Low Co2, Low Light, Bad Substrate

[wolfwolf]

My wife will not let me get a proper aquarium setup for live plants so I am stuck with what I have now. That is a 20 gallon high tank with fairly large gravel for a substrate, a 15 watt nutragrow flourescent bulb, and a CO2 level of ~4 ppm. That CO2 level is from the pH/KH chart and a test kit that I just got. My pH is 7.0, my KH is 3 now but I have had to add a powdered buffer to bring it back up to that level. It was down to 1. Ammonia and nitrite are 0. Nitrate is 20.

I've taken out a few of my plastic plant and added a wendtii green, java lace fern, spiralis, and mondo grass. (I now know that Mondo grass is not aquatic.)

What can I do to raise my CO2 level? Is Flourish Excel any good? Do I even need to raise my CO2 level?
I have root tabs in my gravel. Do they work?

I don't want a forest in my tank. I just don't want to be a plant killer...

 

[Attar]

My wife will not let me get a proper aquarium setup for live plants so I am stuck with what I have now. That is a 20 gallon high tank with fairly large gravel for a substrate, a 15 watt nutragrow flourescent bulb, and a CO2 level of ~4 ppm. That CO2 level is from the pH/KH chart and a test kit that I just got. My pH is 7.0, my KH is 3 now but I have had to add a powdered buffer to bring it back up to that level. It was down to 1. Ammonia and nitrite are 0. Nitrate is 20.

I've taken out a few of my plastic plant and added a wendtii green, java lace fern, spiralis, and mondo grass. (I now know that Mondo grass is not aquatic.)

What can I do to raise my CO2 level? Is Flourish Excel any good? Do I even need to raise my CO2 level?
I have root tabs in my gravel. Do they work?

I don't want a forest in my tank. I just don't want to be a plant killer...




First, I'm sorry to hear that your wife is stifling your aquatic interests. I know how you must feel and can sympathize because my husband becomes annoyed every time I bring up the subject of maybe buying another plant, tank decoration or god forbid another tank!

But cheer up! There is a way to have a nice looking planted aquarium with minimal equipment and cost. Check out this website: http/www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=17

I hope this gives you new inspiration!

 

[frozenbarb]

Excel will work. umm get better lights at least