Plants, like all living things, need the proper nutrients to thrive. Unlike animals which can hunt for food, plants need a proper environment to supply them with the basics needed for survival and growth. The mechanism that drives plant growth is photosynthesis and photosynthesis requires light for energy and CO2 to drive the chemical reactions. Various other elements are needed during photosynthesis to create the carbohydrates which are stored and later used for growth.
The process of photosynthesis requires a specific light energy threshold. If the light is not bright enough, photosynthesis will not occur. Beyond that threshold and up to some high light level, photosynthesis will run faster and faster. Depending on aquarium depth and the types of plants, 2 to 3 watts per gallon is normally recommended.
It is important to note that if any one of the chemicals required for photosynthesis is in short supply, that shortage will be the limiting factor on the photosynthesis rate. Typical aquariums are deficient in both CO2 and iron (Fe) with respect to optimum levels. Various "trace element" solutions are available to the hobbyist to meet iron and other trace element requirements and CO2 injection can be used to boost the concentration of CO2 in the aquarium.
It is a common misconception that water can hold only so much dissolved gas and adding CO2 will displace oxygen. This is not true. As a matter of fact, if enough CO2 and light is present to enable vigorous photosynthesis, oxygen levels can reach 120% of saturation.
Even at night, when the plants stop using CO2 and start using oxygen, the oxygen levels will stay about the same as a typical non-planted aquarium.
There are two things at work here. Limestone is mostly calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which slowly dissolves in water and dissociates into Ca++ and CO3--. The calcium ions (Ca++) contribute to (or are the main component of) general hardness, abbreviated GH. GH does NOT affect the pH but is the type of hardness that biologically affects organisms. If something prefers hard or soft water, it is GH which is important.
The carbonate ions (CO3--) are a component of alkalinity, also known as acid buffering or carbonate hardness (KH). Actually, KH measures carbonate and bicarbonate ions and is the predominant component of alkalinity. Anyway, KH is a prime determinant of pH. High KH means high pH. The carbonate buffering system is the "natural" buffer for water.
GH and KH are can be measured in "degrees" or "parts per million (ppm)". Neither measure is very useful in scientific calculations, but most test kits use one or the other so hobbyists generally use them (degrees are more prominent). One degree KH (dKH) or GH (dGH) is equivalent to 17.8 ppm of CaCO3.
We use electronic controllers to maintain a stable pH. The controller measures the pH. If it is too high, the controller turns on the CO2 to lower it. When the pH gets below the set point, the CO2 is turned off. Since CO2 will try to equilibrate with the atmosphere, it will slowly diffuse out of the water (and be used by plants), again raising the pH. So the pH is, in our case, slowly going back and forth from 6.85 to 6.95. In another tank with a cheaper controller, it goes from 6.80 to 7.00.
In a tank with no controller, we have a constant slow flow of CO2 that just balances the diffusion rate and plant usage and maintains 7.0 +/- 0.2 (higher in the daytime when plants are using CO2, lower at night when plants and fish respire CO2). These pH swings have caused no problems with fish ranging from discus to angels to rainbowfish to small tetras.
Here is what is recommended:
The place where you buy the tank should be able to refill it. Some will refill while you wait, some will trade a full bottle for an empty, some will send it somewhere to get filled. Naturally, you don't want it disconnected from the aquarium for very long or your pH will shoot up. We have an old 2.5 pound bottle we connect up while we take the regular bottle to be filled.
In our area, a refill for a tank 20 pounds or smaller is the same price ($10), so the bigger tank saves money in the long run. A 10 pound lasts more than twice as long as a 5 pound, and a 20 pound lasts more than twice as long as a 10 pound (they have trouble getting all the pounds into the tank, so 0.5 pound out of 5 is a higher percentage than out of 10, etc.).
We paid $70 for an adjustable regulator with high and low pressure gauges. The high pressure gauge tells you when the bottle is about empty. The bottle pressure will stay at 950 psi as long as there is liquid CO2 in the bottle. Once the liquid is gone, the pressure will begin to drop (2-4 weeks to go from 950 psi to 200 psi). When the pressure is around 200 psi, you should recharge the bottle since the regulator gets a little flaky at that point. We have a small 2.5 pound bottle that came with a starter set for use when the main bottle is being recharged.
The solenoid goes after the regulator on a CO2 cylinder, i.e., the low pressure side. Some solenoids use the inlet pressure to help keep them off and may not work in this application.
The regulator usually has a 3/8" NPT thread and the solenoid may have a 1/4" or 1/8" NPT thread, so you will need to find a place that sells up and down thread adapters. Most good hardware stores and plumbing supply places have these.
We have one by NuPro (model B-4MG2) that cost $35 and is superb. We have another from The ARO Corporation, phone (419) 636-4242, called the NO1 for about $10, but it's obsolete now and is a little harder to get adjusted just right, especially in a "manual" system.
