CO2 vs algae
OK questions,
I just got back from my LFS which I find to be very knowledgeable. In disagreement with some theories I have read here, the LFS said that CO2 would make an algae problem worse, not help it. And he supported his thought. Now, I what like to know what is going on with CO2, algae and photosynthesis. What kind of results should I expect? |
CO2 vs algae
"M Walczak" wrote
OK questions, I just got back from my LFS which I find to be very knowledgeable. In disagreement with some theories I have read here, the LFS said that CO2 would make an algae problem worse, not help it. And he supported his thought. Now, I what like to know what is going on with CO2, algae and photosynthesis. What kind of results should I expect? That's not my experience, nor I would suggest the experience of most others on this group. The generally held opinion is that a bit of algae in a planted tank is normal (desirous even), but can be controlled by algae eating animals and regular tank maintenance. When algal growth is excessive and becomes a problem, it's due to a imbalance in one or other of light/CO2/nutrients. The trick is to get just enough of everything to allow the plants to grow healthily, thus leaving no excess for the algae. My experience is that by adding CO2 and dosing with PMDD, algae reduced to a manageable level almost overnight. Just adding CO2 to an already balanced low or medium light tank may cause algae to prosper though. -- Graham Ramsay Blairgowrie (UK) www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/aquarium.htm |
CO2 vs algae
Graham,
Thanks, Well my tank conditions are pH 7.6 GH 14 KH 5 and 29g w/ 110w PC, 3.8 wpg what is PMDD? "Graham Ramsay" wrote in message ... "M Walczak" wrote OK questions, I just got back from my LFS which I find to be very knowledgeable. In disagreement with some theories I have read here, the LFS said that CO2 would make an algae problem worse, not help it. And he supported his thought. Now, I what like to know what is going on with CO2, algae and photosynthesis. What kind of results should I expect? That's not my experience, nor I would suggest the experience of most others on this group. The generally held opinion is that a bit of algae in a planted tank is normal (desirous even), but can be controlled by algae eating animals and regular tank maintenance. When algal growth is excessive and becomes a problem, it's due to a imbalance in one or other of light/CO2/nutrients. The trick is to get just enough of everything to allow the plants to grow healthily, thus leaving no excess for the algae. My experience is that by adding CO2 and dosing with PMDD, algae reduced to a manageable level almost overnight. Just adding CO2 to an already balanced low or medium light tank may cause algae to prosper though. -- Graham Ramsay Blairgowrie (UK) www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/aquarium.htm |
CO2 vs algae
On Sun, 24 Nov 2002 10:30:42 -0000, "Graham Ramsay"
wrote: what is PMDD? PMDD Poor Man's Dupla/Dosing Drops An amusing anecdote from the AGA conference: I discussed dosing trace nutrients using an "all in one" fertilizer like TMG. Later, while talking to Claus from Tropica, we were discussing deficiencies of other micro-nutrients, and I told Claus "that is why I prefer a complete balanced trace fertilizer like TMG, since if the dosage provides enough iron, then itprovides enough of all the other traces". The next day, Claus asked me "so, what do you recommend for trace elements". I told him TMG, and he was about to ask something, when suddenly his expression changed, and he said "I just figured out that TMG is Tropica Master Grow" Chuck Gadd http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua |
CO2 vs algae
On Sun, 24 Nov 2002 00:42:02 GMT, "M Walczak"
wrote: disagreement with some theories I have read here, the LFS said that CO2 would make an algae problem worse, not help it. And he supported his Algae gets its carbon from the carbonate in the water. It isn't dependant on CO2 like plants are. Very few plants have that ability. So low CO2 situations favor the algae over the plants. Increasing CO2 levels improves plant growth, and limits the algae growth. Chuck Gadd http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua |
CO2 vs algae
"M Walczak" wrote
what is PMDD? PMDD Poor Man's Dupla/Dosing Drops http://www.nfis.com/~hartland/aqua/pmdd.htm http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/pmdd-tim.html -- Graham Ramsay Blairgowrie (UK) www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/aquarium.htm |
CO2 vs algae
I just got back from my LFS which I find to be very knowledgeable. In
