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Totally! It was nice to read a post from 2020 and “remember” where I was in my thinking then! Here is a recent ish post: Thread 'A reflection - putting it all into one scape' A reflection - putting it all into one scape It’s a pretty long read but I’m pretty transparent about everything...

Maybe this is why they recommend the Bacter 100 in the aquasoil? I think your point on PO4 leaching out and preventing available iron is valid. The bacteria no doubt would help make it available at rhizosphere … especially early on and/or to compensate for what cannot be attained in the...

Major trim - Back to back waters - (look at my edit as I made a mistake here) front loaded - co2 up a bit - some mL daily afterwards (I may even go lower like 2-3mL daily after you front load) 👍 Rinse and repeat whenever you water change next! If algae does not change, a bit more co2 (your...

Looks like APT 3 is 3mL/100L daily? How big is your tank? Without really getting into the nitty gritty of your water. I’d do what I suggested above but instead of a full dosage of Tropica do it for APT and then just watch.

On first glance, you might be dosing a bit lean if you got cyano given your cabinet. But please let us know your regime. Can probably rid those plants of algae with 2x daily dosage of Tropica in the cabinet. I mean … you have a lot of plants and it wouldn’t surprise me if they are hungrier...

Photo above — Dec 27 AM. Dec 27 after a bit of maintenance and a trip to the local shop (bought whatever they had): Cut and replant Dec 31 (FTS today): Some tips: Leaves halved in size if not more from the store … I did turn my lights to 50% simply because then my broken lights don’t...

sorry for the delay! Tank took a year to cycle hahahah 🤣🤣. Got busy and let it grow out. 🤣🤣🤣 … I just ripped it all out and replanted a couple days ago though! Will have a photo soon! Happy new year!

These are big questions mate. Read a few hundred posts on the topic and you’ll get everything from it doesn’t matter to it does. They’re all right. But there’s a reason that green aqua uses TDS 120 with boosters which are all following a somewhat prescribed range of seemingly not important...

Plants are definitely ruffled. Water change last night. All the plants were just topped down to ~ 1/2 inch stumps and those were left. Anywhere that needed more soil if the layer was too close to original bags and making it hard to plant, I added soil then added the tips. Finished another wc...

Now prioritize maintenance and trimming until Monte Carlo gets a foothold and spreads. Shrimp and fish are good and healthy! Probably prioritize some good waters over the next few weeks until plants take off then ease into weekly’s while we wait until the scape takes shape and carpet grows.

Thank you! Edit - I misread the Mg so we will need to add more Mg into the water too probably. So roughly - 9Ca and .3 Mg. Two options IMO: 1) your Nitrate is at 30ppm - so we need to take our PO4 up from your low amount to at least 6ppm. In conjunction with this, it would be prudent to hike...

Can you tell us the calcium and magnesium in your water from your local water report? It will be listed in ppm. Your GH is made up of calcium and magnesium.

I was wondering about phosphates as well. And specific Ca/Mg. Lots of things were natural responses to what you saw @Zoefish. Don’t think you’ve done anything unnatural. Some food for thought: using ADA soil, so why not do a complete 180 and use ADA system ideaology. You have Seattle tap, so...

Last night. Noticeable change in clarity even since startup. Next steps over the next week or so: Blue - next steps/trim … get it all the same height and low low low hopefully has some roots set up since replant and the tops will replant for density Purple - hasn’t been touched will top...

Slowly replanting and topping and cleaning the gross bottoms. This is right after water change so a bit messy but will get a shot later this week after settles. PSA: remove the jelly … I found a chunk of Monte Carlo roots STILL IN THE JELLY (as I was cleaning up the substrate a bit). 🤦‍♂️

Localized concentration. It’s totally fine. Even if you dose same time at opposite ends of tank. Or a few seconds after in same spot with decent flow and turnover.

That water change tube was coated in green - I left during all maintenance purposefully … receding on its own now at a pretty fast rate. Tank clearing right up. Pearls ~ 20mins. Going to start with some red shrimp :). Can only source black crystals at the moment and have no interest in...

