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half filling a new tank?
>This is my own idea does anyone else, agree/practice/recomend it?
>When one sets up a new tank the aim is to have a large plant to water ratio
>this enabling the plants to use up nutrients and hence outcompete the
>algae.
>Since few if any plants are purchased at the full height as the water colum
>what about only say half filling the aquarium. This would enable the plants
>to use up the relatively fewer nutrients.
>Furthermore as the plants grow the water level can be increased or the
>plants can be trimmed and replanted if an inadequate supply was purchased?
>
>Can anyone see any downsides to this approach and if so please reply as i
>am planning on doing this soon.
There is no reason there would be less nutrients in half the amount of
water. The nutrients would just be more concentrated.
Add to that the fact that you will lose quite a bit of light by having the
water level so low, and I see no benefits, and some drawbacks to this idea.
(Besides the aesthetic considerations)
The aim should be to plant the substrate surface fairly densely in a newly
planted tank. There is no requirement that all the plant reach the surface
immediately. You should use a good percentage of fast growing plants, and
these will reach the surface soon enough, if conditions are good... In fact
you'll have more than you know what to do with in just a few weeks.
Karen Randall
Aquatic Gardeners Association