Uslanja
Member
OK............ I surrender...... AARRRŔGGGHHHH!!!!!
I see the beauty in everyone's tanks! I see the talent displayed by the multitude of aquariasts!! I see thriving plants and fish!!! I see success......... and I want some too!?!?!?
Some plastic plants embedded in vividly coloured flourescent stone, joined by a couple of fake jellyfish floating in the water column on a string........... even then I would hazard to guess that I will achieve a "FAIL"!!!
Oh my but I have so many questions that I feel lower than a newbie on the ladder to success!
Anyone up for a wee bit of frustration while trying to get a few concepts to stick in my old head?
1) What is the life expectancy of a planted tank? I have read where the substrate will eventually become depleted of nutrient and need to be replaced. I have read in several searches that 12 months is aproximately the life of aquarium subsoil. What? Soil nutrient can not be replaced? I wish to build a biotope and keep it going for the life of the fish, which I hope would be several years and even longer if reproduction should occur.
2) Adding fertilizer to the substrate and/or water column? I have read scenarios where the ppm of nutrient supplied for the plants exceeds the parameters recommended for fish and inverts. I am not undrstanding this concept. I certainly do not wish to stress the tank inhabitants so how does one dose for plants and not harm the fish, shrimp, snails or what have you? I had a quick exchange with Tom Barr a while back and like the sounds of EI............... but what about the inhabitants need for nutrient reduced parameters?
3) So hobby test kits are inconsistent and inaccurate......... listen to what the plants tell you???......Really? After sitting for several hours with my good ear held firmly to the aquarium glass and receiving a "crick in my neck"...... I have not heard a word...... only some bubbling!
Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Can fauna thrive in the planted tank or do they just complete the scene?
(I hope my attempt at levity is not taken out of context; the written word can convey several different intents and I only wish to cause a smile and a laugh)
I see the beauty in everyone's tanks! I see the talent displayed by the multitude of aquariasts!! I see thriving plants and fish!!! I see success......... and I want some too!?!?!?
Some plastic plants embedded in vividly coloured flourescent stone, joined by a couple of fake jellyfish floating in the water column on a string........... even then I would hazard to guess that I will achieve a "FAIL"!!!
Oh my but I have so many questions that I feel lower than a newbie on the ladder to success!
Anyone up for a wee bit of frustration while trying to get a few concepts to stick in my old head?
1) What is the life expectancy of a planted tank? I have read where the substrate will eventually become depleted of nutrient and need to be replaced. I have read in several searches that 12 months is aproximately the life of aquarium subsoil. What? Soil nutrient can not be replaced? I wish to build a biotope and keep it going for the life of the fish, which I hope would be several years and even longer if reproduction should occur.
2) Adding fertilizer to the substrate and/or water column? I have read scenarios where the ppm of nutrient supplied for the plants exceeds the parameters recommended for fish and inverts. I am not undrstanding this concept. I certainly do not wish to stress the tank inhabitants so how does one dose for plants and not harm the fish, shrimp, snails or what have you? I had a quick exchange with Tom Barr a while back and like the sounds of EI............... but what about the inhabitants need for nutrient reduced parameters?
3) So hobby test kits are inconsistent and inaccurate......... listen to what the plants tell you???......Really? After sitting for several hours with my good ear held firmly to the aquarium glass and receiving a "crick in my neck"...... I have not heard a word...... only some bubbling!
Can anyone help point me in the right direction? Can fauna thrive in the planted tank or do they just complete the scene?
(I hope my attempt at levity is not taken out of context; the written word can convey several different intents and I only wish to cause a smile and a laugh)