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  1. ceg4048

    Stunted Bolbitis and fert dosing tweaks ideas.

    Hello, These are all symptoms of CO2 deficiency. In a low tech tank there is not much that can be done, other than placing the plant in shaded areas or reducing the overall lighting level. Cheers,
  2. ceg4048

    Just a confirming EI dose Q

    Hello, This is a bit unclear. Are you switching from liquid CO2 in favor of gaseous CO2 or do you intend to continue with liquid CO2? Low tech refers to zero CO2 addition. Using liquid CO2 equals high tech, so I don't understand the intent to use thirds. In any case, I don't see any...
  3. ceg4048

    Switching to Low Tech Advice

    This is not possible - not even remotely possible. Light causes algae and CO2 grows plants, so you have a real problem of having too much light and insufficient CO2. Reducing the light reduces the demand for CO2. You should probably limit the light to no more than about 25 percent. Remove all...
  4. ceg4048

    Ei ferts

    Hi Gorilla, Well, that's a really difficult question to be definitive about. On the one hand I suppose you could define it in terms of the percentage of substrate square footage that is covered by plants and maybe pick some arbitrary value, like 60% or greater, but this may be...
  5. ceg4048

    Ei ferts

    Hello, The worst thing you can do in a planted tank is to determine your dosing policy by using test kits. They are notorious for their inaccuracy as well as for their inconsistency. No one actually knows what PO4 test kit measure. As a corollary to that, the other worst mentality you...
  6. ceg4048

    what sort of dosing regime should I be considering?

    Hello, Looks to me as if your tap water has everything you need for non-injected tank. I wouldn't add much else as long as you don't pummel the tank with loads of light. Cheers,
  7. ceg4048

    Substrate suggestion

    yes, this is fine but unnecessarily expensive. Any soil will work and you really do not need to fret too much. Ordinary dirt is fine but can be messy. Cat litter can also be messy if you buy the wrong brand. If you are near a nursery or garden center, check out any of their calcined clay...
  8. ceg4048

    What is your fertilisation schedule?

    When running a low tech tank it is not necessary to use Excel and may actually be counterproductive. Use of Excel pushes the tank into the high tech domain. For low tech, delete the Excel and reduce the dosing to the following typical numbers: Add about 1/8 teaspoon of KNO3 and 1/16 teaspoon...
  9. ceg4048

    Hygrophila polysperma does not grow

    Hi, Thanks for the additional photos. Yes, that's not really an ideal configuration. In low tech tanks you can usually get away with that though, but in this case you might want to use a flexible spud and/or some other means try to get more flow in the direction of the plants in question...
  10. ceg4048

    Hygrophila polysperma does not grow

    Yes, we need to see how your filter outlet(s) is arranged where is it pointing and how far below the surface it is. Those photos show Green Spot Algae (GSA) on the leaves. You need to remove those immediately as they will never get better and they contribute to the problem. GSA is cause by any...
  11. ceg4048

    Hygrophila polysperma does not grow

    Hi, Actually it's very difficult to sa what is a no-no or not, or even to suggest a path with better data, like schematics or images showing the specific area of the tank being discussed. The general rule of thumb and the general no-no is that the two filter flow directions should not oppose...
  12. ceg4048

    Hygrophila polysperma does not grow

    Hello, Adding liquid CO2 to a low tech tanks immediately converts it to a high tech tank. High tech is all about CO2 enrichment and nothing else. People often get into bigger battles when they start adding CO2. That tank looks pretty nice to me. The most likely reason the plant has...
  13. ceg4048

    EI Mixture Help

    Hi Paks, Effectively he is doing the same thing by diluting the strong stock solution progressively. The method is referred to as "serial dilution" where you make a stock solution of known strength, then take a small amount of that solution and add it to water. There are a couple...
  14. ceg4048

    EI Mixture Help

    Hi Paks, The best way, if you don't have a scale is by dilution. Again, you don't have to be super accurate. 6 grams is 24 time more than you want, so add the teaspoon to (24x0.5L) 12 liters of water, or add half teaspoon (about 3 grams) to 6L of water. Cheers,
  15. ceg4048

