[APD] Re: dirt, moderate CO2, and moderate light

["Tom Wood" <tomwood2 at flash_net>]

TB: "What is "moderate"? 15ppm? 30ppm? 2w/gal? 1.5 w/gal?"

Yes.

Since 1WPG and less is considered 'low light' and 3WPG and more is 
considered 'high light', then anything in between can be considered 
'moderate light'. And once you're in the moderate light category, the 
amount of CO2 doesn't make that much difference. There's less of a need to 
squeeze in every last molecule using reactors, or turning it up until the 
fish gasp. The 'one bubble per second per 40 gallons' rule of thumb does 
well enough to get to around 20ppm.

TB: "PO4/NO3 test generally are poor. Unless you calibrate them and see if 
they are good, I'd not even bother using them. Often they cause more issues 
and take folks away from the plant's signals. Some have calibrated their 
cheaper test kits, I still suggest using the best ones you can afford."

Eh, disagree, but you already knew that. The Aquarium Pharmaceuticals NO3 
and PO4 test kits are accurate, cheap, and for me have always calibrated to 
the enclosed chart. Testing NO3 and PO4 is fast and easy, and makes those 
two 'variables' constants. With NO3 and PO4 held constant, you can adjust K 
and traces and get a reaction that provides the needed clues for dosing 
those. Keep a log for a while and you can see a pattern that lets you 
reduce testing because you can generally just dose what you did before and 
be close enough.

DP: "So, to summarize: from what I understood, Diana is more interested in 
simplicity and minimal work after the setup, and a little science to see if 
some of her theories make sense. In contrast, I'd say that Tom Barr is ALOT 
more interested in the science and the proving of theories aspect of the 
hobby."

Looking at the posts in Walstad's section over at the AB forums, I see a 
lot of people there having long term problems with her method. It appears 
to me that those problems stem from the definition of 'dirt' and all the 
results from variations of its composition. I see Tom Barr's approach as 
being more reliable and simple because the variables can be identified, 
quantified and controlled. To me, growing plants underwater seems to be 
more closely related to hydroponics than houseplants. The professional 
hydroponics folks remove the 'dirt' variable as well.

TW 


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