I read a post about using Excel for a few weeks after flooding to help promote plant growth. Once things reached the level desired, the user started to wean dosages.

I'm still wondering if dosing Excel is necessary or just a booster.

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DSM is generally for carpet plants that need a ton of CO2. The atmosphere has an unlimited source of CO2, so the DSM makes perfect sense. If you are going to DSM plants that require CO2 and then go to low tech, they will die. If you DSM plants that don't need CO2 to survive, but prefer it for faster spreading, you will be fine post flooding (IMO). The DSM only offers a huge increase in CO2 availability.

 

That makes sense. My focus will be on plants that do well in a low tech tank.

anubias, jungle val, amazon sword,
repens, Bacopa, java fern, and dwarf sag.

I believe the second row of plants are the plants that can be grown in the DSM. I'm hoping that starting dry will help the plants to develop a good root system. The focus during this stage will be on the dwarf sag to attempt to get a decent spread.

That does make sense that people use the DSM to allow the plants access to the abundant CO2 in the air. Hopefully there isn't too much of a shock for my plants after I flood and do not offer injected CO2. If needed, I can supplement with Excel, but I'd prefer not to if possible.

 

Not sure why you are using the DSM, I've never seen anyone do this w/ Dwarf Sag. It grows like a weed and doesn't require Co2. Exact opposite of reasoning behind DSM

 

I'm hoping to get a decent carpet underway and provide a good environment for root spread. Will DSM not be beneficial?

 

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/33-plants/497089-dry-start-beneficial-dwarf-sagittaria.html

 

I would have to agree with the others, dwarf sag grows like a weed with or without co2. It will probably grow just as fast with the tank filled than will the dsm. The only difference is that your dwarf sag might melt a bit going from emersed to submersed. So IMO you are much better skipping the dsm in this situation.

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Thanks for the information everyone. Would DSM assist in the other plants mentioned above, or should I only be concerned about the floor? If DSM isn't needed, I'll skip the process.

 

Timmy!!

 

Don't think you need DSM for any of those listed. Plus DSM is used primarily for carpet plants. I've used it successfully with micranthemum montecarlo which can be difficult to carpet without CO2

 

I'm doing DSM right now for S. Repens, its going very slowww.. The only reason I'm doing it is to give me time to build another regulator. If I already had the co2 ready it would be flooded. Some plants just respond to DSM better than others. Now if you were doing HC or DHG then that would be a different story

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The Dry Start Up Method for Planted Aquariums - Aquarium Plants - Barr Report

It will mineralize your soil among other things so you avoid a lot of work.