    EI Mixture Help

    You're welcome mate. As I mentioned, you can simply reduce the amount of powder you add or mix 1 gram of powder in 2000ml (instead of 500ml) in order to reduce the toxicity by a factor of 4. The calculations are "linear", which means that everything is proportional. The good news is that NH3/NH4...
  16. ceg4048

    EI Mixture Help

    N from Nitrate 15.5% Nitrogen is 23% of NO3 0.155/0.23 = 0.67 = 67% by weight of NO3 N from Ammonia is 1% Nitrogen is 82% of NH3 0.01/0.82 = 0.0122 = 1.2% by weight of NH3 1 gram of powder therefore will consist of 0.67 grams of NO3 and 0.012 grams of Ammonia. ppm (parts per million) is...
  17. ceg4048

    EI dosage total

    Once I was accosted by an old starving beggar in the street. I gave her 15 times over what she was used to getting. Did she eat well that day? Yes. Did she like it? Absolutely! Cheers,
  18. ceg4048

    how to go from High tech to low tech

    Martin, just turn your lights off and leave them off for a week or two. Cheers,
  19. ceg4048

    Is my lighting to much?

    Animals cannot fix fundamental plant health issues. Cheers,
  20. ceg4048

    Is my lighting to much?

    GDA usually forms on the glass. This might be Rhizoclonium, but the root causes are similar, poor CO2 an low nutrient levels combined with too much light and probably poor flow/distribution. If you are not enriching the tank with any form of carbon then you really ought not to be pumping so...
  21. ceg4048

    Is my lighting to much?

    Well, GDA is a real problem. I'll not sugar coat it for you. It's probably the worst algae of all and the most difficult to get rid of. It is a prime indication that the tank was set up with any combination thereof of poor flow, too much light, poor CO2 and possibly poor nutrition. The...
  22. ceg4048

    Is my lighting to much?

    Lee, you need to stop making unauthorized sojourns into The Matrix. It can be dangerous. Quote of the day. The OP needs to identify the algae species. That will determine the likely cause, however, reducing the light intensity is an easier and more rational approach to solving the...
  23. ceg4048

    Possibly a bit of info for beginners in low tech.

    Exactly. Thank you. Don't forget to add diligent filter and substrate cleaning, and diligent trimming to that list as well. Cheers,
  24. ceg4048

    Possibly a bit of info for beginners in low tech.

    Beginners need to be aware that adding liquid carbon to a planted tank immediately converts the tank a high tech tank. Your journal therefore has an incorrect title. it is NOT a Low tech. This is a very important distinction. High tech by definition means CO2 enrichment. The enrichment of CO2...
  25. ceg4048

    e.i supplements

    Have a read of About Magnesium | UK Aquatic Plant Society - unless it's too lengthy. If so, suggest drinking heavily followed by a deep sleep. Cheer,
  26. ceg4048

    any supplements needed

    6 to 8 hours would be a good target for now. Cheers,
  27. ceg4048

    any supplements needed

    Hello, Neither Riccia nor moss particularly care about what sediment you have. However, if the sediment leches nutrients into the water then they will be fed. It's very difficult to predict the future because no one could possibly know, for example, whether your tap water is already high in...
  28. ceg4048

    best non co food suppliment

    Hi, Yes, Barr's standard non-CO2 dosing goes something like this: Add about 1/8 teaspoon of KNO3 per 20USG once a week or once every two weeks. Add about 1/32 teaspoon of KH2PO4 per 20USG once a week or once every two weeks. Add about 1/32 teaspoon Trace per 20USG once a week or once every two...
  29. ceg4048

    best non co food suppliment

    Hi, Yes, exactly. Non-enriched tanks do not have the same level of metabolism as CO2 and Liquid Carbon tanks. therefore they do not need the same high level of nutrition. Please note that I specifically include liquid carbon products in the list of high tech tanks. For some strange reason...
  30. ceg4048

    best non co food suppliment

    Are you saying that the link doesn't work, or that the page does not process your order? APF has a Sponsors forum section here. I'm sure John can help you with an placing and order. Cheers,
  31. ceg4048

    best non co food suppliment

    Order it from the sponsor link I listed. It's right there in front of you. :angelic: Cheers,
  32. ceg4048

    Rusting riccia pads damageable?

