many benefits, as well as a few drawbacks. Too much Co2 and not enough lights and plants can spell ALGAE. Co2, something you add to make your plants grow faster and healthier may seem like a hard, labor intensive thing but it isn't.

You can either buy a setup or make your own (like I did) from a soda bottle and a few inexpensive accessories. There are many recipes on the web for homemade Co2 most are simple to set up and maintain. Others are not. Just browse around until you find one right for you.

NOTE-: that Co2 has the chance of exploding. It probably will not happen to you, but it CAN happen. There are many plants you can use that don't require Co2 so, if you're afraid of the possibility of explosion, opt instead for these plants.

-Substrate-

There is a lot of debate over this issue; some people act as though they are defending their loved ones when they speak of substrate! It is really a very basic concept though; use the right substrate for your plants and the fish you plan to keep. I much prefer a sand substrate to gravel, it looks nice, is easy to plant in and safe for most species of fish. Some fish even require it (Peacock Eels and various other species lacking scales). Clay is another great substrate; good clay has nutrients your plants need to thrive, healthy plants help make for happy fish!

You can even combine various substrates to create your own "Custom Mix". In doing this you can create special planting holes for various kinds of plants. Also, mixing your own substrate is much cheaper than buying ready made! I'll include my own special (and CHEAP) general purpose substrate recipe towards the end of this article.

-Lighting-

Very important, as lighting makes your plants grow, controls algae and so many other things in your aquarium. A lot of aquarium kits lack in their lights, they just aren't strong enough to keep plants alive. If you need to upgrade, do so before buying your plants.

Generally, 1-3 Watts Per Gallon (WPG) will grow low light plants effectively. Some plants need more light, so, 4-5 WPG should suffice. As usual, check your plants specific needs before buying the light!

How to figure this out?
To figure your WPG, just take your total watts and divide it by the number of gallons your tank is.

-Live Plants-

Live Plants are one of the most important factors when setting up any aquarium. They not only add beauty, they are a natural food source, extremely effective filter as well as a place for small fry and shy fish to find safety.

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