Search results for query: "duckweed Index" KISS

Hi all, @Stubbo , honestly we don't have <"anything to sell"> and we aren't <"keyboard warriors">. All you will get from us is what members think is good advice, it is entirely up to you what you do after that. Personally I'm a great believer in KISS solutions and <"if it ain't broke, don't...

Hi all, No, the life span of the aquarium is potentially definitely decades, and you never actually need to replace the substrate, it will change over time, and no longer be "active", but it can still provide a healthy environment for growing plants. If you have a look at <"Aquarium...

Hi all, Welcome Tony, always nice to see a fellow low tech. non CO2 user. I'm a Walstad fan too. If you have a look at the <"Duckweed Index"> threads, it should tell you where I'm coming from. As well as <"Troi" (who has already posted)>, have a look at <"BigTom"> and <"Akwaskape"> threads for...

Hi all, That is the problem, water testing is much more problematic than is implied by the sellers of most test kits and meters. Have a look at these threads <"Accurate method of measuring....."> & <"Mg + K +Fe....">. I combined these approaches, mainly to try and do away with the need for...

Hi all, I definitely agree about the lid, I can find quite enough ways of killing the fish without adding another one, and I will always use a cover. I don't think that any-one is arguing that all light sources are equal in terms of their out-put of photosynthetically active (usable) radiation...

Hi all, I've never used any of the complete substrates like "Aquasoil", but if you have a high nitrogen environment (particularly with high ammonia) the answer is just to increase the plant mass (and particularly plants with access to aerial CO2) and add extra aeration. You can then use the...

Hi all, I think you will be fine in terms of light intensity on a ten hour day, I have a break during the day as well. I'd just add a few floating plants and some stems. I've got spare ones you can have if you are in the UK? Personally I don't worry too much about light period or intensity, I...

Hi Darrel, Superb Read <"Aeration and dissolved oxygen in the aquarium"> :clap: Can i please use this link and post the info on to others :)

Hi all, The real problem is that I don't really think that are enough parameters you can measure meaningfully to develop an app. that would work. Despite being a bit of a fraud, I have got access to ~ £100,000's of analytical kit, and a technicians who know how to use it, but it still can't...

Hi all Have a look at the "Duckweed Index" (the links in my post on page 2 of this thread <http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/adding-nitrate-to-stocked-aquarium.33752/page-2#post-360006>). It uses a floating plant to take CO2 out of the equation, but you can use the same approach for slow...

Hi all, It really depends on what plants you want and how quickly you want them to grow. Light and CO2 Light drives photosynthesis, and photosynthesis drives the uptake of the nutrients plants require. I'll ignore the requirement for oxygen for respiration outside of the photo-period, so...

Hi all, You need to take whatever approach you are happiest with. A lot of successful aquarists are fanatical water testers, but personally I very rarely test any of the parameters in the tanks. I just use visual clues to give me an idea of when to add fertiliser ("Duckweed Index") or clean the...

Hi all, If you have the EI salts to hand, I'd follow Alastair's suggestion. A thought occurs that both your floaters and emergents will be close to the light, and high levels of light tend to cause yellowing in new leaves when nutrients are limited. Nutrient deficiencies are always hard to...

Hi all, A lot of people won't agree with me, but I can't really see any advantage to CO2 for the majority of planted tank keepers. For me the main problem is that, however careful you are, there is the ever present risk of asphyxiating your fish. As well as the problems with direct toxicity...

Hi all, I think Tom and Alastair have had success with carpets, I've never had any joy at the bottom of the tank, but my tanks are always jungles, so I don't really have any suitable spaces. Hemianthus did fine for me on top off an HMF sponge, but had access to aerial CO2. That's right, we are...

Hi all, I agree with "Yo-han". Like Darren says it only need a little bit. You can think about EI as a full on attempt to grow Tomatoes with loads of light and nutrients (including CO2), but what you want is fertiliser regime adjusted for slow growing plants like Ferns, Orchids or...

Hi all, No, it is a perfectly sensible question. The advantage of having a large plant mass is that it makes tank management a lot easier, you don't tend to get much algae, and water quality tends to be much better. I'm not entirely sure why, it may just be a shading effect, in that some leaves...

Hi all, I think your right, personally I stick any available light over the tanks (most of my tanks and lights are "pre-owned" or DIY), use whatever substrate I have to hand, plant heavily, maintain a large plant mass and then feed (if necessary) via the "Duckweed Index" <Low maintainence, long...

Hi all, Sounds fine, as long as the plants are growing you don't need to do anything else. You may find that if you have a bigger plant mass you need to add a bit more, particularly as you are dosing liquid carbon. I only use plant growth and colour as an indicator of when to feed, I've...

Wow, that's fascinating, thanks Darrel. Nice analogy...easy for a beginner to understand :) And as for the algae picture... :eek: - I have no words... I'm beginning to agree with the opinions of people on the forum on this subject. I think waging a war on this 'gentle' alage would be an...

Hi all, Perfect tank, if you have suitable plants, a relatively low fish load, low light and low nutrients (you need some of all macro and micro-nutrients), you have a fairly stable and resilient system. Because light energy drives photosynthesis and CO2 and nutrient uptake, as you increase...

Hi all, I really like the look of the algae in the photo, looks like something from a Tim Burton film, maybe Johnny Depp with a wild green afro, but assuming that you are less keen on it, it becomes slightly more problematic. Green algae have the same photosynthetic pathways as all the other...

Hi all, That was why I chose a floater, to take CO2 out of the equation. The Duckweed Index is a KISS method for those who aren't interested in aquascaping or an all singing and dancing tank, but just want a planted aquarium with reasonably healthy plants. I've converted quite a few people on...