    Hi, Here is what I find so incredible in this hobby. It's the reason we have so much difficulty, because we refuse to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Have you ever seen a substrate product like this? Or how about Akadama discussed in JamesC's Akadama sticky in the substrate...
  33. ceg4048

    Rusting riccia pads damageable?

    Hi, Well it does look ugly, no doubt about that. I guess if you don't want to change it out to a plastic you'll just have to do more frequent and large volume water changes. This will also solve the issue of possible Zinc solutes assuming the metal is a galvanized material. It's difficult to...
  34. ceg4048

    Rusting riccia pads damageable?

    Hey Paulo, I know this might sound like I'm an attorney hired to defend rust, but can it be confirmed that the moss died from rust? Suppose the moss died from poor CO2 and just happened to be attached to something rusty? People kill moss all the time with rust nowhere in sight. Cheers,
  35. ceg4048

    Rusting riccia pads damageable?

    Hello, Not sure what "levels" you are referring to. If you're referring to Fe levels then as long as you see the rust it is a precipitate and is not dissolved in the water column. This is Ferric Oxide (Fe2O3) which is generally insoluble and is therefore not an issue for fauna. In a...
  36. ceg4048

    Shoeb's 15 gallon low tech

    Nice one Faizal. To be honest I actually like this one better than your other effort. Maybe it's the dark suede-like texture of the substrate contrasted with the deep waxy greens. Sorry mate... :roll: Cheers,
  37. ceg4048

    Can anyone answer this EI question?

    You need to stop thinking about the dosing numbers in terms of right or wrong. In fact, only the plants can tell you if you need more, or if you can get away with less. If you are not seeing discoloration or nutrient deficiency related algae then the objectives of the EI principles have been...
  38. ceg4048

    Can anyone answer this EI question?

    It is not a good idea to chase pearling. Click here=> Help I need a scientist! Water changes, pearling and CO2 Cheers,
  39. ceg4048

    Conversion of a high-tech to low-tec. Advice needed!

    Type of plants, amount of light, amount of CO2, blah, blah, blah? Others do the same thing and their plants turn to mush. So does that happen due to lack of devotion? Cheers,
  40. ceg4048

    Conversion of a high-tech to low-tec. Advice needed!

    Yeah, I'm in total agreement with roadmaster. High/Low tech is all about CO2 enrichment and has not much to do with sediment. It's easy to go from low to high but very difficult to go from high to low. Cheers,
  41. ceg4048

    best non co food suppliment

    Exactly the same as that fed to CO2 enriched tanks, just not as much. Plants do not change what they eat just because there is less CO2, they simply need to eat less of the same stuff. So get something like this from one of our sponsors=> http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/fert ... r-kit.html...
  42. ceg4048

    Deep Sand Bed low maintenance 70litre

    Hello, If you have a planted tank then all of this is rendered moot. You don't need any deep bed as the plants will do all the things listed in that article. There are plenty of people here using the non-water change technique, but the requirement is that the plants are fed and that...
  43. ceg4048

    Low Energy, Water Changes, CO2, Algae, and Pseudoscience.

    Re: Low Energy, Water Changes, CO2, Algae, and Pseudoscience As is often the case, one form of pseudoscience is cleverly used to attack another form of pseudoscience. At the end of the day, a real scientist would use a scientific method to test the validity of conventional wisdom. If anyone...
  44. ceg4048

    17 US gallon semi low tech (excel supplemented)

    Hi mate, Yes, it's the same story with snails. You can eliminate them all, but a few weeks later more appear. best to be sure, although I'm not really certain what the incubation period is but i think it's about a month or so before they hatch. Don't worry about it mate. just wanted...
  45. ceg4048

