aquabillpers;41270 said:
Yes, CO2 helps!
It would be interesting to see how by how much it helps, though. I'm thinking that if a certain plant at the bottom of a tank isn't prospering due to insufficient light, by how much would the CO2 have to be increased to help? Or, if the CO2 level is raised to, say, 10 PPM, by how much would the lighting have to be increased, if any?
My guess is that CO2's benefit in a low light environment is marginal, but if one's tank is close to having enough light, CO2 would tip the balance.
Bill
Read Tropica's account and test using Riccia, that will give some quantification.
Fairly detailed study and a good chart explaining the allocation of resources.
At low light, more light gather resources can be allocated to catching light rather than trying to also acquire low CO2. Plants can be lazy getting CO2 since there's plenty and plenty of nutrients, then can focus on light exclusively.
Same thing with more light and nutrients, and CO2 being limited.
Or higher light/CO2, and leaner nutrients.
Like plants adapting to low CO2, plants can adapt to lean issues with any of these three as long as the other two variables are somewhat non limiting.
Still, light makes the the most since, followed by low CO2, and finally, lean nutrients if you hads to pick and chose management/selection of species etc.
Nitpat and Steven, try the 3 day blackout, 2 days or light(or 3), then 3 days off, 3 days on, etc.
Do this a few cycles, do a water change the day you add the light back. Also, cover the tank so that zero % light is getting in, use black trash plastic bags etc.
Trim up the plants that tend to get infested(you'll note so get much worst than others) more.
The cycles will tend if you are making headway. Try a bit more CO2/less light when you turn the lights back on. After a week or two of no algae at lower light, try turning the light back up, but do a water change that day also, and make sure the CO2 is good.
Had both these algae about 2 months ago and there's none left.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Regards,
Tom Barr