how do i know co2?

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A

-Asianguy-

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2006
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Honolulu
i just started looking up info on keeping plants. i bought some swords some long grass, and some other stuff i can't remember the names. I put them in a community tank.

as i reasearch i keep hearing this talk about co2 systems and stuff. I just don't know if i need co2. or some type of fertilizer. or what. so...


besides plants dying how do i tell if i need a co2 system?

 






just got the plants. so i need to research what subtrate to get. the lady at the store said gravel is fine. while other research says use sometype of sand or something.

i dunno what to do.
 
How many watts per gallon lighting do you have? Gravel is fine. It's insufficient lighting and nutrient level that may be killing your plants.
Long grass appears to be vallisneria. If you can provide close-up pics of each of your plant species, it may help provide good identification.:D

Contemplate on CO2 only if you are prepared in the long run to provide fertilizers and more light tubes. Definitely high lighting with CO2 will also allow plants to use up nutrients faster.;)

For this photo...
dsc00079rs4.jpg

...notice the plant below it with green leaves yet having yellowish or whitish linings? They are terrestial plants and you'll have to remove them. They won't thrive submerged on long-term basis. Let alone allowing rotting to take place and causing ammonia spike which will cause you troubles.

Rooted plants tend to use nutrients in the substrate so solid-based ferts that are buried under the substrate are good options. Some plants use up nutrients above the subsrate so liquid-based ferts are your choice.

Unless you have sufficient lighting, ferts are just wasted as the plants failed to use them and the algae will instead take their place and eventually will become rampant causing damage to your tank ecosystem.

Have a read with this thread for more information.:)

Good luck.:)
 
Bluebell;636467; said:
How many watts per gallon lighting do you have? Gravel is fine. It's insufficient lighting and nutrient level that may be killing your plants.
Long grass appears to be vallisneria. If you can provide close-up pics of each of your plant species, it may help provide good identification.:D

Contemplate on CO2 only if you are prepared in the long run to provide fertilizers and more light tubes. Definitely high lighting with CO2 will also allow plants to use up nutrients faster.;)

For this photo...
dsc00079rs4.jpg

...notice the plant below it with green leaves yet having yellowish or whitish linings? They are terrestial plants and you'll have to remove them. They won't thrive submerged on long-term basis. Let alone allowing rotting to take place and causing ammonia spike which will cause you troubles.

Rooted plants tend to use nutrients in the substrate so solid-based ferts that are buried under the substrate are good options. Some plants use up nutrients above the subsrate so liquid-based ferts are your choice.

Unless you have sufficient lighting, ferts are just wasted as the plants failed to use them and the algae will instead take their place and eventually will become rampant causing damage to your tank ecosystem.

Have a read with this thread for more information.:)

Good luck.:)
Click to expand...

The part in bold is not 100% true. These plants can survive in water fine. The leaves should not be completely submerged, but they can stay submerged for several years. If the base and roots are all that is submerged then the plant will do fine.
 
The best indicator of a 'need' for CO2 is an excessive algae growth rate, if you are dosing ferts, and have moderate to high lighting. This growth of algae will indicate that your plants are not absorbing the nutrients fast enough to choke out the algae.
 
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