Setup questions

[efs710920mex]

Hello, I have a 10 gal tank with 2 juvenile axolotls and this setup.

I wonder if I can use DIY CO2 to help the plants grow.

Light is aprox 600 lumen at the surface of the water. It's been a week now with this setup but the filter has been working for almost a year now, so it's completely cycled.

Any suggestion is welcomed.

 

[minorhero]

Given what I'm seeing I can virtually gurantee that light is not powerful enough to warrant CO2. You might want to move it closer. That alone would help the plants.

 

[efs710920mex]

The light can give around 3000 lumen but I worry about the axolotls since it's too much light for them. I wondered if using CO2 would help the plants a little.

 

[minorhero]

The light can give around 3000 lumen but I worry about the axolotls since it's too much light for them. I wondered if using CO2 would help the plants a little.

I am guessing you mean 3000k not 3000 lumen. It would take some very powerful LEDs to produce 3,000 lumen in a size that small. Not impossible but highly improbable given the rest of the lights appearance. Do you have a link to the light description?

 

[efs710920mex]

I measure the lumens with the phone and that's the reading at 20cm of the surface, it's made of two lamps but I don't know the temperature. The lamp is for hydroponics.

 

[minorhero]

I measure the lumens with the phone and that's the reading at 20cm of the surface, it's made of two lamps but I don't know the temperature. The lamp is for hydroponics.

Which app? Are you sure it wasn't measuring Lux instead of lumens?

 

[efs710920mex]

1lux = 1 lumen/m2

 

[minorhero]

Yes, that conversion is important. I have Lux Meter on my phone. Measuring a 3000 lumen 4000k shop light I have on a plant grow out tank at 20cm shows a result of approximately 7400 lux.

 

[efs710920mex]

Ok, but my question is about CO2, can it harm the lotls? I know it lowers pH but I can keep it in range.

 

[minorhero]

Ok, but my question is about CO2, can it harm the lotls? I know it lowers pH but I can keep it in range.

I don't own an axolotl so I don't know for sure. I would certainly worry about it given it will be a diy system that inherently produces an unstable amount of co2. Since axolotls have gills you run the risk of gasing them to death. I don't know if they are more sensitive to co2 (like some shrimp) or less sensitive. So, sorry can't help with that question.

 

[Calgarycoppers]

CO2 is a no go for axolotls

and 10g is WAAAYYYYYY to small for 1 let alone 2 juvenile axolotls.

you need a minimum of 3 sq ft of floor space for 2. That equates to a standard 33g tank or a custom made smaller tank

 

[efs710920mex]

Why do you think it's WAAAYYYYY too small for 2 axolotls?
The research team in the Biology Institute at UNAM recommends 40 l for a pair of axolotls. Not in vain they are called "walking fish".

 

[MnGuy]

I agree that a 10 gallon is too small for two axolotls. I keep three alpine newts in a 20 long and they are a very small species.

I'm a longtime fishkeeper and I don't think you need CO2 for the types of plants you're keeping. They're hardy plants that should do well without CO2. I honestly have no idea how CO2 affects axolotls or newts.

I agree that lowering the light a lot is what the plants need. It is way too dark at the bottom of the tank. However, that could make the axolotls unhappy. I don't keep axolotls but I've read that they don't like bright light. I keep my newts in a planted tank with low-level plants and a ton of floating plants.

Good luck.

 

[efs710920mex]

I agree that lowering the light a lot is what the plants need. It is way too dark at the bottom of the tank. However, that could make the axolotls unhappy. I don't keep axolotls but I've read that they don't like bright light. I keep my newts in a planted tank with low-level plants and a ton of floating plants.

That is exactly my question. The balance between requirements for plants and axolotls. I thought of CO2 to help them instead of increasing light, but there is the point of not being very stable and ph variations are not good for axos. I'll keep trying with light intensity.

 

[Murk]

Between fertiliser, light and CO2, there will always be one "weakest link" which limits the plant growth (unless all three are perfectly balanced, of course).
Raising the two that are not the weakest link won't help, because it is the other that is limiting growth.

For example, if you have too little light, adding CO2 or fertiliser won't help - because it is the light that is the limiting factor. Similarly, if you have too little CO2, adding light or fertiliser won't help. Etc.

In a cold-water tank, without very heavy lighting and quite heavy fertilisation, CO2 won't ever be the limiting factor. Only when you have fast-growing plants (mostly tropical), with a lot of lighting, and fertilisation, would CO2 be possibly helpful.
Of course it won't help the emersed plants either way.

To me, adding CO2 to the axolotl tank would be a slight risk (because you are introducing another unstable element to the tank, which is always a small risk), for no gain.

You can lower the light a bit, yes. I haven't ever noticed axolotls disliking the light, though some individuals might. You can try it and see how they respond. You have plenty of shadow spots in any case.
Surface movement is always good for the water; if you can get an air stone bubbling it will sliiiiightly help with oyxgen and CO2 levels. Most axolotls seem to enjoy them.

And lastly: indeed, general recommendations are 20 gallons for one axolotl, 30 gallons for two - at the very least.

 

[efs710920mex]

Between fertiliser, light and CO2, there will always be one "weakest link" which limits the plant growth (unless all three are perfectly balanced, of course).
Raising the two that are not the weakest link won't help, because it is the other that is limiting growth.

For example, if you have too little light, adding CO2 or fertiliser won't help - because it is the light that is the limiting factor. Similarly, if you have too little CO2, adding light or fertiliser won't help. Etc.

In a cold-water tank, without very heavy lighting and quite heavy fertilisation, CO2 won't ever be the limiting factor. Only when you have fast-growing plants (mostly tropical), with a lot of lighting, and fertilisation, would CO2 be possibly helpful.
Of course it won't help the emersed plants either way.

To me, adding CO2 to the axolotl tank would be a slight risk (because you are introducing another unstable element to the tank, which is always a small risk), for no gain.

You can lower the light a bit, yes. I haven't ever noticed axolotls disliking the light, though some individuals might. You can try it and see how they respond. You have plenty of shadow spots in any case.
Surface movement is always good for the water; if you can get an air stone bubbling it will sliiiiightly help with oyxgen and CO2 levels. Most axolotls seem to enjoy them.

And lastly: indeed, general recommendations are 20 gallons for one axolotl, 30 gallons for two - at the very least.

Thanks, that clears most of my questions. The tank will change in a few months. I'm about to move to a new apartment so I don't want to make changes yet.

This is the most light I can get of this lamps

It's about 3000 lumen.

 

[efs710920mex]

BTW the Echinodorus Amazonicus are in such a bad condition because they come from my 330 liters tank with a turtle.

 

[Murk]

This is the most light I can get of this lamps

Yea, that seems plenty.

If it's too much light, you'll get algae. As long as you don't get algae (or the axolotls seem bothered by it), you won't have too much light.

 

[efs710920mex]

Ok. Thanks

 

[leomleite]

Hello, I have a 10 gal tank with 2 juvenile axolotls and this setup.

I wonder if I can use DIY CO2 to help the plants grow.

Light is aprox 600 lumen at the surface of the water. It's been a week now with this setup but the filter has been working for almost a year now, so it's completely cycled.

Any suggestion is welcomed.

As long as they have enough hides, the light shouldn't bother!