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

[zergling]

Tom, how long will the tank on the 2nd pic take to get the HC to cover the entire substrate's surface area?

[plantbrain]

3-4 weeks

Regards,
Tom Barr

[brotherd]

I like it.I like it a lot.My 55 is literally choked with plants and fish now and I am in the process of moving to a 180 soon.This would be an awesome way to start some plants that failed in the 55 as they were outcompeted for light by everything else.I am still imagining the possibilities!Thanks Tom!

[fishscale]

Tom, I am about to start an HC foreground in a 55 with this method. Any last words of advice?

[plantbrain]

Just keep things warm, well lit and moist?
That's about all really.

I've used delta soil and ADA As thus far but garden soil and peat and sand also work etc, flourite + liquids ought to do fine as well for many species.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[garuf]

I live in the uk and my house gets quiet cool at night will this affect it what sort of temperature would you mean by warm and would just a glass lid be enough to keep things moist? I really want to try this on my new cube especially since I have had such bad luck with HC

[mujacko2002]

sir Barr,
Mabuhay!

Is this method only good for HC or mostly carpeting plants? Thanks for the pictures because i am a very visual person i understand things more when i see it do you have other picture of plants using this method?

thank you so much in advance for any response

Godbless

[scolley]

I'm late to this conversation Tom, but I think this is an outstanding suggestion!

Cudos! Thanks for posting another great idea!

[Brian A]

I liked the idea so much i started up a new tank to try it out. Is very simple to set up and looks like it will work very well. The only problem i have had is the fact that most of the HC i ordered arrived as green mush. Only one very small part has servived but seems to have taken off after only 4 days.

Thanks for the info Tom!

[trfjason]

Tom,

Is it possible to use Flourite Black + ferts to grow HC using your method? I want to try this so I can grow my HC faster.

[SCMurphy]

I've done this in nano tanks with:
HC,
glosso,
sag subulata
Marsilia minuta,
Ranalisma rostrata,
Eleocharis parvulis

Works great if you can keep the humidity up. You actually can get by with less light when starting the plants this way.

[trfjason]

Originally Posted by SCMurphy

I've done this in nano tanks with:
HC,
glosso,
sag subulata
Marsilia minuta,
Ranalisma rostrata,
Eleocharis parvulis

Works great if you can keep the humidity up. You actually can get by with less light when starting the plants this way.

What substrate did you use? Aquasoil?

[defdac]

If you use a plastic/glass lid on the aquarium, how fast does the air in the tank get CO2-depleted?

[SCMurphy]

Originally Posted by trfjason

What substrate did you use? Aquasoil?

I used a topsoil/clay mix capped with Tahitian moon sand or T-grade 3M ColorQuartz. I don't have any problem with the idea of using AquaSoil for this. I use AS in my emersed set up for my crypts, mixed with some other stuff. I have HC and Utric gramnifolia and U. sandersoni as 'shitakusa' or accessory plants, bonsai gardening term. They fill up a pot around the crypts and reach for the next pot over.

[plantbrain]

Originally Posted by SCMurphy

I've done this in nano tanks with:
HC,
glosso,
sag subulata
Marsilia minuta,
Ranalisma rostrata,
Eleocharis parvulis

Works great if you can keep the humidity up. You actually can get by with less light when starting the plants this way.

Sean, as usual, I ulterior motives with this method
Namely Crypt emergent and other methods, hehe.

Good to know about the Sag subulata.

ADA AS or sand+ washed and screened lake sediment with high clay content works best IME. Peat also added works well for some species.

You may use Flourite etc + KNO3 etc........this works very well for many plants I grew emergent about 10 years ago.

Regards,
Tom Barr