Lighting and CO2
Estimate light power, CO2 delivery, and fertilizer dosing for planted tank setups.
Lighting Power (W)
42
Lighting Output (Lumens)
4200
Est. PAR (µmol/m²/s)
53
Scaled from the same W/L demand curve — not a PAR meter reading.
Target CO2 (mg/L)
24
Bubble Rate (bps)
1.44
Drop Checker
green
blue: low, green: target, yellow: too high
Fertilizer Dosing
Macro / week (ml)
24
Micro / week (ml)
14.4
Macro / day (ml)
3.43
Micro / day (ml)
2.06
pH-KH-CO2 Quick Reference
For freshwater planted tanks, KH 3-6 and a pH drop around 1.0 during photoperiod often corresponds to roughly 20-30 mg/L CO2.
Related Guide
Strong light, stable CO2, and consistent nutrition must be balanced together for healthy growth.
Increase one variable gradually and watch plant and algae response for at least one week before further changes.
Good circulation and surface agitation improve oxygen stability and overall tank resilience.
FAQ
What is a good PAR target for planted tanks?
Low tech often runs around 20–40 µmol/m²/s, while high-demand setups can reach 60+. The Est. PAR here is a rough number from the same lighting demand curve as watts — use a PAR meter for precision.
How much CO2 is usually safe?
Most planted tanks target around 20-30 mg/L with stable circulation and monitoring.
Which dosing method should I choose?
EI is nutrient-rich, PPS-Pro is balanced daily dosing, Lean dosing minimizes excess.
Can I run high light without CO2?
Possible, but algae risk rises quickly when light exceeds nutrient and carbon availability.
Are these dosing values exact?
They are practical starting points and should be tuned by plant response and test data.
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Results are estimates based on general guidelines. Individual species may have specific requirements.