Debunked: CO2-Myth --- See tanks without carbon dioxide fertilization
- Thread starter HarleyK
- Start date
the HC was tedious, it would uproot too easily. halfway through my planted tank ventures i pulled it all out and replaced the foreground with blyxa japonica and never looked back. i think b. japonica makes an excellent foreground provided you give it the right conditions, its a beautiful plant. after that i stuffed the tank full of plants and went for the jungle look.toolbox31;3183705;3183705 said:
as for giving it all up, i worked at a bank that went belly up a few months back. i had to relocate for new work and didnt want to move with a planted tank so i tore it down. maintenace wasnt bad. just dose everyday and trim/water changes once a week. once i got it dialed in it was like clockwork. maybe one day ill jump back in, just not right now though. i got bit by the cichla bug
I'm sorry but I had a 90G with 4 54W t5HO's on there dosing EI method and it wasn't till I added C02 that it TOOK OFF!
Grew like a mofo.
I've since sold that tank because I found it to be too high maintenance and stressful at the time.... but as I still keep a couple tanks with plants in it I've regretted selling my C02 system (Rex Grigg reg and manifold)
That's my one big regret so far in this hobby.. selling my planted tank & gear
But my experience has shown me massive difference between growing plants with C02 and without. In fact I'm going to be rigging up a DIY C02 for my 20 planted as soon as I find some time for it.
EDIT: Here's a pic of it... needing a prune job
Grew like a mofo.
I've since sold that tank because I found it to be too high maintenance and stressful at the time.... but as I still keep a couple tanks with plants in it I've regretted selling my C02 system (Rex Grigg reg and manifold)
That's my one big regret so far in this hobby.. selling my planted tank & gear
But my experience has shown me massive difference between growing plants with C02 and without. In fact I'm going to be rigging up a DIY C02 for my 20 planted as soon as I find some time for it.
EDIT: Here's a pic of it... needing a prune job
Howdy,
Just an update: A recent issue of the "Aquarium USA" magazine supports my statements. This is one of the few articles that says the truth about the uselessness of CO2 for most hobbyists (except klumsy and jcar). The gist of it was summarized in this list:
If you're new to planting or just want to read up how now an aquarium magazine debunked the myth: Get the issue while it's still available.
HarleyK
Just an update: A recent issue of the "Aquarium USA" magazine supports my statements. This is one of the few articles that says the truth about the uselessness of CO2 for most hobbyists (except klumsy and jcar). The gist of it was summarized in this list:
I think they rely on fish for fertilization, which is fine - I actually have to dose nitrates, except in my piranha tank.
If you're new to planting or just want to read up how now an aquarium magazine debunked the myth: Get the issue while it's still available.
HarleyK
Beginner at planted (no fish) what should my level of nutrients be...... It seems planted is more diffecult then fish without plants frosure want to be succsessfull in this new road of aquria
I just wanted to chime in and say great read. I'm a fan of the no c02. I don't have any super planted jungles going currently. But I do have live plants in all my tanks.
I've found what harlyk is saying to be very true to my experiences. When I had c02 setup. I was simply having much too fast plant growth. It was much more hassle than I wanted, to have to get in there and mow the lawn every couple of days.
While this IS for some people, it was not for me. I am here to keep fish first, plants second. I like everyone else saw awesome planted aquariums, and wanted to have my aquarium look like that. So I bought everything suggested to do so. In no time I had a jungle, and the fish loved it. On top of water changes and filter maintenance. You then have the work of cutting back all the plants. This lead to me being a slave to this particular tank.
I've now switched to no c02. There are some plants that do not grow for me anymore. I am ok with that. I also rarely have to get in there and do anything to the plants.
I really like what Harlyk says about testing different plants for yourself. I would have never though, until I setup a fry grow out 10g, with the basic crappy light, that java fern THRIVES in that light. It grows like a weed in there for me. Just one tank over, with 3x to 4x as much light, it grows just fine, but is way behind growth compared to the fry tank.
Likewise, I simpley cannot get African fern(bolbitus) to grow in a moderate lighting setup. I have to keep it in pretty dark tanks, and it flourishes. In the moderate light tanks, it stays alive just fine, but doesnt really grow at all..
I really like to think of c02 as a turbo button. It'll allow you to do a years worth of growing in 6 weeks. Now, if you're all about the plants... Then you need this. It's like hitting the turbo button on growing clown loaches. You can grow them to 1 foot, in 3 months? Hell yeah sign me up. However if you only wanted those loaches for snail control, you don't want them to grow..
