Dry Start 10 gal Iwagumi

[dmattbfan5]

Ok, so this is my very first attempt at a dry start, a shrimp (only) tank, and an advanced planted tank. I have previously kept large community tanks with various swords, hornwort, and other simple low light plants. Wish me luck!!!

Here are the specs:


-10 gallon (rim removed)
-Odyssea twin T5HO 18W 6700k bulbs with reflector (not raised for now since I'm begnning dry)
-Aquaclear 20 (cycling in my 55gal tank) with sponge filter
-Glosso carpet started (more plants to follow)
-Fluval Shrimp Stratum
-Fauna planned (25 RCS in a separate 10 gal that I got Friday)(2 otos)
-Paintball C02 will be started in 2-4 weeks when I flood it, and then slowly weaned
-Heater not ordered yet. (suggestions?)
-Plastic is wrapped ontop to hold humidity
-rocks from the mountains in NM where my inlaws live

[sayurasem]

nice tank!

If you have your co2 setup already, use it

I dry start my 10g and pump co2 gas from my paintball setup 2BPS. Poke a hole with a pencil through the saran wrap and just insert your co2 tube in there.

*make sure you make another hole(s) for air circulation. and turn off co2 at night.

[Newman]

you can't just exhale into the tank from time to time (lol)?
the CO2 should get recycled in the system between day and night to some extent.

[dmattbfan5]

Originally Posted by Newman

you can't just exhale into the tank from time to time (lol)?
the CO2 should get recycled in the system between day and night to some extent.

Oh awesome. I wondered what would happen if I added c02 to it like that. I'll give that a shot! Thanks!

[Newman]

keep us posted how that goes. i'm wondering if it will be enough to show great growth =)

[dmattbfan5]

Originally Posted by sayurasem

nice tank!

If you have your co2 setup already, use it

I dry start my 10g and pump co2 gas from my paintball setup 2BPS. Poke a hole with a pencil through the saran wrap and just insert your co2 tube in there.


*make sure you make another hole(s) for air circulation. and turn off co2 at night.

This was GREAT advice! Ive been pumping c02 in it for 2 full weeks now.

Originally Posted by Newman

keep us posted how that goes. i'm wondering if it will be enough to show great growth =)

Here are the results:


Yikes, its taken me almost two full weeks to get an update on here. Thats what 60+ hours of work a week will do to ya! Anyway, I took your advice and punched hole in the plastic, feeding the c02 tubing into the free air. Whew! When you pull that cover off to mist, it takes like pure acid! Haha. I am shocked by how much growth I've had in a week due to adding this to the atmosphere inside the tank. Awesome advice guys! Thanks so much. I also added a few other plants to the back. (Thanks rey!) I'll update again after Thanksgiving.

This is week 3 (prior to adding c02)


This is week 4 (after running c02 24hrs a day with a 12 hr photo period)


Here's a macro up against the front wall. Proof that the dry start works well! I obviously couldn't have planted a root up against the glass like that.

[magma]

Hey dmattbfan5,

I had a little success with dry start with HC, until it melted when I flooded the tank(hah!). One thing you want to do is suck out the puddles of water. I put a small piece of clear tubing on the corner to gauge the amount of water. About 1/2 to 1cm below the substrate is ideal. This encourages the plant to root deeper.

Also make sure to overdose on co2 when you do flood(without any fish!). I made this mistake and lost most of my HC.

-magma

[dmattbfan5]

Thanks magma! I wondered about the water level. I'll do that as soon as I get home from thanksgiving.

[KenRC51]

Nice setup, how is the Odyssea T5 HO? I'm skeptical about buying this brand.

[sayurasem]

Originally Posted by KenRC51

Nice setup, how is the Odyssea T5 HO? I'm skeptical about buying this brand.

Whats so skeptical about it?

[bpb]

Originally Posted by sayurasem

Whats so skeptical about it?

I've read stories of some of their older equipment starting fires. From what I understand they have fixed their issues and make very reliable equipment now. I wouldnt hesitate to buy new oddysea gear.

[KenRC51]

Originally Posted by sayurasem

Whats so skeptical about it?

Lots of bad reviews of reliability. I'll give them a chance, hehehe

[dmattbfan5]

Originally Posted by KenRC51

Nice setup, how is the Odyssea T5 HO? I'm skeptical about buying this brand.

I read all the bad reviews before I bought it too. I paid like $36 on ebay for it. I think its awesome for the price. Its super bright, doesn't get too hot, it has a long heavy duty cord, and I'm actually going to buy one of their 48" ones for my 55 gallon. I honestly can't tell a difference between the Odyssea and a Coralife fixture. My plants don't seem to either.

[dmattbfan5]

Here's the new progress as of November 29th.

[sayurasem]

wow thats fast like a nascar!