JakeJ
Pubished in TFH!
I have to disagree, lighting is the first "Bottleneck", next is CO2, then macro/micro nutrients. The thing with keeping aquaria is finding a balance.
When to use a CO2 setup?
- Thread starter flipsta
- Start date
I have to disagree, lighting is the first "Bottleneck", next is CO2, then macro/micro nutrients. The thing with keeping aquaria is finding a balance.
absolutely!
you've got to set your goals, though. my goals for example include keeping within my price range and not trimming the tanks every week.
i choose moderate lighting and make due with the co2 my tanks get from nature. of course the results aren't show-stopping but it works out for now (and according to the wife, forever).
i've done diy co2 but with a 36"x18" footprint it leaves much to be desired, imo.
one day it will be mine, oh yes...
you've got to set your goals, though. my goals for example include keeping within my price range and not trimming the tanks every week.
i choose moderate lighting and make due with the co2 my tanks get from nature. of course the results aren't show-stopping but it works out for now (and according to the wife, forever).
i've done diy co2 but with a 36"x18" footprint it leaves much to be desired, imo.
one day it will be mine, oh yes...
thanks for the input y'all!!! 
i have amazon swords and anubias in a 25gal tank (24x12 footprint). the amazon swords are having problems under my stock Marineland System 2 lid (2x 18" 15W bulbs). i use seachem flourish tabs.
after searching the forum i thought it would be a good idea to get a CO2 set-up. so i found 10gal tank with 40W lights and a hagen CO2 kit. im wondering if i should put the CO2 in my 25gal or keep it in the 10gal when i set it up. i do plan to put more plants in the 25gal... and if the CO2 helps conditions, i can have more options to choose from (instead of just low-light plants).
also, how much of an effect is CO2 on pH... how concerned should i be about it?
i have amazon swords and anubias in a 25gal tank (24x12 footprint). the amazon swords are having problems under my stock Marineland System 2 lid (2x 18" 15W bulbs). i use seachem flourish tabs.
after searching the forum i thought it would be a good idea to get a CO2 set-up. so i found 10gal tank with 40W lights and a hagen CO2 kit. im wondering if i should put the CO2 in my 25gal or keep it in the 10gal when i set it up. i do plan to put more plants in the 25gal... and if the CO2 helps conditions, i can have more options to choose from (instead of just low-light plants).
also, how much of an effect is CO2 on pH... how concerned should i be about it?
I am going to adimently disagree with you.
average tank water has 2ppm co2. Standard lighting is going to provide enough light for growth. there is natural ferts in tank from fish waste. 30ppm co2 is ideal for plant growth. so since there is light, and ferts, there is no co2. co2 is the most limiting factor.
it can absolutely work. what to be concerned with imo...
plant species in question... since some have proven to be sensitive to excel at normal doses
lighting... lighting drives all demand... if you have enough of it, it may push your demand for carbon to the point excel is unpractical
tank size... if you have a large tank, depending on excel is just dumping your money in a bucket for the trashman to pick up. it would quickly add up to more than you'd pay for pressurized at that point.
on the bottleneck:
there's 2 ways to look at it. most kits/hoods won't provide enough light for a planted tank. lots of folks start there and have to upgrade. understandable....
however: it's pretty common for folks to realize they need more light... sometimes ferts too... as well it's almost inevitable that folks will take one look at the price of a pressurized system and try to find ways around it.
then again: looking at this article... http://www.tropica.com/advising/technical-articles/biology-of-aquatic-plants/co2-and-light.aspx ... we can see the importance of both light and co2 as well as their limitations when adjusted singly.
overall i'd have to agree that co2 is most likely to be the biggest bottleneck/issue for most folks.
plant species in question... since some have proven to be sensitive to excel at normal doses
lighting... lighting drives all demand... if you have enough of it, it may push your demand for carbon to the point excel is unpractical
tank size... if you have a large tank, depending on excel is just dumping your money in a bucket for the trashman to pick up. it would quickly add up to more than you'd pay for pressurized at that point.
on the bottleneck:
there's 2 ways to look at it. most kits/hoods won't provide enough light for a planted tank. lots of folks start there and have to upgrade. understandable....
however: it's pretty common for folks to realize they need more light... sometimes ferts too... as well it's almost inevitable that folks will take one look at the price of a pressurized system and try to find ways around it.
then again: looking at this article... http://www.tropica.com/advising/technical-articles/biology-of-aquatic-plants/co2-and-light.aspx ... we can see the importance of both light and co2 as well as their limitations when adjusted singly.
overall i'd have to agree that co2 is most likely to be the biggest bottleneck/issue for most folks.
I used Excel exclusively in my 60G for a few months. I even went so far as to get a dosing pump and timer for consistency. It worked, but I still struggled with algae and had problems with some sensitive plants. I've since switched to pressurized C02, and after about a month the results were on a whole different level.
