Co2 addition for beginners

[geleen]

Please enlighten this Co2 ,not even started, newby! unsure.gif

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl36...reactor500wpump

1/Is this all you need?

2/I guess one needs to buy co2 cartridges as well? And how many per year?

3/They talk about 180 bubbles per minute is this enough for a 1.8 w/gal, 90 gallon tank?

4/ What will happen to my PH

Thank you for your reply ...I am totally in the dark about this, but would like better plant growth without adding more wattage.

John

[Qattarra]

If I remember correctly , if you don't have high light , CO2 isn't much help. You would likely do better with fert sticks pushed into the substrate under the plants and adding Excel and Nurish .

Jason is our planted tank expert , I'm sure he'll enlighten us

[jvision]

Adding CO2 is never a bad idea!

1.9 WPG isn't really low-light. You'll want to add some ferts. If you're testing for NO3, PO4, etc. then you'll want to keep NO3 around 10-15ppm, PO4 around .5-1ppm. If you're using KNO3 and KH2PO4, then you'll be fine for K.

If you don't want to test, use the IE method (see pinned thread on articles).

Your pH will dip a bit, but that's not a big deal. Expensive reactors are not necessary, IMO - see my reply in the thread on the glass diffusors.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Edited January 10, 2008 by jvision

[werner]

The item you have linked to is only a reactor which dissolves the CO2 bubbles in the water. You would still need to supply the gas in some manner (eg. from a pressurized cylinder.)

This article explains everything about planted tanks for the beginner. The chapter on CO2 should answer your other Qs.