My first dirt substrate planted tank, w/video journal

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I probably won't run the air because it is a dirted Tank and the substrate decomposition will give off co2, but I was also concerned with having some circulation, so i put diffusers on each side so i have that option

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If you don't add co2, then I'd add air for the natural co2 exchange from the atmosphere, which like Jason said, will probably occur just fine through your filtration, but in my opinion, more cant hurt.
 
JasonG75 said:
Not enough to even be measured



You cant put enough fish, in any setup, to get a reading on co2 levels. So its best to LOWER surface aggitation to just a ripple in order to keep the co2 in the tank. Filtration puts all the o2 needed into a tank, no need for all that splashing to add more.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input, here is my thought process. While you may be right that I would be better of without the agitation, I'm not sure about your reasoning.

You just said fish don't put out of a significant amount of co2, and we know the plants are using it. and then you said that you want to keep co2 in the tank. Where is this co2 coming from. I wouldn't be running the air to add o2. I don't even have fish in the tank. I would be running the bubbler to replace the co2 that the plants are using.

Let me be clear in what I mean

In a tank that is low in oxygen agitation adds oxygen
in a tank that is high in oxygen agitation removes oxygen
In a tank that is low in co2 agitation adds co2
In a tank that is high in co2 agitation removess co2

Fluctuation in co2 levels can lead to algea blooms.
running a bubbler at all times stabilizes co2 and o2 at a level that I personally have found to be sufficient for good plant growth

All that being said one of the reasons I set up a dirted tank is that the substrate can release enough co2 to get even better plant growth, so I probably won't run the air, I installed them, because I'm concerned about a lack of circulation, so now I have the option to turn it on if I want to



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There are 3 levels of planted (low, moderate, and heavy) this model of pulling in outside co2 "In a tank that is low in co2 agitation adds co2" for a moderate or even Heavy planted tank is pointless because you get more of a carbon source out of a bottle of excel than you would with this exchange. Again based off the plants choosen, and the amount of said plants in the system they would benefit MORE with holding in as much co2 as possible. You also have to remember (of course in a heavily planted system) most of your plants are going to ADD to the oxygen supply along with the filtration.

A bubbler would probably assist in a low tech, low requirements plants type of system. Not help, even hurt in more of a hightech system.

So I would agree in a lowtech, sure there might be some benefits (especially with DIY co2) but this isnt for a Hightech system.
 
Why is the light not evenly dispursed?

Since this is a realitivily small setup and I dont see fish, I would play around with some diy co2. Wouldnt do anything but help. AS LONG as you keep it consistant!!!!
 
I work 2 jobs, and I don't think I'm home consistently enough to maintain diy. And I don't want to spend the money on a full set up.

A far a the light I think part of that is my camera phone. I'm wanting to go lidless
So my light is clamped on, and I keep moving it around trying to get light everywhere
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diy co2 is something you change once a week not every day. pretty easy. you should look into it, cuz it does wonders for plants. google it. there's lots of info out there on it.
 
Yea, its really not that big of a deal...Just schedule it when you do your WC. It takes 5 mins you brew it up.

As far as the clamp on, get another clamp on and maintain the same wattage BUT if you notice algae then YEA lower the wattage.
 
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