In regards to manganese and immobile via mobile: mobile means it can break it down and re use it - immobile means it can’t. In what relation does it have to do with: if it grows deficient, then has access, could it manufacture what it needs and “replace” what was missed? Suppose A was required...

Getting close Time to start thinking about livestock …

Post in thread 'Finally ... feeling happy :).' Finally ... feeling happy :). May 26 photo has the white veins on the hydrocotyle. I found the post! Not all of them had it just that clump and that clump wasn’t anchored in soil. I don’t have explicit photos of this it was memory. In retrospect...

No the chelated secondary micros + boron by Plantex. https://theplantguy.ca/products/plantguys-micronutrient-trace-element-mix-csm-b-400g I barely have the patience to weigh out nitrate and magnesium let alone all those little bits. I had a moment probably 7 months ago? Where I used a dilute...

Pretty much as long as there is tissue there you should be able to plunk it into a healthy system and all new growth will be fine. Definitely don’t bin it. Give ‘em a wash, or don’t, and toss them in a healthy system (or get the current system back on track), new growth will be fine and then...

:). Target dosed 100% at water change and 20% of total dosed daily Potassium nitrate to nitrate 2ppm Potassium phosphate to phosphate 1ppm Calcium 9.4 ppm source water Magnesium 3 ppm source water and a bit of Epsom salt Potassium 5ppm from salts above and potassium sulphate Micro: Csm+b...

Feels nice to be able to water change again. Mixing valve installed water comes in at a perfect 23 Celsius. The whole time we’ve been changing with relatively icy water - wish I could back and redo properly! But all is well. I’d also NOT use those bags for support as high as I did. Is a massive...

I have missed so much of the journal - It should be notifying me! In any case, it looks lovely! The chihiros spectrum and light is very surreal. My friend uses it and it brings out different colours in the Macrandra rather than AI prime or even a more “natural” spectrum. Looking good!

3x in a row - water change, gets cloudy, looks odd, new growth great, leave it, start to explode, start to clear up, trim, water change and start all over. Valve delay slightly but will be about 1 week until next water change (waiting for valve) and will not trim likely until I see how the tank...

Lots going on here @plantnoobdude —- if you want to reduce GH for the sake of having to add less salts/softer water/ease (for example I keep Ca at 9 so I don’t have to add any since my water is Ca 9), I would … if only to make iron more accessible, I wouldn’t. The moment you change GH and K...

Get trimming or it will look like this! Merry Christmas!

Project a virtual meet off to the side for us over the pond/other side of the world folk!

Becoming more and more convinced that these 10 celcius water changes are “resetting” the tank - kill a layer of plant skin, spawn temporary algae, have it fall off, change water .. repeat the process … while all new growth is spotless. Mixing valve comes before new year 👍 - will be able to...

Haha!! Yes you are right it is inclinata not pantanal - I’d have to source pantanal. I thought it was when I bought it … but recall actually asking the same question and used christels book to help. I remember I looked into sourcing these but I just didn’t feel like spending the money to get...

Hehe The last version of the tank had the 50+ species of 40+ … lots in it. This was supposed to have a certain look! 🤣. Once we stabilize and I get the look I’d like, then I’ll probably add more species in. Wallichi as per the other photos is the same system. And same with pantanal. There...

Lol … after the water change - boom. I am growing more and more suspicious that the temperature fluctuation is actually causing some despair on the plants. Since “startup should be done” the temp coming in during 80% water change is 10 celcius. After the second last change (before the one...

What @plantnoobdude said, @MichaelJ ! This mysterious cloudy water. Was reminding me of your Jedi post. Must be magic … blinds the viewer so they can’t see the issues with plant forms and they think everything is perfect 🤣.

Massive improvement in water clarity day after water change (even if running uv etc): Should be changing water right now. It’s in these moments, I’m like - yep, it’s moving in the right direction. The Monte Carlo is going to take over. 3 months I’m hoping!

