2.5 Gallon HC emersed: Week 3 update

[manzpants92]

Hey guys, for my botany class that I'm taking we have to do a semester project so I decided to do mine on HC/planted aquariums. I don't have a ton of money to spend on a nice co2 system and i didn't want to go through the trouble of getting a filter and everything else needed for the tank to run with water so i decided to go emersed. For the visual aid portion of the project i planted HC throughout the tank and i'm just going to document the growth. I'm really not sure if im going to end up submerging the tank or not so i didn't really do a crazy rock layout....just went as generic as possible and did a little slope just because i want to be able to see/document the growth of the HC as clearly as possible.

Equipment:
2.5 gallon tank
Ada Aquasoil
26 watt CFL bulb



As of now I just have the top saran wrapped and I spray the tank down once a day when it looks kind of dry and unwrap the saran at the end of the day for a couple minutes to get some gas exchange(not sure if this is good or not). For lighting duration i've only had it up for a day and yesterday i kept the light on for 12 hours when i was at class, so is that a good amount? or should i take the lighting duration down?

I'm looking for as much advice as possible on the dry start/emersed method so any input would be great! Ill post pictures with updates when things start to get rolling along

[assasin6547]

I'm pretty sure that lighting will not allow the HC to grow, it needs a better Kelvin rating. The gas exchange is good I think. Spray more often, but not as much. Nice start, good luck and hope this helps.

[manzpants92]

Do you know where i could get a 6700k bulb? I looked at my local home depot the other day and couldn't find much there

[aokashi]

what's the K rating for your bulb? 26w should be enough.... but you will need a 6500k day light bulb.
i usually find them in dollar stores.

[manzpants92]

I can't find it on the box, its a 26 watt-100 watt equivalent though

[aokashi]

check the ballast... the fat part above the screw on the bulb. sometimes it says 2700k, 3200k 5000k, 6500k, etc...

[chou]

6500k light best for growing

[manzpants92]

Yeah it doesnt give the K value. Maybe ill try and get one this weekend. Am i doing everything else right/is there anything i should change?

[GMYukonon24s]

Nice start with the emmersed setup.

[PeterN1986]

I'm doing DSM with HC in my 5.5g tank, journal is below. I started it 4 weeks ago. I think my progress will be a good indicator for your HC. I have my lights on a timer for 12 hours a day, misting with tank water from my 20g and added a pinch of KH2PO4 and KNO3 into the spray bottle. I'm spraying just before I leave work every day, which requires me to lift up the saran wrap and spray, so I am getting gas exchange for a couple of minutes there. The thermometer in the tank shows it at 70F when the lights come on, then eventually stays at 73-75 for the rest of the day. In addition to good lighting, I don't think you will want the HC to get below 70F.

[manzpants92]

Here's a little update.

Week 2








I've been leaving my light on for around 12 hours. I've been misting a couple times a day when the plants look dry. Some of the plants on the top of the slope are starting to get a little yellow so i've been highering the light so its not so close, or should i lessen the lighting period?

Regardless its somewhat hard to tell from the picture but things are coming along slowly but surely. Seems like the bulb i have in my desk light seems to be doing the job and the tears are enjoying it!

More updates to come

[manzpants92]

minus the right side where i can out of plants haha

[manzpants92]

So here's the tank 3 weeks in. Definitely showing improvements!









right side is still struggling a bit but starting to improve

[PeterN1986]

Nice so far!

[manzpants92]

Thanks man!