I read so many threads where people say they are bubbling 3bps or more but never say what size tank they are bubbling into. Does 3bps suffice for a 6x2x2heavy planted tank with 110 par at substrate level. reason I ask is that I go through 23 litre bottle of CO@ every three months. I have a pH controller for CO2 levels set at 5.9 with KH of 4. The CO2 usage seems really high. I always have problem with GHA on certain plants eg staurogyne. H2O circulation is via 2x 3000l/h wave makers and a 4000l sump pump so I assume plenty of water movement. and plenty of CO2. . I can increase CO2 further without harming fish corydoras Ferts via EI. What is the usual CO2 usage for this size tank?
Am I wasting CO2
- Thread starter corlis
- Start date
That's hard to say, because it's dependent of a lot of variables, like bubble size, outgassing, amount of light, plants and way of dissolving and dispersion. Algae though is a tell tale sign. The algae tells you something, namely a CO2 shortage, locally or totally. That's a better indicator than any number.
With your amount of light I seriously ask myself if you will be able to provide enough CO2. I have ony half the PAR that you have at substrate level, but I don't have hair algae. Yet I can grow every plant I want. So in your case I wouldn't increase CO2, but use less light, down to 50 to 60 umol max. at substrate level. Still it will take like six weeks and a lot of manual removal and pruning to get rid of the hair algae.
Less light = less CO2 demand = no or less algae.
I use 10 litres of CO2 in 3 months on a 180 gallon. So half the light, half the CO2 and no algae
regards,
dutchy
With your amount of light I seriously ask myself if you will be able to provide enough CO2. I have ony half the PAR that you have at substrate level, but I don't have hair algae. Yet I can grow every plant I want. So in your case I wouldn't increase CO2, but use less light, down to 50 to 60 umol max. at substrate level. Still it will take like six weeks and a lot of manual removal and pruning to get rid of the hair algae.
Less light = less CO2 demand = no or less algae.
I use 10 litres of CO2 in 3 months on a 180 gallon. So half the light, half the CO2 and no algae
regards,
dutchy
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thanks dutchy
I am using LED lighting and I am slowly reducing number of light units. I am currently running 240 watts 11h and extra 240w 6hrs. At max light still less than 3w/g. I have no problems growing plamts currently 130 species in one tank and 59 in another I also have no problem growing the hair algae, No other algae problems, Will keep reducing light units
I am using LED lighting and I am slowly reducing number of light units. I am currently running 240 watts 11h and extra 240w 6hrs. At max light still less than 3w/g. I have no problems growing plamts currently 130 species in one tank and 59 in another I also have no problem growing the hair algae, No other algae problems, Will keep reducing light units