New method(?) to start up an algae free tank without any water changes or work(really

[BentZero]

Mine is about to hit week 2. The bacopa is dead. I've only got 15w of light on it though. Four leaf clover is showing signs of growth. Hopefully the LFS will have more so I can fill in where the bacopa used to be. Here's a pic of my setup after week one.



Here's a pic of some of the new growth. The two new set of leaves are light green.

[BentZero]

I added a bit more water than I was supposed to add, but it's been evaporating so I didn't bother with draining the excess. Here's how it looked when I first set it up. SMS substrate with miracle-gro water at pretty much full strength. Spray with 1/4 strength miracle-gro water every other day. Saran wrap cover under hood and light strip and 6 hour light period.

[fishscale]

I have my lights on 14 hours a day with twice daily fill/drain cycle. I have a couple large hills in my scape that do not get enough moisture, so what I do is have a powerhead in a bucket of fert solution. I plug the powerhead into a timer and twice a day, the powerhead turns on and fills the tank for about 2 minutes, then the powerhead shuts off, and the siphon that is formed drains the water back down to the original level.

[BentZero]

That's pretty cool. Got any pics of that setup? Maybe I'll increase my light period. The hills in mine are pretty low, so it stays pretty moist due to capillary action. I plan on adding more substrate to create a steeper hill in the back when I add water. Obviously any FLC that grows in the back will be transfered towards the front when the hills go in.

[Yoshi]

Here's my 4.5L "Dry-Scape" update...

4 weeks after planting (Most Recent)


3 weeks after planting


2 weeks after planting


1 week after planting


I look forward to the next few weeks, watching the HC grow like this is pretty neat, and the progress is interesting to keep track of...

Click here for the blog: http://one51.blogspot.com/

[BentZero]

Looks good. Any advice for me on my hardscape?

[Colts Fan]

I found this very intriguing, so I just had to try it. My set up is only a 10 gal tank with eco complete I have some HC and dwarf hairgrass planted. I have it covered with saran wrap. I am lighting it for now with a round clamp light reflector ( like you would use in construction) and I have a 120w flood light(a flouorescent bulb, it's one of the energy replacement types)in it, this is suspended about 18" over the top of the tank to get the whole tank lit. I keep this on for approximately 12-14 hrs a day. The round reflector is only temporary while I am doing the emergent growth. This tank is going to be for some CRS. Things seem to be going well so far, nothing has died. It does seem that the HC is growing a bit, so far nothing out of the dwarf hairgrass, but I realize it has only been 2 weeks. I do have a couple of questions should I be misting some ferts? I have read that some others are trying to get some co2 into their setups, is this necessary? I would appreciate any adice or tips.
Thanks,
Tom

[Yoshi]

Originally Posted by BentZero

Looks good. Any advice for me on my hardscape?

Your hardscape seems fine, only other suggestions I can give is to try out different rocks in the future to mix things up. I'm sure when the tank grows in the hardscape will look even better. A lot of aquascaping is "trial and error" ... oftentimes it just takes getting used to until you get a good feel for what looks good.

Originally Posted by Colts Fan

I do have a couple of questions should I be misting some ferts? I have read that some others are trying to get some co2 into their setups, is this necessary? I would appreciate any adice or tips.[/color][/font][/color]

I'm not 100% about the ferts, I think the nutrients that are found in the soil is enough; this is why it's important to use a nutrient dense substrate like ADA AS. Regarding misting ferts: I mist with a diluted Excel solution. I honestly don't know if this helps the growth or not, but for some reason I think this helps get rid of some fungus that may or may not show up in your tank; it's a good preventive measure.

I highly doubt you need CO2 in your setup when it's still growing. Reason is because the plants can easily get CO2 from the surrounding air. If you'd like, exhale into your setup a few times before "closing it up"

[trfjason]

I started this type of setup last week with a small, clear plastic container with a lid. I made a small hole on the lid for gas exchange. I filled the container with Aqua Soil of 2cm depth. I planted HC and hairgrass. After one week, I notice that the HC did grow a bit, some hairgrass leaves are dead, while some of them are having new leaves. I mist the plants twice everyday. Right now, I notice that some of the older HC leaves are yellowing, maybe not enough potassium? I think I need to start dosing fertilizers.

[mistergreen]

here's mine in a rose bowl.



it's about 3 weeks old. I think I'll keep it emmersed. Any extra HC can go into another tank.

If you look carefully, it has a little BGA on the substrate but it doesn't look like a big deal.

[trfjason]

Looks great!

[fishscale]

I think BGA is one of the most easily removed algaes. As long as you fix the tank parameters, you can just pull up the whole chunk.

I also have nothing coming from the hairgrass, but recently, a lot of growth from my HC.

[ikuzo]

oooh nice bowl. you make me want to start one

[jazzlvr123]

Hello, I started an emmersed HC carpet with power sand and ADA aquasoil as the substrate. With only TWO pots of HC IT has been set up for about two weeks and It has already tripled its mass. This is a 25 gallon tall aquarium. Every couple of days i take the glass lid off and blow into it to add CO2.

[trfjason]

jazzlvr, are you dosing any fertilizers? Your HC looks great!