CO2 levels - do they matter?

monsterjta · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN

I've read various posts about CO2, and am confused as to whether a non-planted (rock-only) aquarium needs to a certain level of CO2. I have 16 cichlids; 8 yellow lab and 8 Acei. According to my measurements, I had about 4.0 CO2 about 1 month ago, and today CO2 is at 0.9.

Thoughts?

Jonathan Almquist
Minneapolis, MN

cjacob316 · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Location: Lafayette, La

only have to worry about having too much if you don't have plants
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55 Gal Malwai/Victoria 29 Gal Haplochromis sp.44 "Red Tail" fry tank 29 Gal soon to be Tanganyika 1.5 Gal Crowntail Beta

monsterjta · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN

What level of CO2 is considered too much in this case (no plants)?

Thanks!

cjacob316 · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Location: Lafayette, La

do your fish look like they are gasping for air?
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55 Gal Malwai/Victoria 29 Gal Haplochromis sp.44 "Red Tail" fry tank 29 Gal soon to be Tanganyika 1.5 Gal Crowntail Beta

monsterjta · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN

They don't appear to be. But I may not know what a fish gasping for air looks like.

Is there a more scientific method for determining ideal CO2 levels?

monsterjta · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN

Maybe I'm jsut misinterpreting the charts. I'm assuming there should be some CO2, but these levels I've tested were so low, I thought there must be something wrong with my test results. I guess CO2 should never be at any significant levels in a non-planted aquarium. That being the case, I suppose I should never really even be concerned about CO2 levels.

Thanks.

D.T.M · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Location: uk

Dont worry about it mate....

cjacob316 · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Location: Lafayette, La

only plants need co2 so not having much is not a bad thing, i have never used a co2 test kit because in all honesty it's a waste without plants, so i don't know what the numbers mean on it. as long as the fish have oxygen in the water they will be fine
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55 Gal Malwai/Victoria 29 Gal Haplochromis sp.44 "Red Tail" fry tank 29 Gal soon to be Tanganyika 1.5 Gal Crowntail Beta

Rhinox · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH

MalawiLover · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:51 am Post subject:

CO2 off gasses quite quickly so unless you are pumping it into your tank for plant growth you don't need to worry about it as it relates to fish. Even then, I haven't ever heard of any actual fish damage from CO2 addition.
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125gMale peacocks/haps
95g-Malawi Mbuna
55g-Mixed community
30g-x2 Grow out
12.5g-Fry
IS YOUR DECHLORINATOR WORKING??

cjacob316 · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Location: Lafayette, La

well it's more that if co2 is high then oxygen is low, only so much can be disolved in the water
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55 Gal Malwai/Victoria 29 Gal Haplochromis sp.44 "Red Tail" fry tank 29 Gal soon to be Tanganyika 1.5 Gal Crowntail Beta

monsterjta · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I think I understand now that CO2 isn't a concern in my non-planted tank. If I decide to plant a tank in the future, I'll have to revisit this topic.

MalawiLover · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

under_control · Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Location: SD

Rhinox · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH