Stunted/small leaves...CO2 too low?

[tug]

... all you girls and boys.

Joyeux Noël

[sns26]

We went out of town for ten days over the holidays, and I did a little experiment. Turned the lights down to about 50%. Turned the CO2 way down too (I have to do this when I'm gone for a while to guard against airlocks.) Left the ferts where they were. And what do you know...I grew some nice big beautiful leaves while I was gone. Not on the macrandra though. That stuff never grows for me.

[tug]

There has been some buzz about this over at the Barr Report. A few people notice better plant growth when they reduced their CO2 bubble rate, rotala green and downoi, etc. This individual also had an explosive and constant BGA problem that cleared up a week after the adjustment. Not sure why and nothing else was changed other than the CO2. The original bubble rate was deemed to be excessive by all and for most this might not be a an issue. It might be related to a study on CO2 toxicity Sean has been working on.

I hope to have your situation soon. I need to get more plants but I've made a few adjustments to my Duetto reactor and my pH is now dropping an additional 0.6 degrees. So, from a pH of 7.5 to a pH of 6 degrees by days end.

[krisw]

Mike, do you have the links for this buzz? I imagine there could be a number of limiting factors, not just CO2 toxicity. Perhaps, the CO2 was too high and out of proportion with the fertilization, which caused nitrate levels to deplete, which can be a trigger for BGA. Reducing CO2, balanced things out, and plants grew between water changes, as opposed to bursting, then stunting, then growing again when fresh water came in? Just a thought...

[tug]

I think it's brilliant. Funny thing is no one has thought of it and the discussion is going on at the Barr Report. It might be because Gerry has been a long time member and we would not expect this from him. Funny how we forget the elephant in the room. If you don't mind, I will let them know GWAPA members suggest it as a possibility. I am also listing a link to a long thread that questions why plants seem to do better after a water change. It sounds as if you could provide some insight.

Decreasing c02 - observations; http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.ph ... servations
Why water change day seems to grow aquatic plants better; http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.ph ... nts-better