    17 US gallon semi low tech (excel supplemented)

    Hi Faizal, Looking good so far. Remember though that adding Excel changes the tank from low tech to high tech, which means you now have to pay attention to water changes and you have to dose more nutrients. I wouldn't even think about fish for at least another month. You may have...
  46. ceg4048

    Going from hitec to lowtech

    OK, so the idea is to reduce the water changes to fortnightly, instead of weekly. This is a tough proposition for a fuel injected tank, but the good news is that the lighting is T8 and not the high energy T5. In order to do this one has to understand the relationship between Light, CO2...
  47. ceg4048

    How do you stop BBA with no CO2

    Try not doing any water changes and disabling 50% of your lights for the time being. BBA is related to CO2 stability, not CO2 levels. If you really want to do water changes then allow the water to degas of CO2 for a few hours first - or do the water changes at night instead of during the day...
  48. ceg4048

    Question about soil, ammonia and water quality

    Well, the trick is to use someone else's oven. Don't you have annoying colleagues that you would like to avoid but don't have the heart (or guts) to tell them so? Well, invite yourself over to their place and bring your compost. After it's all over, they will avoid you. This strategy is...
  49. ceg4048

    Question about soil, ammonia and water quality

    Or, you could just bake it in the oven for a couple of hours to mineralize it. Cheers,
  50. ceg4048

    Plants melting and no growth - help !

    This is a distortion of the fundamental principle of Law of the Minimum. The law does not predict uptake of those nutrients which are readily available (either in the sediment or in the water column.) The law specifically describes and predicts the attenuation of GROWTH due to poor uptake (or...
  51. ceg4048

    The High-Tech Way or the Highway?

    This sounds like bashing: I mean, have you already reached a conclusion before even attempting the method? This is not very objective. Why not study how to execute high tech methods cheaply instead of automatically assuming the worst? The best way of promoting low tech is always to produce...
  52. ceg4048

    The High-Tech Way or the Highway?

    Hello, I don't see the point in high tech bashing. There is no way you can compare the two regimes and conclude that everything is equal. CO2 grows plants faster, bigger and prettier. This is no contest, and it might have been better if you had actually tried the high tech method and...
  53. ceg4048

    Plants melting and no growth - help !

    Hi David, Intensity is a much more important parameter than the length of the photoperiod because it's the intensity that does the damage. If you can't reduce the intensity by disabling a bulb then it's often suggested that you use floating plants to shade the surface and to reduce...
  54. ceg4048

    Plants melting and no growth - help !

    Hello, Melting has nothing to do with nutrients and has everything to do with low CO2. You cannot just go from a CO2 enriched to suddenly non-CO2 and expect the plants to just take it in stride. You should also have lowered the light significantly. Having said that, the plants will...
  55. ceg4048

    Non co2 17 US gallon re-start with PAR readings

    Hi Faizal, I cannot explain the PAR readings unless the bulbs are emitting a large percentage of their energy in the far red beyond the response of the sensor. Melting is a CO2 issue as indicated previously. Plants have not only a Light Compensation Point but they also have a CO2...
  56. ceg4048

    RO & CO2

    You might find it useful to review the thread Co2 Fluctuations and BBA which talks about BBA and CO2 instability, and is basically the long version of what Tom just described in his post. We have to remember that the adaptability of the plants is also a key factor in the dynamic of BBA. Not all...
  57. ceg4048

    RO & CO2

    Wow, powerful stuff mate. You've summarized the very essence of The Matrix quite brilliantly. Yes, that's right. Part of the problem is that our reaction to the product that is the planted tank is primarily emotional. This makes us susceptible to emotionally based arguments or propaganda, where...
  58. ceg4048

    RO & CO2

    Well the aquarist religion is filled with a lot of dogmatic principles that are not based on facts. Barr cleverly de-constructed each principle to find the truth and constructed new principles over the rubble using the building blocks of the scientific method. It may seem patronizing, but in...
  59. ceg4048

    220L el natural stocking

    Hi, Difficult to assess without photos. We do not know the level of biomass nor do we know the health of the tank or the lighting levels. If the plant mass is too low then the stocking has to be low. A high plant mass can support a higher fish load. If the plants are not healthy then they...
  60. ceg4048

    Slightly higher lighting on a low tech tank?

