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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #1026
>
> 1.stop using the reverse flow UF and just take it out.
This is a good idea (please, no ugf discussions!)
> 2.wash the gravel and maybe bleach it (but no bleach directly in the
> aquarium)
Dont bother. You have to bleach EVERYTHING if you want the bleach
treatment to be effective.
> 3.try to use a good substrate, maybe peat, gravel, and Duplarit
Dont mix different types of substrates... use only ONE approach. If you go
with Dupla then you should use their entire line of products ... see George
for details. I prefer a natural soil substrate with a layer of 1 to 3mm
gravel on top to reduce diffusion out of the sediment. I suggest also a
depth of 4 to 6 inches of substrate. From the reading and research that I
have done I suggest to you that a fertile substrate (of some sort) is the
single most important ingredient to a successful planted tank.
> 4.bleach the plants or maybe just change them.
See 2. above.
> 5.use two fluorescent bulbs (Trocal and Sunglo) so I will have 2.7 wpg
This is a GREAT idea... there is no point in using CO2 if your light is low!
> 6.use the PMDD or the Tropica master grow
This is probably the hardest part. You have to find a fertilizer, without
Phosphate, that you are comfortable with. On the other hand, large water
changes make the job of dosing far simpler. The best method of
fertilizing is to watch the plants... if they are healthy, then your
dosing is adequate. If they are not healthy, then cautiously increase the
dosage.
> 7.try to upgrade my CO2 system and take the value at 15-20 ppm
IMHO, dont worry about CO2 until your plants are healthy and growing.
Far too many people START with CO2 when this is the factor that you
should be ENDING with. It is true that some species will not thrive
without CO2 but if you start with a variety of plants and grow the ones
that thrive, then you can go back to the ones you had trouble with later,
once you are more accomplished in growing aquatic plants.
> 8.try to keep the PH value at 6.5-7
> 9.try to keep the hardness around 4° KH, GH
Again, unless your water is lousy, you dont have to worry about these
parameters... large frequent water changes are the best strategy for
stable water chemistry.
> 10. temperature at 25 °C
You can increase this to 28 to 30C.
> 11.1cm of fish per 1 gallon of water
Or less... make sure you stock with algae eaters and not heavy feeders.
dave.