What test kit(s) for a planted tank?

[geofied]

great, thanks. I found some info on Walstad's method on the AquariumWiki online.

Ah, very good. I may have to bookmark that so I don't have to lug the book everywhere around the house.:read:

Thanks for the tip!

 

[clawlan]

linky: http://theaquariumwiki.com/Walstad_method

P.S. Love the fish in your avatar. what type of tetra is that?

 

[Rex Grigg]

Fish food is a LOT more expensive than bulk dry nutrients.

 

[geofied]

Fish food is a LOT more expensive than bulk dry nutrients.

I get the point you are trying to make. But I already have fish food, and will always need it regardless, for the fish. An extra pinch to "feed the tank" is hardly breaking the bank. But buying bulk dry nutrients is an added expense, plush shipping.

The other consideration is where the nutrients accumulate. With the fish food/mulm method, they accumulate in the substrate and the plants get them from the roots, unlike water column fertilization.

 

[geofied]

Pristella Tetra

linky: http://theaquariumwiki.com/Walstad_method

P.S. Love the fish in your avatar. what type of tetra is that?

Thanks! It took about 30 tries to get a focused picture of that flippin' fish. It is a Pristella Tetra. I fell in love with them at my LFS when I saw them in the stores' planted tank. I think they contrast wonderfully with the plants. Coolest thing abou them is that when they feed, they dart to the top of the tank at an angle, and come back down to where they were prior...very cool. I need to post a video of it to utube or something.

Here's a few more pics if you're interested Note - they all (4) have little nips out of their tail-fins, apparently from my dwarf puffer.


BTW - Sorry 56K'ers!



Original Avatar pic


The last pic includes my SAE getting ready to chase the tetra. He bullies them a bit when food is involved (he has a nip in his tail too).

 

[clawlan]

great pictures! What camera do you use?

 

[phanmc]

where can i find documentation on Diana Walstad, PPS, and EI methods?

Diana has her book, which you can buy from amazon.com.

PPS (perpectual preservation system) was developed by a moderator of APC and you can read about it there:

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/.../4241-pps-perpetual-preservation-systems.html

EI (estimative index) was developed by Tom Barr, aka plantbrain around these parts. Tom has his own website and you can read about the EI method here:

http://www.barrreport.com/estimative-index/62-estimative-index-dosing-no-need-test-kits.html

If you dig down into the science behind each method, you'll find that they all agree, for the most part, on what needs to be done in order to successfully grow aquatic plants. It is in the execution that separates them.

 

[geofied]

Wow, thanks for the compliment. Like I said, I have dozens of pictures that didn't focus properly, these were a few that did. Digital film is cheap though, heh.

I use a Sony DSC-P150 7.2mp. Couple of years old now, but has a decent macro mode. One of the toughest challenges has been to keep the glass clean enough to not interfere with auto focusing. I should be doing more manual focusing, but it seems easier to use auto when I'm chasing the fish around the tank with the camera.

BTW, these are resized down from the original-original. The originals are really big.

 

[geofied]

Sorry, I know my rambling is off-topic, we should just get a thread already...

 

[Rex Grigg]

$17.50 in the US will get most people a minimum of a years supply of bulk dry nutrients.