    Well, I don't really like to give dosing advice for a TPN+ user because this is another lottery. Like most Brand Name mixes this is very weak and success depends a lot on whether your tap water is high in NO3/PO4. If I had to depend on TPN+ alone then I'd probably do a daily dosing of double or...
  61. ceg4048

    Slightly higher lighting on a low tech tank?

    Yes, I agree that that it's an unproductive and unpleasant endeavour to bicker. Getting useful data so that you can be successful is the prime directive. As I mentioned, I do not hold any grudges and I'm happy to hear that you don't either. The Oracle instructs that there is only one way to get...
  62. ceg4048

    Slightly higher lighting on a low tech tank?

    As i stated, there are many reasons for low response rate on particular posts. Forum protocol requires that if you have not had a sufficient response to your query, that you simply bump the thread by politely replying and asking for a response. When you accuse the forum membership of...
  63. ceg4048

    Slightly higher lighting on a low tech tank?

    The qualification of "high tech" has to do strictly with the enrichment of CO2, not with the level of equipment. The addition of CO2 accelerates the metabolism of the plants beyond that which is typically observed in natural systems, although, there are some systems where CO2 is released into...
  64. ceg4048

    Slightly higher lighting on a low tech tank?

    OK, first of all, it just dawned on me that you have double posted. Be advised that double posting is considered an obnoxious transgression in forum protocol. Please refrain from double posting in future. I have merged all posts from the two topics. Secondly, I was aghast when I encountered...
  65. ceg4048

    Slightly higher lighting on a low tech tank?

    Hi, This automatically makes the tank high tech. I'd choose to look for a way to lower the spectral energy getting into the tank, such as surface cover or obfuscating the bulb. Liquid carbon does not deliver anywhere near the same levels of CO2 to the plant as gas injection does, so right off...
  66. ceg4048

    Airstones in low tech tanks

    Gavin, It's not really a good practice to link any one factor, like the airstone bubbles, to the tank's performance, or to compare the performance of multiple tanks - unless there is a specifically controlled comparison. People are always doing this, even those who know better. You have to...
  67. ceg4048

    Naturally add co2?

    You cannot produce CO2 from carbon unless you oxidize it by burning it. You can introduce more CO2 gas into the water column by overstocking and the resultant exhalation of the fish, but then you have to deal with the issues that arise with overstocking. If you wish to run a non-enriched CO2...
  68. ceg4048

    The 'right' light wattage?

    Hi mate, Well, you know, I dislike dim tanks, and I think the 11W can work. It's unfair to say categorically that 11W can't work. You'll simply have less margin of error that's all. Remember that you can also use the Dusko approach, in addition to the other techniques, via floating...
  69. ceg4048

    The 'right' light wattage?

    Hi Neil, Smoked glass (or acrylic?) would do the trick in the same way neutral density filters work. Cheers,
  70. ceg4048

    The 'right' light wattage?

    Hi Neil, It's really hard to determine "just right" for any tank. Certainly, the lower the PAR value, the better in terms of avoiding algae. In fact there is no "just right". The way that we think about light is the problem. The best analogy for light is the accelerator pedal on your...
  71. ceg4048

    i have a plan

    Hi, Unless I'm missing something Anubias roots don't need any help from you. They just sit on top of a rock or other hardscape and carry on. I don't understand the whole mesh under substrate concept. Spraybar over roots seems also more than a bit over the top to me. Anubias roots should not...
  72. ceg4048

    Taking the plunge into low-tech?

    Hi Neil, It's an unavoidable situation that I can't give an exact number. Theoretically, if you use either of those enriched substrates you ought not have to dose at all, at least for some months, however, we don't really know what PAR value of light you're using so we don't know the...
  73. ceg4048

    Taking the plunge into low-tech?

