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Hot prop cold prop

Rich Lewis

Seedling
Joined
12 Dec 2013
Messages
7
Hi all

Its been a year since I set up a nice planted tank, so this time I thought I would try the propagator method, using ADA 'malaya' as a substrate.

1 is a 'hot prop', made from take-away trays, planter trays that you use in the greenhouse, and a 15W 1.5metre reptile heater cable. It ranges in temperature from 24 to 30C and is lit by ambient light from a south facing window.
Plant list:
Hydrocotyle vercitilia
Staurogyne repens
Crypto. costata
Micranthemum sp
'monte carlo'

The other is a 'cold prop', made from a plastic storage box and 2 TMC grobeam tiles, each on on half power (which is still horrendously bright). The ambient temperature is around 20-22C.
Plant list:
Elocharis pusilla
E. parvula
Lelaeopsis brasilia


I found when I put the heater cable in the box, the whole thing got too hot and the heat was distributed unevenly. therefore I made 2 props, one for more temperate plants and the other for trops. The cold prop is lit, because I found on the windowsill without a heater, it simply got too cold so I've had to put it in the centre of the house, which is quite dark.

I've have the Micranthemum for a couple of months, and it growth has doubled! It's especially fast under the lights. I've also have the E. pusilla for a a few months and found it did better under lower temps. All other species were added within the last week. I'm interested to see how the Crypts do, the roots are obviously under water and the leaves in 100% humidity.
 

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