Do you really need CO2 injection? - New to Planted Aquariums

Michael · 07-30-2012, 04:24 PM

An interesting point of view from The Skeptical Aquarist: http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/supplementing-co2

Silvering · 07-30-2012, 04:52 PM

I like how "the current fashion" is almost twenty years old now, if it really did start in the mid-1990s.

How often do serious pH swings occur when injecting CO2? My crypts didn't melt when I added CO2, but perhaps my water is hard enough that buffering isn't an issue. I'd've liked to see some kind of specs for the hard vs soft water benefits rather than a vague handwaving about bicarbonates. Show me the data!

Michael · 07-30-2012, 05:29 PM

Agreed, it's not a technical article.

The reason I posted it in the beginner's section is that it makes the point that you can be quite successful without 600 PAR lights and presurized CO2. In fact it is easier to learn the planted tank balancing act without them.

It's not a good idea to buy a Ferrari while you still have your learner's permit.

BruceF · 07-30-2012, 05:50 PM

I couldn't agree with him more.

Silvering · 07-31-2012, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael

In fact it is easier to learn the planted tank balancing act without them.

It's not a good idea to buy a Ferrari while you still have your learner's permit.

QFT

I'll contribute my non-technical opinion by saying I think it's better to ramp up slowly on the lighting, as well, simply based on my experience using plain sand substrate and extremely low levels of ferts and only a few hardy plants. The tank needed time to mature before I started to seriously fiddle around with its stats. I didn't have any problems with algae while the tank matured that way. (And my own trimmings let me fill in rather than having to buy lots of plants at once!)

Is it any different if you start out with a soil or other nutrient-rich substrate? With all three variables (light, nutrients, CO2) starting at or near zero, it makes sense to go slow at first. But with soil you start with very high levels of nutrients, right? Wouldn't having high light and CO2 supplementation make things easier in that case? Or maybe soil tanks are the Ferraris in the metaphor.

Bert H · 07-31-2012, 09:23 AM

You don't have to have CO2 to successfully grow plants, but it will sure be easier with it than without it, IMO. CO2 is always going to be beneficial, and you don't have to be a 'techie' to handle it. I think too many folks just want to pump out 30+ppm of CO2, then put on enough light to light a city block. You don't need that! Start with a moderate amount of light, and pump in 10-15ppm of CO2, and I'm sure the plants will be better and you really don't have to worry about 'problems'. Once your tank stabilizes, and you get to know what you're doing, then start tweaking numbers. My 2 cents.

Michael · 07-31-2012, 01:54 PM

Actually, I think starting with high nutrient levels in soil can also be a route to problems for beginners. Soil is great, just not the "hot" stuff until you know what you are doing.

As Bert points out, moderation is the key.

Cavan Allen · 07-31-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert H

You don't have to have CO2 to successfully grow plants, but it will sure be easier with it than without it, IMO. CO2 is always going to be beneficial, and you don't have to be a 'techie' to handle it. I think too many folks just want to pump out 30+ppm of CO2, then put on enough light to light a city block. You don't need that! Start with a moderate amount of light, and pump in 10-15ppm of CO2, and I'm sure the plants will be better and you really don't have to worry about 'problems'. Once your tank stabilizes, and you get to know what you're doing, then start tweaking numbers. My 2 cents.

That's good advice. Moderate light and moderate co2 won't let you grow everything, but as you learn, it's probably the best way.

Yo-han · 08-01-2012, 04:35 AM

I think for certain plants, you really need co2, because in low light they won't grow and high light without co2 equals algae. I can still setup beautiful non co2 tanks but it has restrictions. Not too much light and plants that don't need much light. Also a little more fish can help to add extra co2 the natural way as well. But like Bert said, every tank will benefit from a little extra co2. Plants just look more 'vibrant'!

BruceF · 08-01-2012, 06:19 AM

When I first started keeping plants in water I never had the cash to spend on things like fancy substrates. So I used cheap old play sand. When I got a little better at it I couldn’t afford all those high end lights so I just kept using shop lights with gro bulbs. Once I tried adding a little diy co2 but I really didn’t see all than many benefits. The biggest advance I made really had to do with adding richer substrates and nutrients.
I have no real objection to people using co2. I am about to set up a tank and I think I am going to use some in it. I just seriously object to the tendency of people to insist that you can’t run a tank without it. What starts out as about a $40 10g ends up costing hundreds of dollars and co2 becomes the panacea for all your ills. It’s like we are running an experiment in raised co2 levels in anticipation of atmospheric changes or something.