CO2 in Tank

[kjharve]

The Java Fern I have in my brackish tank is struggling. SG sits at 1.003 - 1.005. I have had a couple of ferns now and ended up removing them as they have never really thrived.

I guess I need to introduce some CO2 and notice there are a few methods available. Which is the best method for what I need. The tank in question is about 35 gallons, algae is starting to take over so I'm hoping to kill two birds with one stone.

[manutius]

What temp do you run the tank at and do you have a bubbler or extensive surface ripples. If so then adding a CO2 system wont acheive a lot as the CO2 becomes oxidised and unavailable for the plants. Do you add plant ferts, I can send you a recipe for home made stuff if you want its way cheaper and very effective. I don't run ny CO2 and both my tanks remain fairly green, what is your lighting?

[kjharve]

Hi, thanks for helping!

Temp is normally at 26 degrees C. There isn't a huge amount of surface agitation. I have an Eheim underwater pump to give current but no bubbles. My filter outlet is on a spray bar and the water runs onto the surface to create agitation but I wouldn't say it's excessive.

I have used some ferts in the past but stopped as they never seemed to make much difference. As for the lights, I'm not sure what they are as I bought the tank second hand about 9 months ago. Would it be worth my while replacing these?

[kjharve]

And surely if I add ferts to the tank, won't that just make the algae bloom even more?

[Myaj]

What kind of lighting do you have? I've never found adding CO2 to be much benefit unless you're talking 3 watts per gallon or so.

For tanks under 50 gallons, I just cheat and use Flourish Excel. DIY bottles and pressurized are just too much of a PITA to me, and the Excel really works great.

Don't forget either, even java fern can be touchy in freshwater, it will be even harder in brackish, and its not a fast growing plant so it won't really battle algae much. There are better plants for that.

[kjharve]

Don't forget either, even java fern can be touchy in freshwater, it will be even harder in brackish, and its not a fast growing plant so it won't really battle algae much. There are better plants for that.

Which do you recommend?

[Myaj]

Well, the brackish really limits you, check out the sticky post about brackish plants for some ideas.

Duckweed might be an idea...

[kjharve]

The lights in the tank are Arcadia FO15. Any idea what that means? A lot of the writing has faded so can't read it.

[kjharve]

Just found out - the FO15 is, surprisingly, a 15-watt tube. There are two of them. I'm guessing this isn't good enough. My tank is 30 gallons and almost a cube.

[manutius]

I think the first thing to do is to replace the bulbs, depending on use they may only last 6-12months so I would get a new set. Finding suitable plants for a brackish tank is an issue, I'll have a think and get back to you

[kjharve]

In that case I should definitely replace them. I've had them 9 months and I purchased the tank off a friend of a friend so I've no idea how long in total they've been in service.

Would I know when/if they need replacing?

[Pufferoni]

You should also see if you can get higher wattage bulbs to fit in there. 1 watt per gallon is a little low. Even 20watts per bulb will help.

[kjharve]

I have been looking but I think I'm going to struggle. The tubes in the tank at the moment are 18" (the tank is almost cube) and 15w seems to be the highest I can get at that size.

[Boxermom]

You cannot put higher wattage bulbs in that appliance. In order to get more wattage, you will either need a retrofit kit (ahsupply.com, drsfostersmith.com, bigalsonline.com all sell them) or a new hood/light fixture.

[kjharve]

I've done a few searches on Retro-Fit kits and can't seem to gather what they do and how they achieve it.

I've seen reflectors available for aquarium lights - are these the same thing? And what's a ballast in this context?