The levers of a balanced low energy tank

[Soilwork]

I think that's where a lot of new high tech scapers may fall into chasing ghosts. Co2 injection is an inherently unstable practice and a dynamic situation as surface agitation and plant mass changes. The plants are constantly trying to adapt which then leads to people making further unnecessary changes to other parameters without waiting enough time to see what difference the last change made.

ultimately I personally believe this is it. I honestly believe plants can grow on much less nutrients than we think. It is the co2 thats hard to ‘get right’ and is what causes most algae issues and apparent stunted and deficient leaves.

It makes sense that seasonally submerged macrophytes be extra ‘sensitive’ to this parameter as essentially it’s make or break when they are flooded.

 

[Soilwork]

duplicate post. Not sure how to remove

 

[AverageWhiteBloke]

It is the co2 thats hard to ‘get right’

Trying to dissolve a gas that constantly wants to get out of a warm environment and keep it stable is like herding cats. Errors with nutrients is far more forgiving unless they are combined with gas issues. The tank I have sometimes I dose like clockwork but there's times when I've just let it go through laziness and being busy. At worst a few plants look a bit ropey. When I was weaning it off co2 to go back to low tech, even when as gradual as I could it was a total disaster.

I was looking at setting up a cube tank at the start of summer so put a nice root into the cube and filled it with tap water so the root would sink when I finally set it up. In the end up I didn't get round to setting the tank up, there must have been some dried up plant matter on the root and after about 3 months I had moss growing on the root, a small java and duckweed floating on the surface. 😀

 

[AverageWhiteBloke]

Just for clarification, I have never changed any water in that cube, added any frets and the only light it gets is from a window but compared to being stuck to a dry bit of wood in a cupboard that's luxury. But then I see someone with a High tech tank wondering why their moss keeps dying I suppose that doesn't sell lights, ferts and co2 regs though so don't tell anybody 🙂
I think what I'm trying to get at is when changing co2 levels the the plants need to be in Good health in much the same way as an an athlete needs to be at the top of their game before entering a competition. Makes No sense going into a sprint competition if you have a bit of a cold to start with. Yes been drinking 😛

 

[Soilwork]

Just for clarification, I have never changed any water in that cube, added any frets and the only light it gets is from a window but compared to being stuck to a dry bit of wood in a cupboard that's luxury. But then I see someone with a High tech tank wondering why their moss keeps dying I suppose that doesn't sell lights, ferts and co2 regs though so don't tell anybody 🙂
I think what I'm trying to get at is when changing co2 levels the the plants need to be in Good health in much the same way as an an athlete needs to be at the top of their game before entering a competition. Makes No sense going into a sprint competition if you have a bit of a cold to start with. Yes been drinking 😛

I think it’s just one of those where the plant is just trying to adapt all the time. Another reason I think the bell method of co2 delivery is more stable. In that San Francisco shop Ocean aquatics/aquariums he says he put root fertilisers in once a year. He has relatively dim lighting in most tanks too but you can clearly see just how much plant mass the annual fert tabs support. Not to mention all of his emersed growth.

his fish do seem to breathe quite rapidly in some tanks though.