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It can be argued about its validity in certain setups, but one thing that it cannot be argued is that planted tanks, in order to run efficiently and effectively need a little extra something to keep them healthy and happy. For those who do not use a pressurized CO2 setup then, you are not at fault as there are several successful planted tanks that can work fine without one, but for us serious folks, maybe it is time we learned a thing or two about CO2 and the role it plays in our tanks and lives as a whole:


Life itself is made up of a handful of naturally occurring chemical elements, Carbon being the most noted right next to oxygen and water. Carbon essential for organic organisms especially aquatic plants (for our argument), who require a steady source of Carbon in order to maintain and sustain proper growth rates and reproductive cycles.


What we know or will learn after this is that carbon is used by plants during photosynthesis in the light independent stage of the process....

It is rarely mentioned when discussing algae control, but pH levels can really put a damper on your tank as a whole. The role algae play in the water is really related to an excess in most cases, typically phosphate, ammonia, or nitrate. Algae can really flourish in water where there are plenty of organic organisms present, so they have an ample supply of food. The threat algae pose can be detrimental to the life in your planted tank, as they directly affect the pH in your water.

Algae’s Favorite pH
You will find that algae can exist in a wide range of environments and even survive the harshest of conditions, but they have a happy zone where they will grow until capacity allows. Algae in these waters will thrive and can most certainly outcompete even the hungriest of plants. Algal growth rates are limited when pH levels are Neutral or lower. Like plants, Algae undergo photosynthesis using light for food in order to grow. Algae also prefers warmer water where...