[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Trying new substrate method



Kevin:

IMHO, you are making a disaster waiting to occur!!  You don't need all this
fertilization, and I am certain that you have become confused on what
others have written -- completely!  I  have purposely repeated your "post",
because I am sure the other names you have mentioned have not suggested
what you call this :"medium tech".  I guarantee you that you will have
fertilizer "soup" and lose all of your fish (and plants).  Use one type of
substrate like the laterite and re-read everything that you have seen
before making a change!  You are heading for discouragement and a mess if
you follow through with your fertilization plans!  It will be awful to lose
your Discus, etc. STOP NOW and let others reply before making any move!

Merrill
Aquatic Gardeners Association

> Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 20:59:39 -0500
> From: "Kevin Reavis" <kevinreavis at email_msn.com>
> Subject: Trying new substrate method
> 
> Hi everyone
> 
> I am about to set up a new tank using "Steve's fertile 3 layer substrate"
> for the first time.  My current 90 gal tank is gravel only with
fertilizer
> additives.  I have read everything (i think) on the Krib & AGA and
previous
> postings to this list on substrate and fertilizers.  I am still slightly
> confused on the issue of which layers to put certain additives into.  My
> plan is as follows:  (comments, opinions & suggestions appreciated:)
> 
> 100 gal tank 72x18x18 with open top
> Homemade hood suspended from ceiling (thanks Eric)
> Icecap ballast w/3 vho bulbs 140 watts each
> 2 full spectrum 6500k for the plants & 1 blue actinic to bring out the
color
> in my fish
> DIY yeast CO2 bubbled thru my canister filter
> No carbon - just ceramic noodles & peat
> spray bar positioned vertical to minimize surface movement
> Substrate: (thanks Steve)
> Bottom layer - 2 bags flourite + 2 large boxes dupla laterite
> Middle layer - topsoil+peat+vermiculite+perlite+well aged compost
> Top layer - 3 inches of medium grade sand blast sand (silica)
> Plants - varieties of val, water sprite, hygro poly, giant hygro,crinium,
> various swords
> bacopa, rotala, anubias & crypts under the "shade" of the val forest
after
> the soil matures
> 
> I will transfer my 8 discus to this tank when it has aged so the temp
will
> have to be 82-83F
> My local tap water is very soft - 2 dkh - with neutral ph and no
chloramine
> (yet!)
> Plan to do small daily water changes with straight tap water & PMDD
(thanks
> George)
> 
> I started my 90 gal plant tank 2 years ago as a complete newbie and was
> convinced that I needed every chemical concoction & gadget known to man
to
> make it work right - (my LFS loves me!:) so I have been thru lots of
stuff,
> trial and error and money and still did not have the kind of plant
display I
> wanted.  Plus the 90 gal tank
> is so deep that it has almost broken my back trying to maintain it.  I am
> looking forward to a tank that is only 18" deep!  Finally, I found Karen,
> George, Steve, Paul, Erik and all the others posting to this list and
> writing articles that have convinced me that less is better.  So I am
going
> for medium tech - minimized everywhere possible. I used to just want to
grow
> plants - now I want to become a "gardener" - (thanks Karen:)
> 
> My questions are:
> 
> 1.  Which layer do I put the additive into?
> 
> I have the following (to use sparingly):
> fritted trace elements
> micronized iron
> aquaterra (potassium, magnesium, iron)
> flourite tables
> & the dupla tablets that came with the laterite
> 
> All in the bottom?  divide them between bottom & middle? if they should
be
> divided - does it matter which ones go in which layer?  I understand that
I
> need to minimize the amount that will leach into the water column - so
that
> would lead me to believe they should all go in the bottom?
> 
> 2.  Is there any benefit to mixing "aged" gravel into the bottom & middle
> layers to give the bacteria a boost?  If so, into both layers or just the
> middle organic?
> 
> 3.  I want to use the plants, driftwood & fish from my 90 gal - but it is
> currently covered in hair algae.  I've kept up with the recent postings
on
> the bleach method but was wondering why not remove all the plants and
treat
> whats left with an algaecide?  Wouldn't that be better than the bleach &
not
> have to tear down the tank?
> 
> 4.  Also - I want to transfer my mature canister to the new tank.  Will
the
> algaecide take care of what ever is in the filter?  If so, how long
should I
> wait after treatment before moving it?
> 
> Would it just be better to start from scratch with my canister - and
> sterilize it & the media?