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re: Re: Aponogetons
>Oh yeah, you said you use Tetra fertilizer when the plant starts to look
>sad.
>Are those tablets or liquid fertilizer? I use liquid but suspect that
>the tablets may be better for the plants: more localized and concentrated.
I've pretty much decided IMO that the tetra liquid fertilizer is really good if
you want to grow blue algae. I use the tablets broken in half, stuffed into
the gravel next to the tuber/roots.
>The problem with Apons and other plants (for me at least) is that I can't
>seem to provide them with enough nutrients where they want them i.e. at the
>roots.
Right now, I don't have any better way of handling water-borne nutrients than
you. Another thing that I plan for my teardown is a substrate flow system. My
design is gravity-fed, and relies on a trickle from the return from my pump to
keep the system full of water. Any overflow just goes into the tank. Why did
I describe this? I plan to add my DuplaPlant 24 drops to this system. This
way, I inject the iron directly into the substrate. I will run some tests as
to how much iron I need and maybe compare them with someone else's usage.
> The green algae bacteria are too efficient at consuming what I pour
>in. That's why I'm also trying to find out if it's better to have "real"
>dirt down there for the roots. This means actual under the surface bacteria
>working to decompose the organic material to allow it to be absorbed by
>the rootlets. The whole point of UG flow and heating coils is to allow
>the beneficial ones to do their job. The only question I have with that
>theory is: How does it work in a swamp where there is no oxygen under
>the substrate surface?
In a swamp, certain areas go anaerobic, and other areas have sub-surface flow.
I want my tank to mimic a stream or pond over a swamp, though. According to
the books, laterite is probably your best solution. I plan to use it. I
really want to avoid peat because I know I'll have to tear down too soon to get
rid of a stinking mess of rotten sphagnum.
>Plants still grow. I suspect the substrate is the
>real secret here but let's look at how everybody else is doing it and
>compare notes.
>BTW. just post any reply to a question from me for everybody if you wish.
Done.