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You could do a dry start, then the plants will thrive rather than survive……

You would really need to give a lot more info about your set up, a full tank shot would also help and tell us about your livestock too?

I have always had mixed success with this method, some plants start off really well but die back after a year or so. Others never really look great and a few can really take off. It is definatily possible and good fun most of the time. Garden centres often have suitable plants already growing in...

Perhaps you dont have enough humidity inside the container?

Like I said, just put in two inches of water and some cling film over the top, stand back and watch it grow.

Pretty easy if you only put a few inches of water in the bottom!

Here are a few I have done, no spraying but heat mat and bright light. https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/join-the-club.18071/

You need high humidity and warmth for the best growing conditions. Whatever container you use it should have a lid on top and then offer as much light as you can, sunlight is best. If you really want to see fast grown then the container should be around 75-80f inside and slightly cooler on the...

Ah ok so you have two pumps in line to push one flow of water? Have you tried to switch off one pump and see if it still works because one pump pushing another pump it not going to work very well. If you are injecting the C02 into a canister and still getting all those bubbles then something is...

Hi eminor, I can see a big power head in the corner, is that powering the spray bar or is it connected to something else ? There seems to be lots of big bubbles in the tank, how are you supplying the C02, does it go into an in line diffuser?

aquariumplantfood have been around for many years and their starter kit has been used by hundreds if not thousands of forum members. There may be a few discussion threads about the starter kit but generally speaking I think it works as the majority of people have had great success using their...

If only you had not turned the lights up! Your tank with lower lighting looked really nice and healthy.

I have always enjoyed growing aquarium plants out of water and been at it for many years! There are only a few popular aquarium plants that wont grow out of water and the mass majority will thrive in a damp substrate and 100% humidity for the leaves = lovely warm, humid conditions just like...

Misting seems to be the most popular method although i have done dozens without a single spray. I think misting is so popular because folk like to be proactive and do something and i understand that. So use rain water to spray, you can add a few drops of fertiliser if you want but make sure it...

It is always difficult to quote figures due to the many differences from one tank to another but as a guide you can expect it take around 2-3 hours from the C02 being turned on before the tank water is up to 30ppm. With big tanks it can take longer still! So as Zeus points out a PH graph is a...

Hi Dave if you have carpet plants running so rampant as to overtake your crypts then I suggest you shake your own hand with congratulations! If that should ever happen I would say it is just part of owning and maintaining a planted tank and nothing a decent pair of curved edge scissors could not...

I don’t know but I doubt very much if such a toxic fluid as acetone would work for the good! Are you are talking about established plants or something done yesterday?

Yes there does seem to be many opinions based around DSM, I used to comment of all the post that came up and offer my advice but, of late very few folk seemed to agree with me so I leave it to others to advise nowadays. However the advice I gave In Darrels link, is still the method I use and...

Well you will know if you add to much C02 as your fish will die, if you add to much light you will get algae! If you did not have fish you could experiment a lot more safely but in any case you might need a little more patience!

There are some folk who seem to manage with low levels of C02 and high light, probably only a small percentage though? Most folk who post on the forum rely on a PH profile to get a better idea of what the C02 content is in the tank water. In my own 200lt tank I use around 8-10 bps but it is so...

Well with added fish you really limit the ability to experiment. Generally speaking most folk leave around six weeks before adding livestock, there are several reasons for this, one is it is differcult to play around with C02 levels without endangering the creatures. Also as Alto points out...

That looks like fresh planting but I see fish so I don’t know what time scale you are quoting?

Not low tech but I got a good draping effect from the glosso

I like many others, have a tendency to pass on info that has already been documented by someone else. As I remember both Ceg and Tom Barr have talked about the importance of having maximum C02 levels at lights on. A two hour ramp up on the lights might be ok if the Co2 is at max levels at the...

A pair of scissors works for me.

When you guys say “should go on forever”, that must only apply if the plant is thinned out or at some stage or it will become so dense it has nowhere to spread? From my own experience i have found that there is a saturation point, once this point is reached the plant starts to suffer and the...

It would seem that even the specialised scientist don’t really know why but the presenters were swayed toward the red colour that appears in autumn leaves is a way to protect the tree from strong sunlight as the rest of the tree is shutting down for winter.

Anyone watch Autumnwatch New England tonight? Quite a bit of discussion regarding red pigment in trees...

Snail haters!,,

Always best to search forums via search engines like google, just add UKAPS to your question.

This question used to be regular one on this forum, I can’t remember if there is one conclusive answer. Tom Bars thread shows that he can grow many shades of red, so it is possible. https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/dutch-something-or-the-other-120-gal.17797/page-33 I think optimum conditions...

If we are to diagnose your issues, then we need lots of info... Generally speaking a lack of fast growth can be attributed to not enough C02, not enough fertiliser or not enough light. 9 times out of 10 it is not enough C02, this can mean that there in not enough being pumped in or not enough...

I bought it a few weeks ago, just termed as 'fern'. It seems to like my terrarium conditions and is growing very well. In fact there have been lots of new growth in the last month from many of the inmates, I am sure the abeyant light of spring and early summer has caused this big upsurge in...

I have got a this fern, I don’t know what it is?

Hey Mark, have you looked up the dry start method?

That is how they mostly grow in their natural environment, they need very high humidity & they don't mind lots of bright light. I have lots of Anubias growing in my vivarium, I would not say it is a fast grower even under metal halide light for 12 hours a day but it thrives, spreads & flowers. I...

As Ed has said, too much light for the available amount of C02. I don't know much about LC but I think you should check the dose & increase it to the max level (that could be more than stated on the bottle) I am sure that you can find the recommended LC dosing levels on the forum.

Nice one, I hope mine will develop some nice furry roots...

I have just come back from the garden centre, they have 7 types of Adianthum for sale but unfortunately they are all maked as 'Adianthum mix'

Hey Darrel, do you have a picture of your fern? I think their air roots look more like spider legs than rabbit feet, but big mature ones do look fantastic. I have only seen Pinterest phots of mature ones, mine is attached to a branch but still young.

My local garden centre has lots of small Maidenhair ferns but I don't know exactly what variety? My favourite small fern is the rabbit foot, it can grow epiphytically or with its feet in water.

How long are your lights on for?

I have always thought melt was due to the plants being grown out of water while enjoying 400pmm of prime airborne C02 and then being plunged into water with 30ppm and only a fraction of the light they were previously absorbing?

When I developed an interest in aquarium plants, around 40 years ago, amazon swords were the single most popular plant to display in your tank! We did not have the internet but, there were several monthly publications & numerous brochures available. They all seemed to feature ASs! I remember...

Echinodorus bleheri is what I always think of as an Amazon Sword, I have found this plant to be one of the more difficult plants to grow emmersed! I would say that Amazon Swords are one of the easiest plants to grow in a C02 injected tank, more often than not, being far to dominant! I have one...

It is a shame that Victor does not post anymore!

A few years ago I set up a tank with a glass trough around one side and the back of the tank. I filled the trough with backed clay and set up air line connected to a tiny power head. This little power head pumped the main tank water into the tough and overflowed back into the tank. It worked...

Glad I could help!

Well if you used mono it will take years, perhaps decades to discompose! I use this stuff ..... http://www.foxons.com/clear-bait-elastic

I much prefer using elasticated bait line, in clear. Mainly used for sea fishing to tie on soft bait while casting. Cheap as chips, easy to use, doesn't damage plant roots, hardly visible and most importantly rots away after a few months underwater.

The key to success is having a slightly higher temperature inside the tank than the surrounding air outside of the tank, that will produce very high humidity. Placing the tank in sun light will do that but I have found placing a heat mat under the tank produces very fast & healthy growth...

Hi and welcome :) you are right about your question being asked countless times, in fact most days there will be someone asking! To start with you have a big tank and that is always going to be a challenge in it's self. Then you use your bubble count as a reference but unfortunately they can be...

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You might eventually get fed up with them though as they tend to shade a large area & are not easy to take out! As you can imagine the root system also becomes rather extensive too!

At least you have a big tank..

Yes, they grow huge & chuck out baby's like no ones business!

Look at post 77 you can just hang your UP inside the bottle neck, is does not need to be connected to a pipe. That way you wont restrict the flow but still get a fine mist. Even the most advanced reactor will reduce flow, a single right angle bend will zap 25% Can you find any acrylic pipe? A...

The system you are using should work very well although you are restricting the pumps inlet to 16mm and that with the added C02 might be causing cavtatsion and reducing the pumps performance? Many people feel the mist effect is best way to get fast plant growth. Try using the cut down bottle on...

Your plant have gone from 400pmm C02 too 30pmm C02, there is only so much you can expect. It sounds like you are doing everything right, you might be able to help the transition by upping the C02 for the next few days but I would keep up the standard EI dosing. Many plants use a different leaf...

Hi Hermant, yes I agree it can get confusing when you get conflicting advice! There are several avenues to success but I think we can only ever offer options and opinions. All tanks will need fine tuning to get the best from them. 'I think' a spray bar & a atomiser in front of the pump is a good...

I have made loads mate, I can post some pics (although they are on the forum somewhere) This design works quite well too.....

As Chris says .. the longer the flowing water is contained in the vessel the better the C02 dissolution. Without doubt the most effective method I have ever come across involves the water entering a round vessel at a tangent so the flow is sent into a vortex inside the tube. Even a small reactor...

Ha Ha looks like you are having fun :)

There are lots of options with the co2 if you use a sump, the most effective I have found is using a needle wheel pump as a return pump. You just feed the co2 directly into the pump that sits in the end compartment of the sump, the needle wheel will pruduce a very fine mist. I used this system...

As Chris says both will work. One you just have to plug in, although you will have to DIY some fittings to get your reactor or atomiser to suit the pipe work. The other you have to construct & design. The other option is to buy two smaller filters, that would possibly be the most expensive but a...

Well yes you could use more light if you are confident the other parameters are good. What is the worst that could happen!

You might get faster growth with more light but HC will grow in partial shade if they have enough C02. I used to have a very similar depth tank only lit with 2 x full length T8s and it grew HC in a healthy state. However as you don't mention the tank length ... your tank could be 5' long?

A sump! Will you get the tank drilled or buy an overflow? You will need even more co2 to compensate for the sump and overflow! How much will a sump cost to instal ?

You have a large tank, it will need lots of C02 & flow, there may be other options but a basic formula that works is .... two T5s the length of the tank on for 6-7 hours a day. 10 x the tank volume flow rate. Full length spray bar, in line anatomiser , full EI fertiliser & a one point PH drop...

If you tried to join up your pumps then that is the reason as that system will work against each other rather than make more flow. Also spray bars have to be made carefully with the right size & number of holes. The best results will come from using a single pump about 10 x flow compared to your...

The object of a spar bar is to push the water just under the surface so the flow goes down the front, along the bottom and back up underneath the spaybar. So you get a circular motion in side the whole tank..... yes just under the surface faceing straight towards the front

Read this & look at the picture in post 11 http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/water-flow-in-the-planted-aquarium.1167/

Well you will to try with your power head, try placing it in the middle just under the spray bar. A bigger more powerful filter is worth saving for. I am not sure how to calibrate a PH pen without a set PH solution but it is the best way to check for a good level of C02.

Is that your only filter? is it this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eheim-2217-External-Filter/dp/B000OBO4NE/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1450618972&sr=1-1&keywords=eheim+2217+filters If it is then you are well under powered! You should be looking at filters with 5000lph not 800lph.

