Do you have to injected C02 into your planted tank?

I would like to use some ferts for the time being while I what to get the c02 thingy. How what do I dose the tank a week with the ferts? This is what I'm gettting, Seachem Flourish Plant Supplements. Then in the next week or so I will be getting Hagen Plant Grow Natural System with CO2 form petsmart. Will that be enough c02 for my tank? If you don't have 30ppm of c02 but like 15 or 20ppm would that still be good for the plants?
 
Ferts will also depend on your light level, the faster plants grow (due to light level) the more nutrients they need. A low light tank can get away with very little added ferts, maybe once a week. A high light tank will require almost daily dosing. For ferts, you need to consider micro nutrients (like Seachem Flourish) and macro nutrients (potassium, nitrates, phosphates).

Some CO2 is better than no CO2, the question is will it be enough for the light level? The Nutrafin systemb alone is not enough for a 55g tank if the light level is high (3wpg or higher).

It pretty much all comes down to how much light you're working with and what kind of plants you're trying to grow.
 
Is it time consuming useing the DIY method? If I have a 55G tank with 1 Hagen Plant Grow Natural System with CO2 and I add the recommonded doesage of ferts once a week would that be ok? Would that C02 set up be ok and easy for me to use? Would I have to have it bubble once every second? And if so then how many times do you think I would have to change out and put new C02 into the container?

Thanks
 
yes its very time consuming. with pressurized co2 tank its one of the few things i can set and not have to think about. some co2 i guess is better then none. when you get into the bigger size tanks its really hard to get the co2 levels up with diy co2 unless your hooking up a few 2 liter bottles. the rate your looking for is a couple bubbles a sec give or tank depending on tank size and how well its defused. you can just keep using the same bottle.
 
A single Hagen unit on a 55 gallon is going to fall into the "feel good" category. It might make you feel good but that's about it. At best you might get CO2 levels up to around 5-6 ppm at one end of the tank. They are only rated for 20 gallons and are marginal at that tank size.

If you want to go with DIY CO2 then you are going to need a minimum of 4 liters of mix and 6 liters would be best.

For the ferts you can dose just once or twice a week in your low tech tank.
 
Rex Grigg said:
A single Hagen unit on a 55 gallon is going to fall into the "feel good" category. It might make you feel good but that's about it. At best you might get CO2 levels up to around 5-6 ppm at one end of the tank. They are only rated for 20 gallons and are marginal at that tank size.

If you want to go with DIY CO2 then you are going to need a minimum of 4 liters of mix and 6 liters would be best.

For the ferts you can dose just once or twice a week in your low tech tank.
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So I need to make my own C02 canister? How do I go about making that?

I really just what C02 in my tank so I get great plant growth....so how do you make the them? And if I have 4L going in my tank how many times a week do I have to change out the C02 mixture? Like would it be like every monday or something? I rally thank you for the help, you are helping me understand everything I need to know about plantsed tanks

So I want to start building this stuff tomorrow, I need to know hwo I go about building them?
 
See http://rexgrigg.com/co2.htm Close to the bottom of the page there are some hints. You will need say 3 2 liter juice bottles. Don't use soda bottles. Juice bottles work the best. You will need a drill and a drill bit that is smaller than the outside diameter of your tubing. It helps to have several small bits. You can always make a small hole a bit larger but it's impossible to make a large hole smaller.

Start by drilling small holes in the caps. Cut the tubing at an angle. Pull the tubing though the hole with a pair of pliers. You might need to moisten the tubing a bit. If you can't pull it though then just go up one drill bit size.

Once you have the caps drilled you can attach them all together with standard air-line T fittings. Mix up your CO2 mixture and wait. You will need to replace a bottle about every 5-7 days. So you can start one bottle today, then wait two days and start the next and so on. If you go to my Guide and use the email links there I will send you a package of wine yeast to use.

It's very important that you make sure you have a check valve in the tubing before it enters the aquarium.
 
Rex Grigg said:
See http://rexgrigg.com/co2.htm Close to the bottom of the page there are some hints. You will need say 3 2 liter juice bottles. Don't use soda bottles. Juice bottles work the best. You will need a drill and a drill bit that is smaller than the outside diameter of your tubing. It helps to have several small bits. You can always make a small hole a bit larger but it's impossible to make a large hole smaller.

Start by drilling small holes in the caps. Cut the tubing at an angle. Pull the tubing though the hole with a pair of pliers. You might need to moisten the tubing a bit. If you can't pull it though then just go up one drill bit size.

Once you have the caps drilled you can attach them all together with standard air-line T fittings. Mix up your CO2 mixture and wait. You will need to replace a bottle about every 5-7 days. So you can start one bottle today, then wait two days and start the next and so on. If you go to my Guide and use the email links there I will send you a package of wine yeast to use.

It's very important that you make sure you have a check valve in the tubing before it enters the aquarium.
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How do I konw how much C02 is being pumped into my tank with the home made one? And can I just use tubing from the LFS thats used for putting air into the tank? Could I over all just get 2 of these.....


CO2 Natural Plant System
* Dramatic results in 15-20 days
* Enhances growth, condition and color of aquatic plants
* Creates healthier aquatic eco-system

Designed to make your planted tank flourish. Produces CO2 through natural fermentation. Allows plants to thrive. Healthy plants naturally oxygenate and purify the aquatic environment. Creates improved fish condition and health. Includes fermentation canister, patented CO2 bubble counter diffuser, 3 activator and 3 stabilizer packets. Canister is hard plastic with a hang-on-tank design. Bubble counter is hard plastic with suction cups to attach inside aquarium. Requires sugar (not included) for fermentation process. For up to 20 gallons.

Replacement Bubble Counter/Diffuser and Activator/Stabilizer Packets (3 of each) also available.
 
I started making the home-made C02 in the bottles!!! Hopefully it will work out good...I need to know how much C02 I'm suppose to have in the tank? And how do I check it in the tank? Thanks so much for the help....I'm following the dicestions on the sticky thread on how to makea DIY C02 bottle.
 
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