Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Zone Managememnt (2+1)

Unit 3 : Agricultural wastes and eutrophication

3.13.2.5.Carbon
Carbon, should we mention this, the most abundant plant element in dry weight. Except in plant crowded and otherwise boosted (lighting, chemical supplemented) systems, enough carbon as CO2 enters into aquarium systems through respiration processes and the atmosphere. Carbon can be 'forced' to become the rate limiting "minimum nutrient" factor, as can iron under intensive culture, or calcium or magnesium in soft water conditions.
Carbon dioxide infusion is useful in other ways; principally as a bicarbonate balancer in hard waters. The pH stabilization offered by carbon dioxide infusion goes a long way to promoting luxuriant plant growth.