I've learned that you can have a very nice planted tank, without taking it to that next level. I guess it's like buying a brand new toyota camery vs buying a brand new lexus sedan. You're getting pretty much the same exact car, except you'll have a little more elegance out of the lexus. Much the same in the aquarium. I can live without growing that certain plant here and there. I can also appreciate a plant filling in over the course of a year instead of a month.
I think when it comes down to it, see if it's right for you. When you get 10+ tanks going, I don't think it's practicle to have them all c02. Money wise and time wise.
Ps, I'll pm you one of these days, for some tips harlyk. I enjoy your bare bottom 220. I'll be setting myself up a 305g bare bottom tank this next month. 6x4.5x18inches high. Looking to bounce some ideas off someone about lighting/plants etc.
I've found what harlyk is saying to be very true to my experiences. When I had c02 setup. I was simply having much too fast plant growth. It was much more hassle than I wanted, to have to get in there and mow the lawn every couple of days.
While this IS for some people, it was not for me. I am here to keep fish first, plants second. I like everyone else saw awesome planted aquariums, and wanted to have my aquarium look like that. So I bought everything suggested to do so. In no time I had a jungle, and the fish loved it. On top of water changes and filter maintenance. You then have the work of cutting back all the plants. This lead to me being a slave to this particular tank.
I've now switched to no c02. There are some plants that do not grow for me anymore. I am ok with that. I also rarely have to get in there and do anything to the plants.
I really like what Harlyk says about testing different plants for yourself. I would have never though, until I setup a fry grow out 10g, with the basic crappy light, that java fern THRIVES in that light. It grows like a weed in there for me. Just one tank over, with 3x to 4x as much light, it grows just fine, but is way behind growth compared to the fry tank.
Likewise, I simpley cannot get African fern(bolbitus) to grow in a moderate lighting setup. I have to keep it in pretty dark tanks, and it flourishes. In the moderate light tanks, it stays alive just fine, but doesnt really grow at all..
I really like to think of c02 as a turbo button. It'll allow you to do a years worth of growing in 6 weeks. Now, if you're all about the plants... Then you need this. It's like hitting the turbo button on growing clown loaches. You can grow them to 1 foot, in 3 months? Hell yeah sign me up. However if you only wanted those loaches for snail control, you don't want them to grow..
I've learned that you can have a very nice planted tank, without taking it to that next level. I guess it's like buying a brand new toyota camery vs buying a brand new lexus sedan. You're getting pretty much the same exact car, except you'll have a little more elegance out of the lexus. Much the same in the aquarium. I can live without growing that certain plant here and there. I can also appreciate a plant filling in over the course of a year instead of a month.
I think when it comes down to it, see if it's right for you. When you get 10+ tanks going, I don't think it's practicle to have them all c02. Money wise and time wise.
Ps, I'll pm you one of these days, for some tips harlyk. I enjoy your bare bottom 220. I'll be setting myself up a 305g bare bottom tank this next month. 6x4.5x18inches high. Looking to bounce some ideas off someone about lighting/plants etc.
when looking over your pics it looks like most of your plants are lower light plants. lots of crypts java ferns and moss with some more medium light plants sags swords hair grass. most of those really wouldnt benefit from the addition to co2 anyways. i do agree how the title is a little misleading.
i do agree with you though for the most part co2 isnt a must. a lot of people hear and see the high tech high light tanks and think its the only way to do it. i run many tanks that look great with out any co2. its all about a balance. the higher light you go co2 for me helps make it that much easier to maintain. everyone has their own idea of what they want. some people like slow easy growth. others like the high growth keeping the tank photo perfect. neither is right or wrong.
i do agree with you though for the most part co2 isnt a must. a lot of people hear and see the high tech high light tanks and think its the only way to do it. i run many tanks that look great with out any co2. its all about a balance. the higher light you go co2 for me helps make it that much easier to maintain. everyone has their own idea of what they want. some people like slow easy growth. others like the high growth keeping the tank photo perfect. neither is right or wrong.
I am just getting back into the hobby of planted aquariums, and for the first time seriously. I cant say how good it is to read this. The whole CO2 process is costly, and daunting. After seeing your tanks, Im about to upgrade my lighting and substrate. And nothing else! Maybe eventually I will do a DIY CO2 reactor...but thats a longways down the line, and it seems that those can be a potential danger if not monitored closely...