    Hi, If you go non-CO2 then it's always a good idea to start with a nutritious sediment. Amazonia or Nature Soil would be the way to go then this lessens the burden of dosing. With this configuration you're only need to dose once or twice a month so one shouldn't have to obsess over NO3...
  74. ceg4048

    Lighting Q

    Baron, this question was a cleverly conceived mid-term exam for you to answer just to see whether you've been paying attention. You should have been able to answer this with eyes closed and with one hand tied behind your back. I'm afraid I'll have punish you with 3 demerits, which will bring...
  75. ceg4048

    AQUA SOIL ??

    This has nothing to do with the substrate and everything to do with CO2 and water column nutrients. Cheers,
  76. ceg4048

    Could floating plants be it?

    As James indicates, it's not as simple as just having ammonia. The ammonia production rate and removal is a factor, lighting is a factor, temperature is a factor, CO2 and there may be other contributory factors such as O2 levels. Algae flowers from spores. The sensing mechanism of the spores is...
  77. ceg4048

    Could floating plants be it?

    Well, no, not far off. Your thinking is in the right direction, and starting a low tech tank off as a sort of Palludarium might actually be a pretty nice idea. Ultimately though, this works similarly as with floating plants. The external portion of the plant produces a larger share of the food...
  78. ceg4048

    Could floating plants be it?

    Hi, sorry, this is an inaccurate assessment of the basic cell metabolism process. There is no "capturing" and "release" of CO2 in this sense. Plants consume and discharge CO2 at the same time. Plant cells, like animal cells, can only stay alive and function if they are powered by the consumption...
  79. ceg4048

    Could floating plants be it?

    Hi, As Dave points out, there is no competition between higher plants and algae because they have totally different requirements. So it really doesn't matter what level of nutrients in in the water, low or high. We can see this demonstrated in tanks all over the world. However, yes, it is a...
  80. ceg4048

    Could floating plants be it?

    Hi, Nutrients don't cause algae. Therefore the entire scheme is built on a house of cards. As discussed earlier, the symbiosis between plant and substrate bacteria is broken with floating plants. Besides, what is there to look at in a tank full of floating plants? A bunch of roots and a...
  81. ceg4048

    filter bacteria in a low-tech tank

    Well, activated carbon has a bad rap sheet and it's entirely undeserved. So what if it removes some nutrients? Just add more nutrients... end of trouble. Activated carbon helps to remove discolouration and other organic/inorganic toxins so it's benefits can be worth more than whatever trouble...
  82. ceg4048

    filter bacteria in a low-tech tank

    Well, it's entirely possible to run a filter-less low tech planted tank, but one needs to understand the mechanism before drawing the conclusions of why this is possible and what it's implications are. First of all, bacteria won't disappear just because there is no filter. They are everywhere...
  83. ceg4048

    filter bacteria in a low-tech tank

    Hi, I can't imagine that you have read this on UKAPS. This concept is completely false. There is no way that filtration steals nutrients from plants. Just the opposite in fact. The output of filter bacteria is nitrate which is critical for plants use as an important source of Nitrogen. So there...
  84. ceg4048

    method to measure CO2 degas of tap water for WC in low tech

    Yep, an order of magnitude is a factor of 10. two orders of magnitude is a factor of a hundred. A jump of 0.1 to 1.0 is just as bad as 1 to 10. They are both an order of magnitude difference and the plants response in manufacturing the Rubisco enzyme is just as disrupted. Most are not aware...
  85. ceg4048

    method to measure CO2 degas of tap water for WC in low tech

    Sam prepare yourself for a surprise. There can be almost an order of magnitude difference between tap water and non-CO2 tank water. BBA responds immediately to CO2 fluctuations in a non-CO2 tank. Plants living in a non-CO2 injected environment have a very high density of Rubisco in the leaves...
  86. ceg4048

    method to measure CO2 degas of tap water for WC in low tech

    The level of CO2 concentration in water is determined by where the water comes from and what natural components it interfaces with on it travels towards your tap. Additionally, the solubility of gases in fluid mixtures is highly dependent on the fluids temperature. William Henry (an English...
  87. ceg4048