disagreement with some theories I have read here, the LFS said that CO2 would make an algae problem worse, not help it. And he supported his thought. How? He may be well versed in some areas, but he's not here. Now, I what like to know what is going on with CO2, algae and photosynthesis. What kind of results should I expect? Well being someone is well versed in many things algal, all algae can and do use HCO3, or bicarbonate for their source of Carbon. A small number of plants can do this as well, Hydrillia, Egeria, Potamogeton, Vals but they grow much better with CO2 added. All plants do. Most algae do not. A few such as Green water, A couple of species of Cladophora, Chara do better with CO2. Most do not though. What happens when CO2 is added to 15+ppm they start photorespiration. They have no protection from photorespiration radicals (Oxygen radicals that are extremely destructive). Plants and Chara possess perixsomes, these remove these radicals and improves efficiency. Other algae do not have these oraganelles. Plants have evolved using CO2 and algae have stuck with HCO3. HCO3 is your KH. Plants use and need far more Carbon than algae. Even the worst algae bloom produces very little biomass vs a well growing plant tank. Since most plants can only use CO2 vs HCO3, adding it allows the plants to grow. Plants are roughly 40% carbon. Limiting this nutrient will slow plant growth down but the algae have no problem at all growing. So you shopuld except things like great plant growth, "pearling", reduced algae issues etc if you use it properly and raise the dissolved CO2 levels to 20-30ppm. One thing that many do not realize, adding CO2 gas from gas tanks, DIY yeast ect, DOES NOT DISPLACE Oxygen. Many think they are dependant on each other. In planted tanks, O2 is above 100% most of the time, so is the CO2(all of the time). Fish/bacteria like the O2. Too much CO2 can cause some problems but 30ppm to 20ppm works very well and has no effect on fish, inverts, bacteria etc. Regards, Tom Barr |
CO2 vs algae
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CO2 vs algae
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CO2 vs algae
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CO2 vs algae
Comment on temperature? Cooler water is able to hold/retain more dissolved
gases than warmer water. Does anyone have a chart? kush True, I don't use heaters except in a Discus. Slows plant growth down also. Regards, Tom Barr |
CO2 vs algae
" wrote:
I don't use heaters except in a Discus. Slows plant growth down also. Regards, Tom Barr That comment probably needs qualification. I'm in California, and even here an unheated tank runs aroung 66-68F during the winter, possibly colder at night if its a small tank. An awful lot of fish are going to have trouble below 70F. During the summer, of course, the heaters seldom turn on. |
CO2 vs algae
In article ,
Dave Millman wrote: " wrote: I don't use heaters except in a Discus. Slows plant growth down also. Regards, Tom Barr That comment probably needs qualification. I'm in California, and even here an unheated tank runs aroung 66-68F during the winter, possibly colder at night if its a small tank. An awful lot of fish are going to have trouble below 70F. During the summer, of course, the heaters seldom turn on. Florida here. No heaters either. The tanks never get below 75F. Scott |
CO2 vs algae
That comment probably needs qualification. I'm in California, and even here
an unheated tank runs aroung 66-68F during the winter, possibly colder at night if its a small tank. An awful lot of fish are going to have trouble below 70F. Hehe, your comment needs qualification too:) Depends on where in CA you live, I lived in Southern CA for a couple of years. Never used a heater, had Rummy noses, Cardinals etc. Tanks stayed about 75F minimum. Never heated the place. In the Bay area I heated some tanksm, like the Discus tanks but nothing else. Fish where fine. 72F or so is okay, below that., heater time for many fish. If you catch your own locally, then colder is often better. I collect my fish from the wild these days, no need to change what they are use to. But the high temps + low O2 levels can complicate things, 2ppm of O2 is a fair amount of difference and within these temp ranges this can occur or more. My lights on some of my tanks cook things pretty good. Tank size also plays a big role here also. A 100 gallon tank does not move as fast as a 10 gallon temp wise. During the summer, of course, the heaters seldom turn on. Florida here. No heaters either. The tanks never get below 75F. Scott |
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