How to Raise the CO2 in a Saltwater Aquarium

Your primary concerns when monitoring the water chemistry in your saltwater aquarium should be pH, ammonia and nitrates/nitrites. However, controlling the concentration of CO2 in the water is also important and often overlooked, especially if you have live plants in the aquarium. If you really want to have healthy, lush plants--which will benefit the health of all living things in the aquarium--you should consider injecting CO2. Plants need enough CO2 to photosynthesize correctly, and healthy plants produce more oxygen, which is essential to the well-being of your fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Pollen glass atomizer
  • CO2 bubble counter
  • CO2 regulator
  • Container of liquid carbon dioxide
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Instructions

    • 1

      Analyze your saltwater aquarium to determine if CO2 injection is necessary. The simple answer is if more than 20 percent of the plants in your aquarium are planted--that is, not artificial--then you should add CO2.

    • 2

      Purchase the items listed above from a professional aquarium supplier. Opt for glass instead of plastic. Plastic equipment is cheaper, but glass looks better and is easier to clean.

    • 3

      Set up the pollen glass atomizer and liquid carbon dioxide in your tank by closely following the directions on the packaging. The pollen glass atomizer converts the liquid CO2 into small bubbles that will be pumped into the aquarium. The CO2 will subsequently dissolve into the water.

    • 4

      Set up the CO2 bubble counter and CO2 regulator. These will regulate the amount of CO2 released into the water per second and allow you to control how much your equipment is administering.

    • 5

      Monitor plant and animal health closely in your tank and note any significant changes. CO2 does affect the pH and KH in your tank, so check these regularly as always. If you witness a significant drop or increase in pH or KH, address the problem immediately or your plants and animals will die.