Re: High Tech to low tech

actioncia · 09-24-2006, 11:17 PM

Hello Guys,

I am thinking about turning my 20 gallon High Tech Planted tech to low tech. Any advices, suggestions, comments. I currently have ADA substrates and that will probably stay but was thinking about none CO2 just filtration with in-line heater. What kind of dosing regime or I can do without the dosing. Right now its has JBJ CF 65 Watts of lighting on about nine hours a day.Any thoughts!

Wasserpest · 09-24-2006, 11:54 PM

IMO light is the main driver for plant growth, with the resulting needs for CO2 and nutrients. If you want to go low-tech, a good start would be to reduce the light to 1.5W (with efficient lights/reflectors) to 2W/gal.

This will kill a few of the more demanding plants. Taking out CO2 will slow things down further, and again, some plants will not make it, but there are plenty that will do just great.

Regarding fertilizer dosing, it's hard to give recommendations. Obviously you won't need to spoon in powders at EI levels. Weekly dosing should do, watch your plants and let them tell you when they get hungry.

09-24-2006, 11:17 PM	#1
actioncia Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (66/100%) Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 672	Re: High Tech to low tech Hello Guys, I am thinking about turning my 20 gallon High Tech Planted tech to low tech. Any advices, suggestions, comments. I currently have ADA substrates and that will probably stay but was thinking about none CO2 just filtration with in-line heater. What kind of dosing regime or I can do without the dosing. Right now its has JBJ CF 65 Watts of lighting on about nine hours a day.Any thoughts!

09-24-2006, 11:54 PM	#2
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	IMO light is the main driver for plant growth, with the resulting needs for CO2 and nutrients. If you want to go low-tech, a good start would be to reduce the light to 1.5W (with efficient lights/reflectors) to 2W/gal. This will kill a few of the more demanding plants. Taking out CO2 will slow things down further, and again, some plants will not make it, but there are plenty that will do just great. Regarding fertilizer dosing, it's hard to give recommendations. Obviously you won't need to spoon in powders at EI levels. Weekly dosing should do, watch your plants and let them tell you when they get hungry. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

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