A reactor of some sort is needed. We use Dupla reactors in our trickle filter sumps but almost anything that will allow the CO2 and water to mix will work. One of our tanks has the CO2 bubbling into the intake of an Eheim canister filter. Works fine but is not as efficient as a purpose- built reactor. The best thing is to work out a "counter current" thing where water flows from top to bottom in a large tube and CO2 bubbles up against the water flow. You may be able to adapt a cheap protein skimmer for this purpose.
A manual setup works fine but takes constant fiddling to balance it. The CO2 bubbles in continuously (DON'T shut it off at night) and you have to balance the inflow against plant usage and diffusion into the air. You will get pH fluctuations of about .3 over the course of a day.
An automatic system is great if you can afford it. A controller costs around $250-300 and the solenoid is another $60. Electrodes must be cleaned every few months and replaced every 18 months or so ($90). But a controller will keep the pH stable at +/- 0.05 units. A CO2 test kit is handy to have but optional. The Lamotte kit is the best we've seen, about $25. You can determine CO2 levels from accurate measurements of pH and KH. Lamotte makes a great narrow range pH test (6.5 to 7.5) that you can interpolate to 0.05 pH units. The Tetra KH kit seems about the best for that and is dirt cheap. We also have a Lamotte alkalinity kit (KH) but prefer the Tetra kit.
If you need to get a "system", I would recommend a Sandpoint system over a Dupla system. It's a bunch cheaper. We bought a regulator + solenoid + fine control valve combo from them a couple of years ago that has worked OK but the fine control valve was worthless. Perhaps they've improved that. They also offer a reactor.
We like the Dupla reactor "S" and the bubble counter. Their gauges, regulators, solenoids and valves seem very overpriced. Also, be careful that stuff you buy is compatible with the CO2 bottles offered in your country. German fittings don't work with American bottles, for example.
The simplest is to bubble CO2 from a airstone on the bottom and have the CO2 bubbles come up below a powerhead or filter outlet so they get pushed around the aquarium. Get a good airstone so the bubbles are as fine as possible.
The CO2 can also be directed into the intake of a canister filter, giving it plenty of time to mix before it comes out the outlet.
There are three or four commercial reactors available; check the mail order ads in FAMA.
We have two Sandpoint Dual pH & ORP controllers, one Accurate I pH controller (the new style) and one ??? (old style) pH controller. Be sure you get either the Dual (very "overkill" and $480) or the Accurate I ($250). DO NOT get the old style (black case). The controller usually comes with a pH electrode and calibration solutions.
Solenoid valves are not included with the controller. You can either get one from Sandpoint for $90 (nice unit but over-priced) or scrounge around local plumbing places trying to find one ($20 to 70, depending). Probably the Sandpoint unit is worth the extra money just to avoid the aggravation of trying to tell the salespeople what you are trying to do.
The El Cheapo Tetra KH test kit is as good as any and is actually more useful than more expensive "alkalinity" tests kits for this purpose. A pH test kit with a resolution of 0.2 units is also suggested. Pay close attention to the accuracy - if the KH kit is accurate to +/- 0.5 dKH and the pH kit is +/- 0.2 units, the range of CO2 values is quite large. Let's say you measure 3 dKH +/- 0.5 and the pH is 7.0 +/- 0.2. This would indicate CO2 ranging from
KH = 2.5, pH = 7.2 -> CO2 = 5 ppm
KH = 3.0 pH = 7.0 -> CO2 = 9 ppm
KH = 3.5 pH = 6.8 -> CO2 = 16 ppm
which could be good or bad!
The following table is from a Finnish aquaria magazine (Akvaariomaailma) and was posted by Pauli Hopea.
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\ pH | 6.0 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.8 7.0 7.2 7.4 8.0
KH\ | -----------------------------------------------------------------
0.5 | 15 9.3 5.9 3.7 2.4 1.5 0.9 0.6 0.2
1.0 | 30 19 12 7 5 3 1.9 1.2 0.3
1.5 | 44 28 18 11 7 4 2.8 1.8 0.4
2.0 | 59 37 24 15 9 6 4 2.4 0.6
2.5 | 73 46 30 19 12 7 5 3 0.7
3.0 | 87 56 35 22 14 9 6 4 0.9
3.5 | 103 65 41 26 16 10 7 4 1.0
4.0 | 118 75 47 30 19 12 6 5 1.2
5.0 | 147 93 59 37 23 15 9 6 1.5
6.0 | 177 112 71 45 28 18 11 7 1.8
8.0 | 240 149 94 59 37 24 15 9 2.4
10 | 300 186 118 74 47 30 19 12 3
15 | 440 280 176 111 70 44 28 18 4
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| CO2 milligrams/liter -------------------------
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George Booth "Nothing in the world is more dangerous booth@hplvec.lvld.hp.com than sincere ignorance and conscientious Freshwater Plant Tank Technology stupidity" - Martin Luther King, Jr. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