Can’t fear the algae! Teaches us. You just poured N and you have no substrate nutrients - you need P and K the rest. Micros not as “much” in your soft water. You can even peel back the N and pull up the P if you wanted to not enter EI territory so fast. The GSA points to PO4/CO2 and...

We’d have to find someone who has top to bottom - at least a foot worth - of Macrandra perfect. In a single stem, completely clear scenario, is more likely (in my opinion), any bouquet and I’d be impressed. I reckon you need meticulously clean sand substrate, each micro weighed, and careful...

Here’s a shot of mini butterfly — can see on farthest down leaves, you have minor greening. Also, buddy just changed his lighting to that chihiros one and in his Macrandra, you can’t see some of the green spots anymore.

A week later than a wanted but: Water is ice cold coming out of the tap - not helping my stabilizing process. Going to get a mixing valve installed soon. Arm tingles still but less. Moving forward!

I think this really opens up a much larger conversation. Sprectrum and light will change the way we see and the plant responds - macrandra is such a sensitive plant, that you can actually see the impact. Just as an aside, here is a picture from green aqua tank: You can see that the severe N...

I would! Start with the P then see if the stringy one subsides, if not, might need to bump K.

Thank you :). You need potassium. That stringy thing is only prominent when tank is just a bit “off” and K seems to do that. Personally, I like NO3:pO4 at 2:1 but it really doesn’t matter too much. Assuming you are just using N/NO3 interchangeably, I’d leave it at 2/.9 for NO3/PO4. If you...

Ahh yes! 👌 I notice it under low co2 (or flow/dist. Locally) or high N for whatever reason causes the flux. Also wouldn’t be surprised at all if spectrum played any part in what we actually see on these plants/how they pigment up. It’s part of the reason why I showed right and left side in...

Hmm - think I’m not following. With rich substrate and 5x EI and high light, I’ve had a clean tank. I’ve never taken the substrate to the level I did this time. But last time I did this with much less miracle gro I had a similar green flocxulent thing but it didn’t last as long. The green...

GDA is like little balls? Flocculent? I’m almost convinced this algae is very closely related to something systemic vs plant — notice we both have it and we both have cloudy water. Though our substrates are completely different. As of now, I can’t pinpoint the relations on that thing though...

also, you increased ferts - did you micro turn up co2?

What kind?

It is Alive!

OR water change more often. Then you get the same guaranteed values and success but with more fert replenishment in the water.

don’t know. If it’s not growing fast enough for you, then you just feed more! And you have every other aspect capped out - so it must be? With more N, you will need proportionate P and K to the Ca and Mg less “as much”.

I’d also increase P. Best chance of getting it “right”, I think.

Looks like UV is clearing up the water? In terms of growth rate, I think you are inert substrate and only water column. You have max light and high temp. I think the only way is with more ferts (or co2). Ca/Mg is probably fine - same with micros. Probably just a bit more N and P and K and go...

Not sure how to update this one. The plants just keep … growing. The water is still not gin clear. The flocculant of green pellets/algae thing continues to grow. My maintenance has not been at the goal. But here’s the puzzler —- my hand still tingles when I put it in there - like a fresh...

Not sure what this one means. No the new aquasaoil will be primarily the top right because there is only 1/2 inch of soil before the bags and planting is terrible. The Monte Carlo will have to be nursed back to health if I’m going to salvage it enough to carpet. I undershot how much buffer id...

Think what I’ll probably do is top it all slowly but surely and then put a little layer of fresh soil on top (a large layer closer to the top right and slope upwards). And then slowly replant tops. Classic, expected behaviour on Monte Carlo all old growth got nuked (remove the sun shade and...

Anyone think the course for “correction/upgrading the look” isn’t as I outlined (primarily maintenance)?

So. Noticed some side shoots starting ~ 5/6 day mark. This is good. The side shoots are coming off of the bottoms that I left - so those bottoms are still trash from the congestion from before. Did a water change today and some maintenance - primarily just to remove stuff. No uv or anything...

