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Re: Hard water and fertilization
- To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
- Subject: Re: Hard water and fertilization
- From: "Jim Spencer" <jrs at cyber-quest_com>
- Date: Sat, 20 Sep 1997 09:24:12 +0000
- Comments: Authenticated sender is <jrs at cyber-quest_com>
- In-reply-to: <1938707104 at bbs_cyber-quest.com>
Merrill wrote
> I really don't want to "open a can of worms" or really start a thread, but
I think discussion threads are a big part of what this forum is all
about.
>snip
> The next problem causing agent is fertilization. In the aquarium,
> providing you have fish, the only time you might need fertilization is when
> starting a planted aquarium and only a few fish.
Certainly fish provide fertilization for our plants but how many
fish we keep varies greatly. Some keep a small number of fish and
their plants need some nitrate added while others keep so many
fish they need a trickle filter to help reduce the nitrate level.
You could rely on luck and hope your fish population is just right or
you could run a simple nitrate test. BTW these tests don't require
you to be a chemist to run them.
> Snip
> I don't need many complex test kits and continual testing. I
>enjoy my aquariums without algae problems. Many people on APD have
>seen my aquariums (including Claus Christensen of Tropica) and I
>give plants away weekly.
>
> Why do we try to make this so difficult and technical? Let's try to make
> it easier for hobbyists to be successful. I have done it the easy way for
> many years and that's why I'm still in it.
Certainly the key for growth in any hobby is that people are
successful. This is especially true for those who are new to the
hobby. Based on the growth that has occurred over the last few
years in people keeping planted aquariums in the US it appears that a
lot of beginners are being very successful. I don't think there is
any question that this success is primarily related to applying a
little science to the art of keeping a planted aquarium. Apparently
over many years Merrill has perfected the art of keeping planted
aquariums and has aquariums without algae problems and he is giving
plants away weekly.
I've been keeping a planted aquarium for 6 months now and by applying
the knowledge I have gained from the APD I have a wide variety of
plants growing, no algae problem, very healthy fish, and wishing I
knew someone locally that I could give all these plants to that I'm
throwing out.
> Everyone doesn't have to be a scientist or chemist to have a gorgeous aquarium. Takashi Amano is
>not a scientist or chemist and he has gorgeous aquariums because
>he's an artist that cares to have it as a beautiful work of art.
Testing your water doesn't require a degree in chemistry and my guess
is that Amano tests his water.
> We can do it simpler and better all the time without all the high tech
> equipment; but if that is what you like, great! Do it!
By meeting certain requirement for our plants, measuring and
controlling a few parameters we give ourselves a high probability of
success with a planted aquarium. High tech is just one of the ways we
could meet these requirements.
To provide adequate lighting you could go high tech and invest $500
in metal halide lamps or you could build a hood with two $8 shop
lights. Likewise to provide CO2 you could go high tech and invest
$1000 for a fully automated system or you could spend few dollars
for sugar and yeast. The point is with either approach you will have
a high probabilty of success.
> But so many hobbyists are having so much trouble as I lurk through APD, I just
>had to post this.
You must be reading a different APD than I am. What I see a great
number of people being very successful at keeping a planted aquarium.
It is what encouraged me to start and I'm sure it has encouraged many
other to do the same.
Jim Spencer Sayre, PA
jrs at cyber-quest_com
************************