low light with co2 yes or no

[Ice-X]

Hello, first of all I would like to apologize for my bad enllish as its not my first language.

I own a 100liter aquarium with an 18W T8 light (which is very low). I currently have some anubias and other easy plants. The plants are growing really slow or not at all.

I am thinking about getting a co2 system and combining it with some fertilization for example Easy Profito. What I look for in an aquarium is green looking plants that grow fast so I can plant my aquarium faster. Also is there any way to do a carpet in a low light aquarium without the use of java fern.

Thank you,
Timi Kokol

[jerrybforl]

Java Fern isn't a very good carpeting plant as it gets big. It's nice to use as maybe a bush type of plant. If you decide to use CO2, I would use a very small amount. That goes the same for the fertilizers...maybe one dosing a week.

Good plants to use:

1. anubias
2. crypts
3. some fast growing stems
EX. rotala indicia, wisteria, or some ludwigias. There are many to choose from.

Just do a little research and see what you come up with.

[Ice-X]

so using co2 and fertilizers is a bad idea if you have low light?

[Green Thumb Aquatics]

No, it is a good idea, however, your plants will not require much/need much...

~10 ppm of CO2 should be plenty,

very low amounts of dosing fertilizer as your plants will not need much if any, if their are fish in with the plants, the fish food/waste should be plenty of nutrients for your plants to consume, I have a low light tank and I still dose it but only once or twice a week, I find it helps but the plants grow either way.

[Ice-X]

i do have fish in my aquarium but the rate of growth is still really bad... so what would you do in my place?

[Ice-X]

oh and also instead of adding co2... should i maybe add more light to my aquarium? which would make a bigger change

[dutchy]

The light is enough for a low light setup if you have good reflectors. You just need to fertilize your plants. I'd read the "The Estimative Index - for less techy folks" article and start fertilizing accordingly.

[Ice-X]

ah i will start fertilizing at the start with this product:
http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/f...ito-500ml.html

and i will make a DIY co2

hopefully that will help the plants. What do you think?

[jerrybforl]

Yes you want to use CO2! Just not a whole lot. Be careful with DIY CO2. Yeast will continually produce CO2 and when lights go out plants can't absorb it. So just be careful or you could gas the fishys.

[Ice-X]

should i make a less strong mixture then? just to be sure?