NO CARBON DIOXIDE

[mercury904]

I'M at the mid of my plantedtank plans..i plan not to have c02 injection so this means that natural c02 will only be the food for my plants...So should i put an aIR PUMP? i have read that the aerator pump can dissipate the natural c02 along with it before the plants use it..

 

[dr_sudz]

I don't think you want to run an air pump in a non-CO2 tank as that will get rid of any CO2 left in your tank. I would get a few power heads and put them lower in the tank and create current around the base of the plants. That way the water is circulated but not exchanging gas at the surface.

 

[Nic]

I wish I had some pics of my 90 when it had plants aga 90 RR on a wet dry no co2 ecocomplete substrate and thriving plants I'm not 100% if my air pump was running a sponge filter in the tank probally was...

 

[evercl92]

If you are not running CO2, you'll want to run an airpump or some sort of surface agitation. As the plants use the CO2 in the water, gas exchange at the surface isn't going to be nearly fast enough to regain equilibrium. With surface agitation, you'll assist the process.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

I don't think you want to run an air pump in a non-CO2 tank as that will get rid of any CO2 left in your tank. I would get a few power heads and put them lower in the tank and create current around the base of the plants. That way the water is circulated but not exchanging gas at the surface.

Yes, you do want to run an air pump. The plants will suck all the CO2 out of the water, and the best way to replace the CO2 and keep the levels up with the atmospheric levels at the surface of the tank is by surface aggitation.

 

[ThePBM]

the advice of NOT running an airpump applies to people who HAVE co2 injections. that is because co2 injections put the co2 levels in the water higher than the co2 in the atmosphere. surface agitation in any scenario increases the transfer of gas down the concentration gradient, so agitation
WITH co2 injection = co2 escapes from water
WITHOUT co2 injection = co2 goes into the water (as it is used by plants)

 

[mercury904]

im at the mid of my "no co2" planted tank...for how long should I wait for me to know that what im doing is right? it seems like only the water weeds are growing and i dont want to w8 until they all the plants to turn to yellow

 

[WyldFya]

List your plants, the lighting type, and amount, and the ferts used.

 

[mercury904]

List your plants, the lighting type, and amount, and the ferts used.

ok the micro swords and the anubias turned yellowish gotta make co2 tomorrow

 

[WyldFya]

Plants turning yellow very rarely is a sign of lack of CO2. You have a lack of a basic nutrient. Check your levels, and post the information asked for above.