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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V1 #278

> From: George Booth <booth at hpmtlgb1_lvld.hp.com>
> Date: Wed, 30 Aug 1995 13:48:02 -0600
> Subject: Re: Peat Alternatives
> 
> > From: stevensj at calshp_cals.wisc.edu
> > 
> > I imagine that using dead leaves might be no less convenient than peat,
> > but they may make a better substrate which doesn't float around the tank
> > & get in your filters like peat does.
> 
> What do people think about the appearance of such a substrate?
> Natural looking, of course, but *too* natural?  I like a certain
> amount of artificial neatness in the aquarium.  
> 
> George
> 

I really like the sound of a leaf substrate, but I living in an apartment
& not owning any trees I would worry too much about any pesticides etc on
the leaves killing my fish.  One day, when I am sure of the tree treatment,
I think I may try this.

> From: Charley Bay <charleyb at hpgrla_gr.hp.com>
> Date: Wed, 30 Aug 95 17:37:48 MDT
> Subject: Re: nutrient diffusion into substrate
> 
<snip>
> In short, I *honestly* want to know that long-term, can vermiculite at 
> least equal the effectiveness of laterite because of its higher
> CEC and more porous nature? 
> 
> - --charley
> charleyb at gr_hp.com	or	charley at agrostis_nrel.colostate.edu
> 

I would like to know this too.  I used laterite without UG heating in a
10 gal tank that I set up a few months ago & the substrate is anaerobic
already - I seem to be a master at creating anaerobic substrates!  This
is one reason why I have been reluctant to try vermiculite or leaves or
any other funky substrate.  Though, my plants are doing very well in my
anaerobic substrate tanks, both with & without laterite (well fertilized
with other Dupla products though :-) - I'm a believer!).

Neil,

You mentioned that you were tearing down your soil/vermiculit tank.  Maybe
I missed some previous parts of the conversation, but are you tearing it
down because it was anaerobic and/or because you didn't get good plant
growth?


I just set up a 55 gal tank last night (it was given to me by a friend) with
UGF since I have had success with a 125 gal with UGF & plants previously.
Logically I know I should try UG heating coils one day but this tank
already came with a UGF & I was impatient to set it up!  I am going to try
native plants & fish from Wisconsin lakes - just for fun!  In the meantime
I used some water from my other tanks (they were due for a waterchange!) to
start it up plus some peaty water.  I put some floating plants in but they
are being pushed all into one ball by the aquaclear 550 powerhead - do you
think this powerhead is too mush for a 55 gal tank?  There is another 
powerhead on the UGF but I'm not sure the brnad/speed of it.  It has a
variable flow adjuster on it & I have another variable flow powerhead that
i can put on to decrease the total flow.  The tank also has two Whisper 2
Secondnature power filters.  Any advice will be appreciated.

Can anyone reccomend a specific brand & type of cheap, hardware store light
bulbs?  I have a table which Drew Warwick forwarded to me many months ago
which was posted to the Krib by Joseph Sellinger via George I think.  I just
want someone else to decide for me which one to try, I'd like to try to
duplicate Coralife's Trichromatic and 50/50's which I've used the past.  Would
either of the 6500 K bulbs (Phillips daylight or  Comptom S 80) be comparable
to the trichromatic?  I can't seem to find anything comparable to the 50/50.


Also:

Re: David Huie's swordplant leaf holes

I think this may be a magnesium deficiency as your friend suggested, or
more likely a molybdenum deficiency based on your symptoms of brown spots
on the leaves as well as brownish edges of leaves (I'm basing this diagnosis
on the info in the  COMMON SYMPTOMS OF NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY IN AQUATIC PLANTS
which was posted Sun, 25 Jun, Aquatic Plants Digest V1 #146 by Neil Frank (a
table he adapted from Jacobsen, Niels. AQUARIUM PLANTS (1979).  Blandford
Press Ltd.).

I don't know how good using epsom salts really since they may contain other
things which may be harmful to plants (just a guess here).  But since using
epsom salts didn't help much then I'd suggest you try something with Mo in
it, e.g. that Chelated Micronutrient mix, Tropica Master Grow or Dupla
fertilizer tablets (only the tablets contain significant amounts of Mo).

Oh, it could also be a pottasium deficiency, for which the Dupla fertilizer
tablets & Tropica Master Grow would help as well.

Sorry about the long post, but I was feeling talkative!

Joanne.