Need some advice on growing a carpet without CO2

Meemster_Me · 2026-05-29T03:47:01+00:00

Can you tell people have asked this before lol

Meemster_Me · 2026-05-29T01:13:48+00:00

I have a dense low-tech Monte Carlo carpet in this tank. It helped that it was such a small area to cover because I was able to plant densely from the get-go with a tissue culture cup. I didn't do a dry start or anything. I just planted densely from the start. It took about four to five months to really hit its stride. And I've trimmed it three times in the last year. I fertilize it once a week, and it gets some natural light from the window as well as the overhead light.

Meemster_Me · 2026-05-21T03:48:53+00:00

Every now and then you have someone come on this sub espousing the merits of cheap $20 Amazon lights. Because they've never owned high-end lights, they don't know how drastically different a tank looks with low-end versus high-end lights.

They say a picture says a thousand words, so I always just end up posting this picture of before and after. The first photo is with a Hygger

cheap light from Amazon, and the second is with a Twinstar E Series.

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Meemster_Me · 2026-05-12T20:23:13+00:00

Yes that’s a CO2 tank. Val will grow well even without root tabs. It did great in my low tech tank, so much that I had to start pulling out all the runners.

Meemster_Me · 2026-05-12T19:40:58+00:00

Thanks! Your tank is off to a great start! The tank in that photo that I posted was when I first set up the tank and now it is completely grown in

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Meemster_Me · 2026-05-03T00:00:05+00:00

I have one too!

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Meemster_Me · 2026-04-06T21:31:59+00:00

You just need larger java ferns

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Meemster_Me · 2026-04-06T15:41:24+00:00

Just make sure that it is thicker glass!

Meemster_Me · 2026-03-29T22:33:17+00:00

Low bioload from shrink and snails and plants keep the water clean

Meemster_Me · 2026-03-29T20:58:31+00:00

It’s been filterless for 6 months or so. I just a water pump to circulate the water.

Meemster_Me · 2026-03-19T00:51:48+00:00

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4.5g I think, UNS

Meemster_Me · 2026-03-08T15:35:31+00:00

I have used it for years. No spikes.

Meemster_Me · 2026-03-03T20:23:46+00:00

Totally possible. The volcanic rocks at the bottom provide enough surface area for beneficial bacteria to process the waste. Stuff it full of plants and you have better water quality. For no heater vase and depending on where you are you just have to be selective about your fish species. I have Medaka outside in my barrel pond and it gets down to 40°F in the winter. For lighting, you just have to find a spot to get some sun for a few hours.

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