Very easy method to start a new planted tank without any algae!(really)
- Thread starter plantbrain
- Start date
I'll have to try that some time, maybe with a new tank if I find one in a bit. So, you just take some sand (or other fine substrate) that has some nourrishment in it (used sand? lol), plant the plants, and fill the tank until the water level is almost/just about at the substrate level, cover tightly, and wait? If so, gj on the discovery, you might aswell start your own nurcery, lol
It seems so straight forward and obvious, I feel like an idiot for not thinking of it earlier. Thanks Tom.
Well, it's been fine no matter what I used, from a cheap shop light to the sun(PARTIAL SHADE ETC).
Regards,
Tom Barr
I think many of us all feel that way.
The idea of growing it emersed or doing a terrarium is not new at all...........however, going from terrarium back to submersed culture is bridging the gap it seems.
Most aquarist would not think of it for some reason.
I started thinking that it should be easy and require no dosing nor algae issues, then, after rotting, add water.
It seems like ADa should have thought of this method as well.
After all, Amano tends to slightly fill the tank(saturating the ADA AS first) when planting a new tank anyway, so why fill the tank after?
Seems someone should have happened upon it.
It certainly will make life much easier for many wanting foreground plant rugs and Crypts etc.
I think depending on your skills as an aquarist, using CO2, dosing right etc, doing water changes cleaning filters etc etc when you do finally fill the tank will make a big difference as well.
Does not matter how well things grow in before you flood, the tank will still fail if you do not care for it.
Still, this makes filling it in first super easy and no cycling etc and replanting loose errant clumps or fish uprooting new plantings.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Tom, do you encounter significant leaf loss, or die back of the emersed growth, once you fill the aquarium with certain species?
I know that in nature this is the normal cycle for many plants and an emersed period of growth actually leads to stronger and healthier submersed growth due to the way plants store and use starch as energy. Tropica has a blurb on their website on that very subject.
Just curious if you can share your experience with how various species responded once submersed and if any were particularly difficult to trim. Thanks!
I know that in nature this is the normal cycle for many plants and an emersed period of growth actually leads to stronger and healthier submersed growth due to the way plants store and use starch as energy. Tropica has a blurb on their website on that very subject.
Just curious if you can share your experience with how various species responded once submersed and if any were particularly difficult to trim. Thanks!
mellowvision
Seafood Lover
great thread. I've been thinking about having a terraced vivarium setup with a really shallow pool in one area that is for growing higher light plants like HC, and the deeper end having fewer plants/lower light plants... wonder if it will work similarly.
No, not yet.
It's a new method I think but the issue with leaf loss also involved the skill of the hobbyist.
Many have troubles adding enough CO2 or nutrients in the beginning anyway, all this method does is add more established growth.
It's not going to magically solve some folk's issues.
It's just another stepping stone to make things easier.
Put another way: folks can louse up even the nicest set up with full lush growth all on their own, which has nothing to do with the method or type of growth that was there prior to adding under water. :idea: :wall:
Just keep that thought in mind when folks have issues.
If you can do the tank well, then you should have no issues otherwise for most species.
Some folks may not like the leaf color/shape changes etc, but most leaves should be fine.
The only difference is really gas exchange is slowed down.
So if you add plenty of CO2, Excel etc, the plants should be okay.
I cannot say for all 300 species of aquatic plants commonly kept, I have obviously not tried it on everything yet.
Regards,
Tom Barr
I know you are posting this in every forum, and I have read it several times and I just don't understand how this changes anything. Algae can gow on a wet rock, and certainly on wet "sedimant". All you need is moisture and light to grow algae. And how many plants can you grow in just a wet substrate? Anything other than a carpet plant? If all you want to do is grow carpet fast, you can do that in a shallow tray and then transplant the whole "carpet" into your aquarium. What is the advantage of what you are suggesting?