I think a lot of people will tell you that is a very bad idea ! ... however I love messing around with things like that, it might work & be a bit of fun to try :) To be honest though I don't think you need to do that, you can just place the power head in the middle and face it forward. What size...

Yes but right across the back if possible. Have you turned off the other lights... Just useing two T5s ?

The best way is to have a circular motion, try to get the water to go around in one direction. Lots of info on this forum.

I am afraid you are suffering from a very common problem .... too much light not enough C02. Bear in mind many members are using 2 BPS on 60l tanks. Just use the two T5s for now, 6 hours a day. Get a PH pen are check how much the PH drops when the gas is on, then add more C02 until you can get...

Marcel makes a very good point about keeping cold water fish in a warm inviroment. Perhaps you could cycle the fish every few months although whether they would survive returing to the wild I don't know?

Hi Manuel, welcome to the forum. You don't seem very convinced that you are over lighting your tank lol. You simply dont require 156w of light for 11 hours a day or even 8 hours a day, what makes you feel that you need so much light? Ocassionly we see a lovely looking tank that is powered...

Reminds me a little of my log tank....

Yep and me, crypts don't mind exposed roots if other conditions suit them...

260l & 1 BPS.... that must be a very big bubble! I would say you need more gas.... try moving the DC right down by the grass.

Don't do anything drastic, even poor quality plants will recover in the right conditions! If it was possible to rehouse your fish then you could really up the C02 & play with the flow but, if you cant you will just have to be carful & monitor the fish as you gradually increase the C02. However...

Looks like lack of C02 to me! You have quite a big tank & from my experience it take a lot of flow & a lot of C02 to get good results In 200lt

You can buy a PH pen for £10 ish, a good investment. I also get a one point PH drop from 7.6 - 6.6 but I have to switch my gas on three hours before lights on and off one hour before lights out to maintain that level. However to achieve that I use a lot of C02 and quite low lighting to avoid...

Did you use it underwater because the OP said he did not want to remove the wood?

You can pin in down with a drawing pin or just an ordinary pin for a month.

This is really easy to follow

Check your bank balance that should tell you if it was Amazonia ;) Might be too much light for a low tech!

I have the same bubble counter & I can help you reduce the bubble count! Take it apart, cut down the nozzle end where the bubbles form & drill it out as much as you can while still leaving some wall thickness. You will instantly notice a large drop in the number of bubbles... obviously this...

Plants that have been growing underwater don't travel so well in the post but, if you are just moving a plant from one tank to another then they transplant very well, as long as the plant is only out of the water for a short time. Commercially grown plants that have been grown out of water do...

The point is .. plants don't need bight light, they need high co2! It is the co2 that is the driving force, try to forget about high light because it is bright light that causes 95% of problems relating to algae. Honestly low light and high co2 will give you great results.

I don't really see the point of that, if you have 10 kg of gas then feed it in at a fish safe rate & keep the light low.

It is the amount of C02 available to the plants that counts for fast lush growth or slow growth (slug pace with no injected C02) It is always better to match the light to the available C02! Bright light, like 4 x T5s, is best left to very experienced folk who are prepared to work hard on their...

Super glue would help, might be a lot easier than tying?

I think it is the same issues that you have had before... not enough C02! If the tank has no livestock turn up the gas! Don't count bubbles or rely on a green drop checker just crank up the gas!! If you are using 4 bps then try 8. Your bubble counter might have a small aperture, a different...

I don't think you can buy commercially grown submersed plants, it just would not make any commercial sense compared to growing out of water! You can see plants grown underwater for sale most days on this forum from our members. You don't always get plant melt, not if you can supply huge amounts...

I guess drift wood is a general term but traditionally it means wood that has been drifting in the sea or fresh water for some time, enough time to remove the bark, soften the lines & smooth the shape. You can do that yourself but sanding down hardwood branches & soaking them for a few months.