Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've been keeping a planted 20 gallon for about six months now, mostly low tech plants like Java Fern and Anubias. Thinking about adding CO2 but worried it's too much hassle for a beginner. Anyone have experience starting with CO2 early on?

Yo, CO2 is kinda sketchy if you ain't ready for the extra work. Gotta check levels all the time, mess with diffusers, and if you slack, your fish might not dig it. Just sayin'.

I started with CO2 after a year of low tech, and it made a huge difference. My plants grew faster and healthier, but you need to balance light and nutrients too. It's not just about adding CO2.

CO2 can be beneficial if you're serious about plant growth. In a 20 gallon, a simple paintball setup or DIY yeast method might be a good start. Just monitor pH and KH to avoid swings.

felinxo wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 12:56 am Yo, CO2 is kinda sketchy if you ain't ready for the extra work. Gotta check levels all the time, mess with diffusers, and if you slack, your fish might not dig it. Just sayin'.

For real, it's a commitment. But if you're down to put in the time, the results can be sick.

I tried CO2 once and my plants went nuts, but then I got lazy and everything crashed. So yeah, only go for it if you're gonna stay on top of it.

Thanks for the input, everyone. Sounds like it's doable but needs consistency. Maybe I'll start with a small DIY setup and see how it goes.

Floralynx wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 5:49 am Thanks for the input, everyone. Sounds like it's doable but needs consistency. Maybe I'll start with a small DIY setup and see how it goes.

That's a smart approach. Start slow and scale up if you're comfortable with the maintenance.

If you go DIY, keep an eye on the pH swings. Yeast methods can be inconsistent, so test daily until you get a feel for it. A drop checker helps too.

Yeah, and don't cheap out on the diffuser. A crappy one will just waste CO2 and make bubbles everywhere. Learned that the hard way.