[APD] Re: testing the Barr method and the Lazy boody method

[Rhonda Wilson <rhonda at naturalaquariums_com>]

> From: "Rozell, Spencer" <srozell at mdsi_ca>
> Subject: [APD] CO2 Questions
> To: <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
>
> I'm in the process of setting up a number of 20 gallon tanks to test the Barr Method. I'll be running 4 tanks the "Barr Way", and 4 tanks the "Lazy Ass" way. In particular I'll monitor plant growth, fish health and algae growth.
>
> In the end,  I'm trying to combine the two and develop the "Lazy Ass Barr Method". This means I don't want to be mixing sugar and yeast, poking holes in balloons or stuff like that. I'd much rather put the money down and buy the right equipment.

I suppose my tanks have to be about as close to lazy as you can get. 
though I like to think of it more in terms of conservation of time. I 
don't use anything extra, it's just the tanks, gravel, maybe rocks or 
wood, or decoration of some sort, plants, fish and light. I don't use 
filters, fertilizers, CO2, or anything else. I have played with other 
things a few times here or there but I was never as happy with the 
results as the extra time and trouble it took.

I think that sometimes there seems to be a general opinion that if 
you're not growing the rarest most difficult plants, and they aren't 
all perfectly lined up and trimmed correctly that there's something 
wrong with what you're doing. I'll be the first to admit I can't seem to 
grow every plant I've tried. There are some plants that I think would do 
better in a pampered system. But I have lot's of plants in my tanks, 
plenty of excess growth, and happy breeding fish. I have about 75 
planted tanks set up right now, I have a few down because I'm 
rearranging my fish room a bit.

Without going to extremes I don't really think there is a right and 
wrong way to have a planted tank. It's more a matter of  what the person 
who's tank it is wants out of it and whether or not they're satisfied 
with what they're getting. I tend to kind of like things that are tough 
independent and a little wild. I love my dogs, but I have more respect 
for the cat. I tend to think of aquatic gardens as being similar to 
regular gardens. There are lovely formal gardens and beautiful Japanese 
tea gardens, and then there are casual cottage gardens. They all have 
unique beauty and each are more suitable to people with different sorts 
of personality. Without going to ridiculous extremes I would say 
generally that all the methods are the best method for different people, 
plants and fish.

Rhonda

--
http://naturalaquariums.com/



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