Is CO2 a necessity in a planted tank?

[mcphock]

I'm getting ready to set up a halide based planted tank. I've never had much luck with planted tanks in the past, but I've only had the option for compact flourescent lighting. Nothing but the most hardy plants would grow. Java fern, moss and others like it.

It seems like people suggest CO2 every time you mention a planted tank. Is it possible to keep a high light planted tank without CO2? I would like the tank to look nice, but I'm concerned with quick plant growth. It would just be nice to have some other options besides java fern.

Furthermore, I am concerned about the cost, maintenance and potential Ph flucuations that a CO2 system can bring.

Thoughts?

 

[fish scales2]

IMO if a system is set up and established properly you will not need to run additional CO2.

 

[mcphock]

Oops. I meant to say i'm NOT concerned with quick growth.

It's good to know that CO2 is not required. We'll see if Halides produce better results than CF bulbs

Anyone else?

 

[thbrewst]

I have a planted tank with only standard aquarium gravel as the substrate with no CO2 and everything grows great. The only thing I do is dose Flourish per the instructions and put the fertilizer tabs in the substrate every few months.

From what I have read some of the more 'exotic' plants may require CO2 but nothing I have seems to care.

 

[hn1]

Ok, I'll differ in opinion. If you are running MH, CO2 will be a must IMO. That or you will need to dose carbon regularly. Unless you don't mind algae....

What sized tank is it?

 

[raisedonnintendo]

No not at all

 

[mcphock]

I do mind algea, as a matter of fact!!

Wont the plants out compete the algea for nutrients? Fresh water Chaeto, anyone?

 

[hn1]

That's called hornwort. lol

 

[mcphock]

By the way, the system is a 90 gallon tank. I'm going to be converting a reef tank into a freshwater tank, and selling my current freshwater tank.

 

[hn1]

You may want to post on

 

[wineman]

You could just dose with Seachem Excel for your carbon. That is what I used for years, but a deal came up on a co2 set up and I switched over.

By the way I have three 5gl buckets full of clean Seachem Flourite, from a planted tank I just took down. Let me know if you needing any.

Dennis

 

[corigan]

With MH's and no co2 the plants would not grow fast enough to out compete the algae. It would be a total nightmare in my opinion having run planted tanks for 14+ years. I have tried even mid-light tanks with no co2 and they just don't work, IMHO. Only kinda tank you can get away with low light no co2 would be if you were just growing anubias and java ferns and other low light friendly plants.

 

[harpua2002]

Corigan;570808 wrote: With MH's and no co2 the plants would not grow fast enough to out compete the algae. It would be a total nightmare in my opinion having run planted tanks for 14+ years. I have tried even mid-light tanks with no co2 and they just don't work, IMHO. Only kinda tank you can get away with low light no co2 would be if you were just growing anubias and java ferns and other low light friendly plants.

I agree with everything above except for the medium light planted tank part. Those can run just fine without CO2 (HN1 and I have kept many), but you will have to supplement with Excel at least.

If you don't want to use pressurized CO2, your MH is just going to be too much light IMO. We have a 75 with 4x65W PC and that's about the maximum amount of light I'd put over that tank without going pressurized. As it is, we're dosing Excel to keep algae at bay. Just to give you an idea, we're keeping Hygrophila corymbosa, giant vals, Crypt walkeri, Crypt lutea, Cabomba, Aponogeton undulatus, several sword plants, and dwarf chain sword with no problems. These plants are all easy to keep, generally speaking, and give us a nice variety without having to resort to just java fern and anubias. LOL.

 

[mcphock]

My current setup has 260 watts of 6700k power compacts. I use black flourite and dosed excel and fertilizer. Couldnt get anything more than the most tolerant plants to grow. Out of that, I figured it must be the lighting.

What if I loaded up the tank with fast growing plants, and ran an 'algae filter', like you occasionally see in reef setups? Let the algae grow in the sump instead?

 

[redpacus]

I run a 50 gallon breeder under 250 watt hqi palnted and no co2 also no algae.
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[redpacus]

I did have a home made yeast co2 setup when I set it up 11 monthes ago but I quit using it. the bubble difusers are in the pics because I have not removed them but thatt is a cheap set up if you decide to go co2