co2 requirements

[tim4072]

i am new to planted tanks so this may be common knowledge, but has anyone tried dropping a piece of dry ice in your tank every so often? is this fish safe? thanks

 

[7Enigma]

No it is not. The compressors that make the dry ice cause some of the oils to be on the dry ice itself. The dry ice would also very quickly dissolve, dropping the pH very fast and probably stressing or killing the fish if you have any in the tank. Once the dry ice was used up, the CO2 that dissolved in the water would quickly leave the tank. It's really a bad idea, and DIY CO2 systems are so easy to make that its a waste of time IMO.

HTH

 

[malkore]

Dry ice is also extremely cold, and will reduce the temperature of the tank water quite rapidly.

(in addition to everything 7enigma said)

Plus, dry ice is a lot more expensive adn difficult to keep, than sugar, yeast, and a bottle of water (i.e. DIY CO2)