New to planted aquariums wondering about CO2?

[Streetbob]

Yep that was me in the back of the room at the bar lol.

[mredman]

I saw you win the bid on the CO2 tank on Sunday. If just the tank works, it is a good deal. If the regulator works, you hit gold!

Mike

Thanks, I'm going to try and see how it goes with this light and the co2 and if I end up needing a better light I will save some money and get one. I'm pretty new at all of this so I got to take it one step at a time. I won a 7.5lb co2 bottle and a electric regulator setup and a fish auction Sunday for $55.00! I ordered my reactor today, so hopefully it will be in soon and I can see if the co2 makes a difference with that light.

[mredman]

Did you try the $12 steak special at the auction? It was awesome!

Mike

Yep that was me in the back of the room at the bar lol.

[Streetbob]

Everything worked! I had the tank swapped at big tex welding supply and hooked everything up and it all worked flawlessly!

[Streetbob]

Did you try the $12 steak special at the auction? It was awesome!

Mike

We left right before lunch, we had my step-son with us and he was ready to go 15 minutes after we got there! So next auction he will be at his grammy's lol.

[mredman]

It was not a good place for children or spouses with no interest in aquariums. It became a bit boring for me near the end also.

Mike

[Streetbob]

Well at-least I know they weren't the only ones.

[mredman]

Now that you have CO2, you now need to optimize lighting and fertilizer. It is challenging but rewarding. When you are dialed in with CO2, expect your pH to drop a full point.

Mike

[Streetbob]

I know my PH hasn't completely stabilized yet since my tank is a little over 2 weeks old, but I may need to raise it when it does stabilize. Currently I'm reading 7.4 on my PH and if I drop a whole point it would be more like 6.4. Would that PH level be too low for German Blue Rams?

[mredman]

My rams are in 6.0 pH