🌿 Liquid Carbon Dosing Calculator
Estimate planted aquarium daily dose, weekly total, and a volume-based safety cap for liquid carbon products.
| Factor | Low Setting | Normal Setting | High Setting | Calculator Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant mass | Sparse 0.8x | Moderate 1.0x | Dense 1.3x | Raises dose when plants can use more carbon |
| Algae pressure | Preventive 0.9x | Maintenance 1.0x | Heavy algae 1.4x | Targets nuisance algae while respecting cap |
| Shrimp sensitivity | Breeders 0.55x | Community 1.0x | Plant-only 1.15x | Changes safety cap before final dose |
| Product strength | Mild 0.75% | Standard 1.5% | Extra 3.0% | Converts standard equivalent into bottle ml |
| CO2 context | Injected 0.85x | Balanced 1.0x | No CO2 1.1x | Accounts for alternate carbon availability |
| Tank | Dimensions | Volume | Moderate Plants | Safe Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 gal nano | 16 x 8 x 10 in | 19 L | 0.5 ml/day | 0.25 ml/day |
| 10 gal | 20 x 10 x 12 in | 38 L | 1.0 ml/day | 0.5 ml/day |
| 20 long | 30 x 12 x 12 in | 76 L | 2.0 ml/day | 1.0 ml/day |
| 29 gal | 30 x 12 x 18 in | 110 L | 2.9 ml/day | 1.45 ml/day |
| 40 breeder | 36 x 18 x 16 in | 151 L | 4.0 ml/day | 2.0 ml/day |
| 55 gal | 48 x 13 x 21 in | 208 L | 5.5 ml/day | 2.75 ml/day |
| 75 gal | 48 x 18 x 21 in | 284 L | 7.5 ml/day | 3.75 ml/day |
| 125 gal | 72 x 18 x 22 in | 473 L | 12.5 ml/day | 6.25 ml/day |
| Livestock Mode | Cap Rate | Best Use | What It Means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding shrimp or fry | 0.55x | Caridina, tiny fry | Keeps dose very conservative |
| Sensitive shrimp/snails | 0.75x | Neocaridina, nerites | Limits stronger algae settings |
| Community fish | 1.0x | Tetras, rasboras, plants | Uses normal daily cap |
| Plant-only quarantine | 1.15x | No livestock present | Allows a higher capped dose |
Liquid carbon dosing is an process of adding a liquid product to the planted tank to provide the plants with a source of carbon. While the goal of liquid carbon dosing is to provide enough carbon dioxide to the tanks plants so that they is able to use it for their biological processes, another goal of using liquid carbon is to ensure that the dosage doesnt harm the animals that live within the planted tank. Because too high of a dose of liquid carbon can be harmful to the animals within the planted tank, it is necessary to use a liquid carbon calculator to determine the amount of liquid carbon that should be added to the planted tank.
Such a calculator asks for the size of the planted tank, the density of the plants within the planted tank, the algae pressure within the planted tank, and the sensitivity of the shrimp to various dosage of liquid carbon. Many individuals that consider the use of liquid carbon dosing are typicaly either individuals that are seeing algae growth within there planted tanks, or individuals whose planted tanks are exhibiting slow grow of the plants, and whose plants are appearing pale. The liquid carbon product will provide the plants with organic carbon if the plants are not receiving enough carbon dioxide (CO2) from either CO2 gas that is injected into the tank, or if the tank does not contain any organic matter that can be utilized by the plants as a source of carbon.
How to Use a Liquid Carbon Calculator Safely
The different brands of liquid carbon contain different amounts of carbon dioxide, so the tank owner uses a liquid carbon calculator to ensure that neither too much nor too little liquid carbon are added to the planted tank. The amount of liquid carbon that is needed within the planted tank is dependent upon the types of living things that are contained within the tank. For instance, tanks that contain many fast-growing plants will require more liquid carbon than those that contain few and slow-growing plants.
Thus, one of the settings on the liquid carbon calculator must be adjusted to reflect the amount of plant mass that exists within the planted tank. Additionally, because the shrimp and snails that live within the planted tank are sensitive to changes in the water chemistry within that tank, a setting on the liquid carbon calculator is required to ensure that the dose of liquid carbon does not go beyond a maximum level that would be potentially harmful to those invertebrate. The algae pressure within the planted tank is also one of the factors to consider when using the liquid carbon calculator.
If the user is to increase the dose of liquid carbon in an attempt to kill the algae that is growing within the planted tank, it is important to ensure that the plants are consuming the carbon dioxide provided by the liquid carbon. If the plants are not able to consume all of the liquid carbon that is provided to the planted tank, the algae will be fed instead. By using the liquid carbon calculator, it is possible to increase the recommended dose of liquid carbon to fight the algae, but ensure that the dose remains within the limits of the shrimp sensitivity setting.
Additionally, planted tanks that do not use CO2 gas typically require more liquid carbon to fulfill the needs of the plants, while planted tanks that use injected CO2 contains enough carbon dioxide for the plants to meet their requirements. It is also possible to use the “water change boost” setting on the liquid carbon calculator. During water changes, the organic carbon that is dissolved in the water within the planted tank is removed.
Thus, an extra small dose of liquid carbon is required to ensure that the dissolved carbon levels in the tank is maintained. The liquid carbon calculator accounts for this “extra” amount of liquid carbon, but also ensures that the calculated amount of liquid carbon does not rise above the daily limit for the planted tank. Beyond entering the tank size, the type of plants, the amount of algae, and the sensitivity of the shrimp to liquid carbon, another factor in the successful dosing of liquid carbon is the dispersion of the liquid carbon throughout the planted tank.
The user should dose the liquid carbon into the planted tank while the lights are on, so that the plants have time to utilize the liquid carbon while the water in the planted tank is moving throughout the tank. However, if the fish within the planted tank begin to gasp for air, or if the shrimp become inactive, the user should increase the surface agitation within the tank, and the user should decrease the amount of liquid carbon that is dosed. Beyond ensuring that the liquid carbon is dispensed throughout the planted tank, it is important to begin with a low dose of liquid carbon to begin with, and to subsequently increase the amount of liquid carbon that is dosed into the planted tank slow.
Many liquid carbon calculators include a “ramp” setting that will gradually increase the amount of liquid carbon to be dosed into the planted tank during the first week after establishing a dosage schedule. Once the plants and the animals within the planted tank have acclimated to the presence of the liquid carbon, and have exhibited no negative reactions to the new liquid carbon dosage, it is possible to increase the dosage to the full amount that is recommended by the liquid carbon calculator. Within the first few days of dosing the planted tank with liquid carbon, it is important to continue to monitor the health of both the plants and the animals within the planted tank.
If the amount of algae within the planted tank dies, but the plants do not change in appearance, the dose of liquid carbon is likely too low to meet the requirements of the plants. If the plants begin to develop pearls, and the levels of algae within the planted tank have decreased, it is likely that the dosage of liquid carbon is the correct amount for that planted tank. However, if the shrimp within the planted tank begin to change their normal behavior and move towards the surface of the planted tank, or if the tips of the plants begin to melt, the amount of liquid carbon that is dosed into the planted tank is too high.
Thus, the purpose of liquid carbon dosing is to find a balance that ensures that the plants receive enough carbon to outcompete the algae for the growth of the plants, while ensuring that the dose is low enough to not adversely affect the health of the fish and shrimp that live within the planted tank. It could of been a better process if more info was provided.
