how necessary is co2

reiverix said:
I've done a 20long, 29g and 30g hex all with over 3wpg, dosing Excel for a carbon source. No CO2. I had no problems at all but in the long run it is not cost effective. CO2 is literally plug and play.
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Yep.

Keeping algae under control is an issue that involves a lot of factors such as lighting, carbon source (Co2, excel, etc.), nutrients (Ferts, bioload, etc.) and probably other things. I tend to see lighting as the least important because oftentimes we like to over do it.

What plants do you have? It may be as simple as toning down the lighting.

There really is no simple answer as all tanks are different and a lot of times it comes down to experimenting to see what works best.
 
I worked it out and the excel would cost me 60 dollars a year, I'm all confused with this co2, don't know what ill req and how to do it etc, I need the basics, what's initial costs, what's the setup if I go the diy route? Thanks!
 
Oh really lol, ok scratch that, so what am I looking at then? Thousand dollars? Ill stick with excel, I can use excel for 15 years at that price.
 
it could cost you roughly 200 dollars if you do it yourself the right way... if you buy a prebuilt new regulator set up it can cost you 200 just for that to have the right set up

also excel is not friendly to some plants.. it will make them melt away
\
 
Pressurized CO2 will run you about $200 for tank and reg, $300 if you want a pH controller, about $15 per refill, you'd refill roughly 2x a year. Excel works just as well, just a hassle to dose daily.
 
I think my whole setup cost about $150 and that was about 5 years ago. A couple refills a year costs around $30 as stated above, so it's not that expensive in the long haul. CO2 can also be split among several tanks which is instant win.
 
these tanks have no co2 no ferts. the 75 gallon
12-26-10021.jpg

and the 55 gallon
12-26-10022-1.jpg
 
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