Co2 Injection

[J@son]

Is it Necessary to have Co2 injection for a planted tank?
 

 

[levahe]

Its not essential to have pressurised co2 for a planted tank, its mainly a choice some make so that they can grow some more difficult species of plant and/or just to have lovely healthy plants. Also some people just enjoy the technical/science side of a high tech planted tank.
Some are forced into a situation where they can't sustain a low tech because their light is too bright and are suffering algae and the only options are change the lights to less bright ones or go high tech with co2 and EI fertilisers.

Low tech (none co2) tanks are easier to maintain, co2 injected tanks need a lot of work.

Also there are 'walstad' style self sustaining planted tanks which appeal to many people too.

 

[TaurineLittle]

You hit the nail on the head there levahe, one thing I want to add is that cost effectiveness also comes into play when you start talking about aquarium size.
For a small planted tank of 10-15 gallon it can be really cheap and easy to set up a DIY Co2 system with yeast, sugar and water in a coke bottle. But when you start talking about larger tanks 50g and higher it becomes more cost effective in the long run to go with pressurized Co2 cylinders and regulators, the initial setup cost will be high but refilling the cylinder is rather cheap. Also if you were to try and run a DIY Co2 system on a 50g aquarium you would need at least 4-5 bottles producing Co2 and you would be replacing them every week to keep optimal Co2 levels inside the tank.