    method to measure CO2 degas of tap water for WC in low tech

    Yes this is valid but also remember that equilibrium is not a static thing. Degassing is just a matter of having the higher CO2 content in the water escape, but afterward, CO2 will also dissolve into water from atmosphere and will also move out across the water/air interface depending on...
  88. ceg4048

    method to measure CO2 degas of tap water for WC in low tech

    Equilibrium is reached after a couple hours but the lid must be off. Cheers,
  89. ceg4048

    water changes in a low tech tank

    Well, if my name were Cryptocoryne and if I heard about nitrate buildup, I'd say; mmm..yummy! Can we have some phosphate buildup as well Mummy? :D This is easy to fix. Avoid overfeeding. The fish will be more sensitive to the ammonia caused by overfeeding than they will be to nitrate. As long...
  90. ceg4048

    'prepping' ADA aquasoil for no water changes

    Mulm adds carbohydrates that the bacteria can feed on so that's always a goodie. I'm not really sure that adding a filter is of any use though. Remember that you don't need to fill the container with water. As in the dry start method, you only need to keep the substrate moist, not inundated with...
  91. ceg4048

    'prepping' ADA aquasoil for no water changes

    Matt, If you cycle the substrate on it's own there is no need to do water changes. the ammonia gets mineralized and the bacterial colonies build in the substrate. You need 3-4 weeks to accomplish this. Make life easy and just let it sit and do the work for you. This is exactly the same...
  92. ceg4048

    substrate cleaning in a low tech tank

    Yeah, no doubt mate. Barr likens CO2 injection to a narcotic on which we get hooked. Just call me junkie... :roll: Cheers,
  93. ceg4048

    substrate cleaning in a low tech tank

    Well, remember that the induced algae would be more likely a CO2 related algae like Staghorn, BBA or Hair. Since you actually replaced the water and removed any stirred up ammonia the risk of BGA should be minimal. If the input water has the same CO2 level as the tank water there is no problem...
  94. ceg4048

    substrate cleaning in a low tech tank

    Hi Matt, Why not just siphon the mulm out into a bucket through some filter floss at the top so that only clean water accumulates in the bucket, then return the same water? I also don't see what the big deal is with moving the filter inlet hose over and vacuuming with that hose. You can...
  95. ceg4048

    water changes in a low tech tank

    Hi, You could set the water out and de-gas the CO2 but why bother? It's supposed to be a low maintenance tank right? The water is being recycled in the same way that the Russian cosmonauts recycled their urine to perfectly drinkable water for months in their spaceship. Toxic buildup is...
  96. ceg4048

    Help needed with low CO2 setup

    Well, the creation of Excel involved a much greater level of technology (20th century polymerization chemistry) than simple pressurized gas and relay solenoids which are Victorian era achievements. A high tech tank can use T8 bulbs powered by old magnetic ballasts while a low tech tank can use...
  97. ceg4048

    Help needed with low CO2 setup

    Hi, There are some inconsistencies in these points that ought to be clarified: 1. In the first place it's not really clear what you mean by "...a low CO2 low tech system..." Planted tank systems are either "low tech" meaning that no supplemental CO2 is added, or, as "high tech" which means...
  98. ceg4048

    Hi & Help!

    Hi Mick, The best advice I can give you is to....RUN - do not walk, away from your test kits. They will kill you because they give false readings. If you don't fully grasp the biochemistry of plant growth and then if you respond to the test kit readings you will almost always make the...
  99. ceg4048

    Hi & Help!

    Well, hang on for a second. It's a little be more complicated than that. There is only one nitrate ion - "NO3" How you get to NO3 is the issue. You can start off with the inorganic salt and it will be available immediately upon dissolving or you can get to it organically by the process of...
  100. ceg4048

    Hi & Help!

    Thanks for the additional data. OK, it dawned on me that this is a non-CO2 tank, so yeah, throw all my previous calculations away. The Ei dosing article is geared towards high tech CO2 injected tanks so that's what threw me. You don't need nearly those levels of nutrients. Apologies for that...
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