Think it’s a matter of style ;).

realized I haven’t dose micros for probably a couple weeks 🤣. Noticed a micro bit of plant interveinal on a Macrandra stem (a few stems) - some not all. Anyways - fixed. 1 hour. This wasn’t my usual maintenance hour where I listen to tunes and relax. I was moving. In between kids naps - best...

I suppose @John q what I mean is that the tank won’t get to that supreme picture quality unless I change my behaviours. If I let it get congested like this, then do some maintenance and continue and don’t replant tops and don’t trim down to the bottom and start taking it seriously - it just...

I agree. But I need to do maintenance lol. 🤣

It’s now a matter of the grind. Little bit of time and finesse and consistent maintenance and we could formulate the scape. It’s a matter of a lack of all that on this end. Hopefully in a few weeks I can dedicate time to turn it around. It’s a maintenance thing now …

That’s an understatement! Haha. The cool part is the prediction. 😎

LOL. The root and the leaf respond to nutrient concentrations differently. Can expand more but I think that's the crux. Good additions: Insufficient co2 = algae. Insuffient ferts = algae. Insufficient light = algae. Overly sufficient co2 = nothing Overly sufficient ferts (in column and/or...

Lol … not touching the philosophy one eh! Hahah! I think the ferts thing is “directional” @Wookii If I did three water changes daily, I betcha I wouldn’t have the algae soup for the process. I didn’t have it when I did 2 daily albeit the co2 excess times. Do you agree that plants respond...

I think we already have the building blocks. Not us. I mean the scientific body. We just need major meta analysis in conjunction with learning machine(s) that we can monitor and the right people to be interested and devote their life to it. It’s a big question actually - how does life work? We...

So: Low light - not really related to algae High co2 - not really related to algae High light - related (if in conjunction with another factor) Low co2 - related (if you run blue dc and everything is fine, turn co2 down further and algae will come) High ferts in column - related (there is...

I think I have this reputation for liking light or something … 🤣. You know. I think you’re right. And the reason is because if they don’t purge the system or get co2 right, the substrate inadvertently doses EI into the column and in conjunction with high light, ei in the column, and potentially...

Only because of the prevalence of advice? Or because high light low fert didn’t work? On maintenance: I dunno because if you choke growth rates - it doesn’t matter how you do it … to use @Wookii car analogy - say you hit the gas by cranking light, but you throw on the parking break … it can...

They’ll fail with Low light and rich column dosing too then! Through the process, they will get co2 right. Here’s a question: is it easier to get co2 right under lean column and high light OR rich column and low light? Or lean column and low light. Watch think to the question above? I don’t...

Help answer this question: Why not run ADA system or rich substrate, lean column, proper co2 with your light at 30%. EDIT: When we know that the light compensation point is pretty low. So why should we not EI the light? I get that relative to my 4 lights, my system in the past was at "30%" of...

Been scratching my head wondering - now what? Or what was the point of this? And my comment on @RickyV thread kind of brought it out. I don't think it is that surprised that it worked. And I think it affirms for me a few things about "high light". This was the piece: So you bottleneck the...

That is exactly right. So you bottleneck the co2 demand (that is forced by the light) and let the plant adapt (in color/shape) to control the light. They look prettier in my opinion under this situation. Sometimes the leaves become thinner, more elegant and they "dance" differently ... :)...

Well … Algae and cloudy has really come to a standstill. Has stopped proliferating and has started to decline on its own. All in all, lost a bit of Monte Carlo … but it’s come back from the ashes: Helferi is long gone. Guess it worked … now I need to trim and replant until I get enough...

Awesome! Looks like reducing your light did the trick as I see some updated photos above. I think you could also go another way: pull back your water column ferts to 6NO3 and 3 PO4 and around 15K. And then turn the light back up. Sounds counterintuitive but i think it would also work. But if...

I think that’s the rub. If you do that and the tank can maintain a higher injection rate without any I’ll effect, you have effectively saturated more co2 than any “ramp time” could facilitate —- probability that you’ll have a healthier system (as long as no Ill effect). But it also doesn’t need...

