Co2?

[SharkBait1992]

hello i have my 20 gal cycling and i have some plants in there but i want to put more, lots more. my question is if i have lots of plants do i need a CO2 system? and what would be the best plants for a tank with stock lighting?

[Cliff]

A CO2 system will help your plants grow and do a lot better, but most plants will do and grow very well without CO2 if you have good light and some ferts.

[Alasse]

You dont have to have CO2, though as cliff stated they do grow much faster with it.

All my planted are non CO2, and grow quite well. I just use low/medium light plants.

If you want high light plants, you will need to go CO2

[rich311k]

CO2 always helps, better plant growth and less algae, it is not required for a nice looking planted tank.

[Alasse]

The trick to algae control in a newly planted....put in heaps of nutrient hungry plants (wisteria etc), they only need to stay there until your chosen plants get a good hold. Also planting very heavily from the start will slow algae, the plants will outcompete the algae.

I use a liquid carbon source for algae control in one of my tanks, absolutely awesome stuff called "Dinosaur Spit", lights run 24/7 and not 1 ounce of algae...I will be ordering more and using it in all my planted tanks from now on!

[SharkBait1992]

thanks everyone ill probably spluge on plants once my tank is done cycling which will be soon i hope

[Alasse]

Plants dont care if the tank is cycling, infact they will enjoy the extra ammonia (helping to keep it lower). So if you want to plant stock it now you certainly could

[SharkBait1992]

i have some in there now maybe ill go get some more tomorrow