Your HC Dry-Start stories

DogFish · 07-08-2012, 06:08 PM

I'm interested in learning more about Dry-start for HC.

I do understand the concept. Looking to get a realistic idea on growth time. Advice on Photo-period, amt, of light.

I would look forward to hearing any tips you might have. This will be in a Finnex 4gl. Maybe a plantlet about 1" apart across the entire footprint? Not sure if I'll add a hardscape or not at this point.

Thanks for the help/advice.

somewhatshocked · 07-08-2012, 07:20 PM

If you can, it may be a good idea to double up on plants. I.E., plant in a checkerboard pattern every centimeter or so.

You can use pretty strong lighting, just don't allow things to burn. 8-10 hours of light should be fine. Keep things moist. In a tank that size with enough plants to start, you'll be fully carpeted in a month.

**jmowbray** · 07-08-2012, 08:09 PM

You can check out my EBI thread in my sig. It gives all my specs. along with time lapse photos of my growth.

DogFish · 07-08-2012, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmowbray

You can check out my EBI thread in my sig. It gives all my specs. along with time lapse photos of my growth.

So 45 days to almost full coverage?

Part of my quest for knowledge is to plan to have this tank up & running AFTER the heater of summer.

**jmowbray** · 07-08-2012, 11:15 PM

You are correct. Why are you waiting to set it up?

DogFish · 07-08-2012, 11:53 PM

I don't want to deal with another tank at the moment.

**pweifan** · 07-09-2012, 12:43 AM

My advice: You can put nutrients in the soil but don't let the water break the surface of the substrate and don't put anything in the water you mist with. I couldn't fight the surface algae and ended up flooding the tank early.

DogFish · 07-09-2012, 02:54 AM

Thanks for the tip on keeping soil only damp. Typically I use tank water to mist my emerged tank. Are you suggest even that might create an algae issue?

I could mist with RO water.

**pweifan** · 07-09-2012, 10:50 AM

Probably just a bit of paranoia on my part. I just remember one specific time mixing some MiracleGro in the sprayer and having lots of problems after (like any time the water level got too high, etc). I doubt you'd have the same problems with tank water but I probably wouldn't if your substrate is already nutrient-rich.

DogFish · 07-09-2012, 03:20 PM

My substrates definitely are nutrient-rich.

07-08-2012, 06:08 PM	#1
DogFish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: ChicagoLand Posts: 5,188	Your HC Dry-Start stories I'm interested in learning more about Dry-start for HC. I do understand the concept. Looking to get a realistic idea on growth time. Advice on Photo-period, amt, of light. I would look forward to hearing any tips you might have. This will be in a Finnex 4gl. Maybe a plantlet about 1" apart across the entire footprint? Not sure if I'll add a hardscape or not at this point. Thanks for the help/advice. Last edited by DogFish; 07-08-2012 at 11:05 PM.. Reason: Sp.

07-08-2012, 07:20 PM	#2
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (262/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,599	If you can, it may be a good idea to double up on plants. I.E., plant in a checkerboard pattern every centimeter or so. You can use pretty strong lighting, just don't allow things to burn. 8-10 hours of light should be fine. Keep things moist. In a tank that size with enough plants to start, you'll be fully carpeted in a month. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

07-08-2012, 08:09 PM	#3
jmowbray Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Standish, MI. Posts: 1,716	You can check out my EBI thread in my sig. It gives all my specs. along with time lapse photos of my growth. __________________ Fluval Ebi Pimp #14 Hi-Tech. 72 Gallon Bowfront

07-08-2012, 11:15 PM	#5
jmowbray Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Standish, MI. Posts: 1,716	You are correct. Why are you waiting to set it up? __________________ Fluval Ebi Pimp #14 Hi-Tech. 72 Gallon Bowfront

07-08-2012, 11:53 PM	#6
DogFish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: ChicagoLand Posts: 5,188	I don't want to deal with another tank at the moment. __________________ ToxicTen/DogFish's 40/Aquaponics for Vegans

07-09-2012, 12:43 AM	#7
pweifan Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (45/100%) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 588	My advice: You can put nutrients in the soil but don't let the water break the surface of the substrate and don't put anything in the water you mist with. I couldn't fight the surface algae and ended up flooding the tank early.

07-09-2012, 02:54 AM	#8
DogFish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: ChicagoLand Posts: 5,188	Thanks for the tip on keeping soil only damp. Typically I use tank water to mist my emerged tank. Are you suggest even that might create an algae issue? I could mist with RO water. __________________ ToxicTen/DogFish's 40/Aquaponics for Vegans

07-09-2012, 10:50 AM	#9
pweifan Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (45/100%) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 588	Probably just a bit of paranoia on my part. I just remember one specific time mixing some MiracleGro in the sprayer and having lots of problems after (like any time the water level got too high, etc). I doubt you'd have the same problems with tank water but I probably wouldn't if your substrate is already nutrient-rich.

07-09-2012, 03:20 PM	#10
DogFish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: ChicagoLand Posts: 5,188	My substrates definitely are nutrient-rich. __________________ ToxicTen/DogFish's 40/Aquaponics for Vegans

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