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

[fishscale]

Update in my 55g thread, there is lots of growth on the side I started first, but I didn't get closeups.

[Shady Milkman]

Im gonna try this too. Any idea how to convert fissidens fontanus and anubias petite to emersed form from the submersed form? Is it enough just to keep them hydrated every so often?

[plantbrain]

Moss that you are interested in is native to the USA.
It grows along creeks and on rocks and wood in cool damp areas.

That's should tell you all you need to know
Generally, moss does really well in high CO2, nutrient rich water, lower light works, but so does high light.


Regards,
Tom Barr

[CamTurner]

Well I've been lurking on this thread since it began and I recently started a 130G planted tank using this method. I'm trying to grow out a carpet of glosso and so far it's working well (only week 2). My problem is that my hardscape includes a lot of driftwood. I've been gone for the weekend and I just came back and the driftwood is MOULDY. I should have expected it I guess, but my question is.. wait it out or flood the tank? Removing the driftwood isn't really an option any more.

Thanks.

Cam

[BrettNYC]

I have been growing my HC emersed for almost 3 weeks now. The water level is just below the surface of the gravel and growth has been slow but steady.

Recently i noticed green algae forming on the surface of some of the gravel and plants. What can I do to eliminate it?

Thanks,
Brett

[Yoshi]

Originally Posted by BrettNYC

I have been growing my HC emersed for almost 3 weeks now. The water level is just below the surface of the gravel and growth has been slow but steady.

Recently i noticed green algae forming on the surface of some of the gravel and plants. What can I do to eliminate it?

Thanks,
Brett

what's the photoperiod?

I'd run a 8 hr photoperiod, and perhaps make a diluted solution of excel to mist over the plants. I'm not sure if the excel will help kill the algae, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

[BrettNYC]

Thanks for all the responses.

Currently my phot period is about 11 hours.

What concentration of excel should I spray?

Brett

[Madfish]

I have used about one cap full to a standard spray bottle that you can get at the store. That seemed to help me out.

[Yoshi]

Yes, that's about what I use. The rough dilution depending on the bottle is probably around 5% excel, 95% water.

If you feel the need, I would guess a 10% excel, 90% water mix would be OK too... no concrete numbers here, just a bunch of "estimates"

[marrow]

I have used or abused this method in two tanks through sheer neglect. I had a tank break during a move and through all the plants and aquasoil in two 35 gallon acrylic tanks and then forgot about them completely. The tanks were untouched for about two months with only 2 odno 4 ft t8 bulbs on 2 feet above them that were on for 24 hours a day. Marsilea took off and covered both tanks with clover, Lysimachia nummularia grew nicely as did assorted dwarf swords and even a few nice clumps of rotala macandra. Some hygrosperma- sunset also did quite well. I added water a month ago and everything still looks good. You might as well mow the marsilea down to about an inch high before filling with water as the emergent leaves will rot off, make a mess anyway and be replaced by the submerged growth. The AS was two years old and I obtained it used from someone who was getting out of planted tanks. The only ferts were the plants that didnt make it & some oto's and shrimp I was unable to locate after the tank crashed. About a dozen oto's I think. It never smelled bad though. The soil in the tanks reached the point of appearing bone dry with wilted plants in it before I added any water and then only about a quart in each tank. The plants developed some pretty extensive root systems.

[cookingnerd607]

I just moved some of my hc in another area of my 90g.. Seems like its dying back. Anyone notice the hc dying back when being planted? How about a very light fuzz of mold?

[fishscale]

This method for sure works. I didn't use aquasoil, just SMS and some amateur fert mixing. Check my journal for progress pics. I didn't even notice the change until I put the 2 pics up for comparison.

[jazzlvr123]

just flooded my emmersed Hc tank today becuase my CRS tank broke and the survivors needed a home.


Heres the surviving shrimps in their new home:

[SCMurphy]

Dude, what happened to that tank? Good thing you had that HC tank sitting there ready to go! I don't know how CRS respond to Excell, but HC loves the stuff, something to think about when you have the CRS colony out of the way again.

[plantbrain]

Ryan's "Pete Townsound" style of guitar playing got away from him and he broke it

The HC is a few days old now in that tank and looks fine after flooding.
I think he said is was set up for 6-8 weeks, plenty of time for the bacteria to get established in the sediment and oxidize the majority of NH4 that will leach quickly.

And we know Shrimps are pretty sensitive to most toxins, so they are doing fine as well.

I think Ryan said he used 1 clump that you see to farm this out and waited a few weeks for it to grow in first. Then you just flood the tank and crank the CO2.

If your HC has issues upon flooding, sorry, it's not the method or transition, it's not giving it enough CO2/Excel. HC transitions very well.

A few critics of this method(interestingly who have never tested their own hypothesis/claim/criticisim) suggested that this method is not good because the plants will all melt and go through a transition peroid.
That does not really occur with the emergent plants we get any(which is how most of the aquatic plants sold are grown). Nor does it occur in the tank grown species, which already have nice well established roots.

The plants obviously have enough nutrients via the sediment, enough light etc, the difference when you flood: CO2 mostly.

This method will not save those who cannot grow HC submersed well to begin with.

Or hairgrass, or any other foreground plant.

Regards,
Tom Barr