably cost a bit more than a DIY set up and some plants (anacharis for certain) don't get along with it. If you already have plants in your aquarium your probably already familiar with the trial and error part. At 2 years old I would also replace your bottle of Flourish. Also keep in mind that Flourish is a micro and with higher lighting you may need to dose some macros. When you set up your new lights along with the Excel keep an eye on your aquarium. If you have a suddon increase in algae that you can't get under control it is a fairly sure sign that you need to dose a macro.