Co2: No idea where to begin. Kits?

[OldFishKeeper]

Yes, thanks. This 75g has been running for over 8 months with fish now, including 6 months with the exact fish I'll be using.
I won't be starting a tank, just a heavy rescape and starting co2

I generally understand how ph effects fish and I will of course be introducing the co2 slowly but I was wondering if the pH would fluctuate a lot as the tank adjusted with the ph controller.

Another clarifying question, but the pH controller will stop excess co2 building up at night or when the lights are off ?
So I wouldn't need to run the pH controller or the solenoid off a timer plug, because the solenoid will be controlled by the ph controller which would essentially do the job of a timer in this scenario?

If you are doing a "heavy rescape", you may want to monitor and stabilize your BB cycle before starting CO2. Doing both at the same time may not have the best outcome.

Your pH Controller should maintain the set pH level and control the solenoid regardless of the time of day so no timer should be necessary.

 

[OldFishKeeper]

This thread makes me love my liquid fertilizer even more.

Could you enlighten me/us on what liquid fertilizer has to do with the topic?

 

[MaloK]

Could you enlighten me/us on what liquid fertilizer has to do with the topic?

Fertilizers that contains biologically available Co2 are to me way over the top, If you're keeping ordinary plants, they will just continue to grow even in an environment they cant really thrive, instead of dying.

 

[OldFishKeeper]

Fertilizers that contains biologically available Co2 are to me way over the top, If you're keeping ordinary plants, they will just continue to grow even in an environment they cant really thrive, instead of dying.

Hmm, interesting.

 

[MaloK]

Hmm, interesting.

They have their drawbacks.

But compared to a nomenclature of pressurized technology. I find them a really easy compromise. They requires some kind of supervision once established, but are really neat regarding $$$ economy and wont blow up while you're in vacation.

This is still in optics of keeping plant that have no superfluous requirement tho.

One of their big drawback is that they create more nitrates.

But something like that can be managed too.

 

[OldFishKeeper]

They have their drawbacks.

But compared to a nomenclature of pressurized technology. I find them a really easy compromise. They requires some kind of supervision once established, but are really neat regarding $$$ economy and wont blow up while you're in vacation.

This is still in optics of keeping plant that have no superfluous requirement tho.

One of their big drawback is that they create more nitrates.

But something like that can be managed too.

No need to say more...

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Could you enlighten me/us on what liquid fertilizer has to do with the topic?

I can do that for you.

Plants tanks to succeed need the right ballance of 3 things: light, nutrients and CO2. Think of this like a 3-legged stool. Fro the stool to be balanced all 3 legs must be the same length. The same applies to the 3 things in a planted tank.

We can do any type of planted tank we want starting with the more basic low light easy to groow plants whuch often get all they need from a basic light or even room light and no added CO2 or ferts. At the other end of the spectrum are plants that need a lot of light and nutrienst and CO2 to thrive or even to grow in some cases.

Most planted tanks do not require added CO2 to do well. At the same time, no matter what type of plants one has, adding CO2 at the right level to the water will cause them to do better. This may also mean more ferts and or more lighting is needed. Many of the plants in my 3 tank pics will not work without extra everything.

So, if one is going to do a planted tank with pressurized CO2 for the plants, they need to be prepared to get the ferts and light part right, And this is why I suggested the OP might want to start with a less advance approach and work up to added CO2.

I would mention that for over 20 years I have added both some amount of ferts and a liquid CO2 boost using SeaChem's Flourish Excel into all but one of my planted tanks. I add both ferts and Excel after water changes only. However, I never put Excel into the tank with pressurized CO2 added. Excel is somewhat controversial. All I can say is that my experience has proved to me that, when, used properly, it is not harmful to the fish or inverts that I have kept in planted tank inluding a few for over 20 years.

 

[MaloK]

I have a java fern jungle that has received no fertilization in the last 8 months, reaching out the water, and another tank that grows green string algae on industrial scale.

Just with the light, nothing more. There is only shrimps in there.

loll

 

[OldFishKeeper]

@rebe, you can reach me on PM if you wish...