co2 and low light plants

[oscar freak]

quick question,just wondering does co2 addition work on plants that prefer low light levels being that co2 is added only when there is a heavy lighting?

[Zoom]

Good question. Logic says that because it's a slow growing plant, it's ability to grow is slower, and just increasing CO2 will result in algae blooms? But Interested to hear from the otehr guys.

[oscar freak]

Or would this be a perfect scenario for a liquid carbon source.something was soon to be on the market i think it was @henk

[shihr]

IMO yes. all plants need carbon to preform the process of photosynthesis.. no matter the rate of growth or light absorbtion

[shihr]

liquid carbon - you can use excel

[shihr]

co2 incr with slow growers make them fast-er growers.. still slow compared to the other faster growers in the same tank but compared to no co2 / carbon much faster..

ive never had algae problem with excess co2.. not sure what excess carbon will do for algae..

[oscar freak]

is excel not a bit to chemical?and then the whole vallis thing.all plants require co2,the more light you add the more co2 you need?so would it just need less co2 and would the addition of co2 make a vast impact on the growth of this slow grower when you cannot even add more light to augment the growth.

[shihr]

yes, u r right in the sense that less light less co2, but even with less light, adding co2 will make the plant grow faster.

from what i read, most liquid carbons are made from the same chem? (could be wrong)

pressurised is still the longterm soln..

[oscar freak]

ok then my next question would be that the co2 absorbed would be less and slower than if there was a lot of light involved?now would the extra co2 in the tank be a problem to the swimming inhabitants if its a diy setup,and then is this the reason to get a pressurised system and is yours still for sale :)

[shihr]

well with slow growers, yes, you will have extra co2 if u set it too high. i'd look at the inhabitants to see how they doing.. if they gasping - lower the co2..

biggest problem i have with DIY CO2 is that it is unstable. you cannot standardize the amount of co2 input into ur tanks.. this causes all sorts of problems.. incl BBA.. DUN DUN DUN *scary music..

[shihr]

and yes my system is still available :)

[oscar freak]

so im thinking,lights out=no co2 absorbed?so if the lights are kept on lets say continously with co2 added would this be ok for the plants?or do they also need rest time.

[shihr]

no, co2 should be switched off when the lights go out.. plants dont use co2 at night..

[oscar freak]

ja so if you dont switch the lights off you should be ok?i'm tryina find a way to speed up the growth of the java fern.i imagine algae could maybe become a problem

[Zoom]

Algae will most definately take advantage of the 24/7 lights. I'm pretty sure the plants need a rest period too.

[Rudi]

I'm pretty sure the plants need a rest period too
oscar freak
It is important that aquarium plants receive periods of complete darkness.During the dark period the plants will stop photosynthesizing but continue to respire,"breathe".Think of it as a rest period for the plant's functions.
Co2 fertilization is always a positive addition,even for slower growing low light plants,never a negative.Low light plants will grow moderately faster,but definitely healthier.