I'm cooking through CO2. I have no idea what the flow rate is , I'd need mass flow controller meter for that, eg an Alicat or something. I use those on large 500 gal+ display tanks. Only way to measure, bubbles per second cannot be done.
I use a 10lb tank, so ~ 4kg since it fits well under the stand. I might use one in 4-5 months?
The point of the tank/goal is multidimensional:
1.Farm, but it needs to look good, so different trim and harvest method are done and the trade off between profit and aesthetics afterward and recovery are weighed.
2. The scape, the aesthetics overall
3. Livestock: these are also sold, the fish? Maybe. Fire shrimp and high grade CRS's? Definitely(maybe 100$ a month)
But these are aesthetics also.....but I happen to be able to make a profit off them also.
4. Contrast and texture in the scape.
5. A scape where I can try new trim methods and new plant species.
6. Generally balance new eclectic species with species that just fit the right spot in the tank. Rare new plants will sell better and some are just nice and easy to care for, others are weedy and removed if a suitable replacement is found.
Very few scapes perform well as sales and farm like production, and also look good. There's a trade off for that.
Many Dutch scapers have spent a good 20-30 years doing what this tank has done in a few months.
But I took risk to get it there and I also..have a good 20 years experience to boot like them also
But when folks tell me that EI is bad for plants, causes algae, or that there is a better way to do it.....I have to compare it to this and see if they are selling plants and growing them like this or selling shrimp etc by the hundreds every month.
It's no newbie tank, that's for sure.
But one reason it does well is the light and CO2.
Ferts are a relatively minor aspect but the one I get the most questions about.