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

[cookingnerd607]

Yeah, I think I just realized my problem. My boiler wasnt working properly.. so it was getting below 50 in my dining room.. Even with my apartment heated properly I keep the radiator in that room shut off. Is there some type of heater I can place IN the tank to keep it warm?

[BentZero]

Originally Posted by cookingnerd607

Ive cut up plastic 2liter bottles into strips.. and pushed those down into the substrates to divide them.

Ive got some questions regarding the "ferts to spray on" I mixed up
1 tsp CSM+B
1 tsp MgSO4
2 tsp K2SO4
1 tsp KNO3

Since I'm using a non-CO2 method on my main tank I don't have most of these ferts. I've only got KNO3 and KH2PO4. Are there any commercial products I can use to soak the SMS? I'm going to use this method to start a shrimp tank. Can dwarf hairgrass be used in this method?

[cookingnerd607]

I fear that I am starting to loose the HC. It seems to be turning a dark green color.. and then it just breaks down. Its been two weeks, there isnt much of a root mass. When I lift up a clump.. there is appx 6-10 peices of SMS in the roots.

Recap:
equipment 90g, peat dusting, 2-4" SMS. Lighting 2x 150w MH 8hrs/day
Lights are appx 12" from tank top. The substrate is soaked up to 1/4" Below the substrate line. Gets to 85F in the tank..(probabbly lower with the cold day time weather now) HC showing little growth.

Im wondering if I put a reptile heating rock on the hill side, where there is no hc and it is fairly dry. If this would keep the temp up during the night?

I hate to loose $20 worth of HC.

[fishscale]

You can order ferts from Rex Grigg, http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/ferts.html

You could use Flourish instead of CSM+B, I suppose, but it would be really expensive.

[BentZero]

I've already got flourish. I just hate to order a bunch of ferts that I don't plan to use beyond the initial SMS soaking.

[fishscale]

cookingnerd, do you think a reptile heatlamp would be overdoing it? I just have a ceramic heater in my living room until my cheap-o landlord turns the heat on. brrrrr.

BentZero, if you already have Flourish, KNO3 and KH2PO4, you're mostly set. I use Rex's combo pack, which is KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4, and CSM+B. CSM+B is a cheaper option than Flourish for traces, but if you've already got it and you want to use it, I think it would be fine. I'm pretty new to planted tanks too though, so you might want to check on the K2SO4.

[plantbrain]

Why sheeeit
Use Miracle Grow.

Since there tain't no fish.....and by the times yens fill er up with water, the bacteria ought to have muched the NH4 asnd urea to NO3.

You can flush with a couple of water changes to leach it out after 3-4 weeks etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[BentZero]

Wow, it's so simple it's pure genius. I've got a ton of miracle grow just sitting around. I've decided to start out using 4 leaf clover since I've already got some. Wish me luck.

[plantbrain]

You can add Zeolite to the filter also before turning on the filter/adding water also to purge the NH4.

Bacteria
Water changes
Zeolite
Plants

All remove NH4.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[RoseHawke]

Originally Posted by plantbrain

"Why sheeeit
Use Miracle Grow."

You know, I was wondering about this. Nice to know great minds think alike . Not full strength I assume. I was thinking of about 1/4 to 1/2 strength. I believe the instructions on the packaging call for something like 2 TBS a gallon.

[BentZero]

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

You know, I was wondering about this. Nice to know great minds think alike . Not full strength I assume. I was thinking of about 1/4 to 1/2 strength. I believe the instructions on the packaging call for something like 2 TBS a gallon.

D'oh. I was going to go full strength on the soak and the water in the tank, and 1/2 strength on the spray bottle. I'm starting the soak tonight, so any info would be great.

[frasertheking]

any pics of the process guys .

[RoseHawke]

Originally Posted by BentZero

D'oh. I was going to go full strength on the soak and the water in the tank, and 1/2 strength on the spray bottle. I'm starting the soak tonight, so any info would be great.

May be BentZero, I really have no idea, I'm just assuming diluted a bit since "normally" the stuff gets diluted as it runs through potted plants and is rained on when used on outdoor plants. If used in the water in the substrate, the plants would be sitting in it all the time. MiracleGro is 20/20/20 NPK if I remember correctly and that just sounds rather strong, but again, I really don't know.

[BentZero]

Originally Posted by frasertheking

any pics of the process guys .

I'll be sure to chronicle my attempt.

[plantbrain]

A lot of growing plants is D'oh!

You can raise farms of HC, Gloss, what ever foreground cover you want simply like house plants, just need a terrarium.

You can use mud/dirt and plain sand if you want to be really dirt cheap.

BTW, if you do the economics, a bag of ADA As runs about 35$ retail, if you use maybe 10% of it, to raise 1 sqft sell it for 50$. This takes 4 weeks to do, cost for the tank and sediment only really and the 30-45min to plant it.

So stop yer crying about how much ADA AS cost, or crying you ain't got the money......... if you want to be a farmer, heck, grow some plants and sell your weeds! Then you can use Plant Dollars to buy things(or not).

You do not need to be a genius to realize the obvious.
Do not be one that places barriers in their way and figuring out why they can't do so many things...........plenty of critics, few thinking how to figure a way around it.

Down with cynicism.
Real criticism and constructive thinking is quite another matter.
Growing plants does not need to be high tech or complex.

Regards,
Tom Barr