We’ve got all types! Some like photon cannons and others like candles! All joking aside, light is a tool and should be used like all other tools in the aquarium - for the purpose. So lowering or increasing light intensity/duration is situational and for goals. They all “work” … but give...

Is there rich substrate? Sorry if I missed it.

I can’t help but giggle as I larded about half a bottle of miracle gro into my substrate without batting an eye. Had to look up bio char. Why not just put a layer of biochar in the bottom of the tank (ps I wish I had this stuff), then add your solution on top, then cap it with aquasoil? Not...

Yep - planning for more? Closer to timed with lights?

@John q is co2 close to lights on yet?

Didn’t get to the water change - hope to soon. But, I forgot to turn on the power heads after the last water change so we’ve been running on just the filter. Flow is perfect, growth looks good. So I’m happy. But if you remember a few pages ago, I cut the filters and the tank melted then I...

So excited to see the expansion from boron!

Going to do another water and some maintenance today. Some pre shots Lol Monte carlo Very bottom of glass that I never wiped away to see if it would spread. Has not. Monte carlo Can see kind of where I left it alone and let the system calm down.

Tried to write a witty response. Didn’t come up with one … lol. Just a single water change - uvs been on a few days. God of green water said I need to leave lights at 100. :).

This is the exact reason I use csm … I get angry enough mixing macros 😂. Thanks :). Haha they’re gargantuan — I’m supposed to be lean dosing … but they look EI! Think only proper dosing exists!

Clearing up

Is dosing boron clearing it?

I just have to say it - in light of our recent conversations - are you sure that those two candles will grow plants ... a mile away from the water? heheh. :)

If you just bought a tank, I’d say dose ferts on the bottle daily dose and send me a photo in a week. :). I'm playing devils advocate here of course, as I have no personal allegiance to any particular type of dosing, other than what I would recommend to a brand new planted tank owner - but in...

Need to say how much I appreciate the conversation first. Fair. But if someone is buying ferts, then In hard water dose double suggested dose. In soft, dose suggested dose. Easier than EI? Thrive composition for example won’t give clean EI numbers, so you end up doing some estimation...

No idea. That’s why I haven’t turned them down. But what if we injected a lake with co2 and meticulously monitored ferts. Would the lake still have algae? Same for ferts and co2. They are moving targets. I don’t know. If EI means dry salts, then why not just mimic APT complete instead of EI...

@plantnoobdude thats pretty cool on boron - specifically leaf expansion. Had always been of the mindset that N is the largest driver in leaf size etc - but recently I’ve been looking at my leaves saying “sheesh it looks like I’m dosing EI … which I probably am in the water column from leeching...

@Wookii The balance range!!!!! It’s like the everything is right model! I actually agree that there is an upper bound to light input. I just don’t know that 4 photo beams is over it. Notice how I’m not pouring the potassium or boosters or nitrates etc. rather comfortable with my fert level...

UVs been running for 72 hours! I flicked it back on. Going to leave it for a week. I went through a phase earlier where I turned it on and left it but then didn’t change water (so dying bacteria would have fed something new). I think a page or two ago I said I turned it off since I thought it...

Definitely deserve some kudos for persisting with this experiment Josh, will be interesting to see if the tank rights itself or falls off a cliff edge. Thanks - looking forward to it myself. 🤣 but why? Plants are healthy. So shouldn’t the system be clear and outcompeted? Of course!

@plantnoobdude - I don’t think I understand. How did boron influence the bloom? Sorry if it’s obvious. I definitely have lots of boron in the column! Leech from substrate and then whatever is in csm + b with .015 iron proxy.

:) glad you see some beauty in it! Please do tell!

The plants are clean! Especially if I give them a little dusting. I don’t know. I think it’s like when someone is tired and then you ask well what’s going on in life and then they tell you the whole story lol. it’s not “unhealthy plants” and they indicate that the acquisition of...

Lol. Little pockets of these Monte Carlo are sprouting out of the ground (clumps of a couple leaves). Fts: