Search results for query: aerial advantage

...unknown extent. The original idea was to have a <"rooted emergent plant">. This would have the dual benefits of Diana Walstad's <"Aerial Advantage"> and oxygenating the substrate (via <"Radial Oxygen Loss">). The problem was just that a rooted emergent plant, like a <"Cyperus"> or...

...nutrients"> (<"triffid">*) It uses a floating plant as your <"nutrient canary">, because floating plants have Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage"> of <"access to atmospheric CO2"> (about <"424 ppm CO2"> today). * I just use these ridiculous analogies so that I can re-find my posts cheers...

...an old aquarium, Juwel Rekord 72, and other ramblings">. You don't need CO2, a lot of people don't use it. Have a look at <"Cryptocoryne Parva Carpet"> & <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">, it talks about the "aerial advantage" that floating (or emergent) plants have. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Add a <"floating plant">? It has the "aerial advantage" <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?"> cheers Darrel

...so that it had access to atmospheric CO2 <"Global Monitoring Laboratory - Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases">, this is Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage">. That is why I only have <"Ceratopteris thalictroides and Ceratophyllum demersum"> in the "stem" role now as sub-surface floaters. You can...

...in. A dry start is allowing the plants to grow in for several weeks before flooding, giving plants access to atmospheric CO2 or the aerial advantage, and establish root systems before flooding. Again it helps to develop microbial communities in the substrate and oxygenate the rhizosphere and...

The "aerial advantage" and why it is so important. If we go back to the figure in the <"previous post"> we can see that plants are overwhelmingly constructed from structural carbohydrates, produced from CO2, water and light via photosynthesis. <"File photosynthesis equation.svg - Wikimedia...

...Leaf Colour Chart">. <"Testing for fixed nitrogen">. <"The other mineral nutrients">. <"Fertilisers and the Duckweed Index">. <"The "aerial advantage" and why it is so important">. <"Why a rooted emergent plant would have been optimal">. <"Phytoremediation">. <"When the Duckweed Index breaks...

Yes, floating plants can increase the consumption drastically, I suppose. The aerial advantage... In fact, I do not cultivate any floaters. But I'm about to try @dw1305's Limnobium, just to learn something new.

Thanks all! The frogbit has perished but the water sprite is looking greener now. As I've got red root floaters for the "aerial advantage", I'm not going to replace the frogbit for now. Sadly still no sign of the tiger lotus. I've added about 15L of dehumidifier and RO water to the tank. It's...

...while <"before things improve">. One of the reasons for using a floating plant in the <"Duckweed Index"> was that it did have the <"aerial advantage"> of access to atmospheric gases, but didn't have access to the substrate, and any reduced compounds it might contain. I'd agree, I expect time...

...where the availability of <"Liebig's limiting nutrient"> never stops plant growth. It needs to be a plant with <"Diana Walstad's aerial advantage"> to take CO2 out of the equation. Have a look at the <"The scientific background to the "Leaf Colour Chart""> for a bit more explanation about...

...but they've looked so healthy, so far that I've left them. They've received the normal accurate occasional <"slosh of pale blue Solufeed"> and <"Diana Walstad's "aerial advantage">. The bowl had gone a bit green, but a couple of <"Physella acuta"> rectified that over night. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is really the issue, people want <"black and white"> answers in a <"shades of grey"> world. A real problem is that people are more willing to <"believe in a magical number"> rather than the evidence of their own eyes, and then will argue "that wrong is right " even when it...

Hi all, That is why Diana Walstad suggested a plant with access to atmospheric gases, this is the <"aerial advantage">. An <"emergent plant"> would be best, but not all aquariums can accommodate these and a <"floating plant"> also fulfils this requirement. As a general rule we recommend the...

...decided it’s time to rip the Myriophyllum brasiliensis apart 😂 Not to miss an opportunity, we’re left with only plants with the aerial advantage now. Some are looking a bit tired with root tabs getting exhausted: Switching up to full EI dosing: Even upgraded the lighting unit: See...

Well, I've really been wanting to do amazon frogbit for this reason, I totally understand the rationale so co2 is not a factor and i can really read deficiencies. My only hesitation is about adding another maintenance task to my routine, skimming and disposing of floaters. As for iron, I believe...

Hi all, The aerial advantage was the main reason for using a floating plant for the "Duckweed Index". Once you've taken CO2 (and light) out of the equation, that only leaves the mineral nutrients. You can divide the mineral nutrients into those that are mobile within the plant (the majority)...

...This means that we have about 420 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere and over 10x as much as you are adding. This is described as the <"aerial advantage"> by <"Diana Walstad">. *Why they are equivalent is that you have 1000 (10^3) milligrams in a gram and 1000 (10^3) grams in a kilogram 10^3 and 10^3...

I try to judge the health of my floaty plants, I think it's a clever way of gauging the nutritional needs and comprehensive for those of us who are a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of fertilisation. I've looked into a fertiliser which contains KNO3 instead of Ammonia, which feels safer.

...tend to worry too much about anything else as long as I have <"plenty of oxygen"> and <"plants">, ideally including some with the <"aerial advantage">. I would be wary of adding a fertiliser <"containing ammonia"> to the tanks with fish in them, but I'm using a fertiliser <"which contains...

...and are massively <"net oxygen producers">, so keeping your plants growing is the best thing you can do. I don't add CO2, so I use <"a floating plant as my "mop">. Floating plants have access to atmospheric oxygen (21%) and CO2 (420 ppm), Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage">. cheers Darrel

...plant growth. This shift in the frogbit condition has led me to reconsider my macro dosing somewhat. Because they have the "aerial advantage" CO2 can be ruled out, otherwise it should definitely be among the things considered. Carbon is a nutrient, and flow is our nutrient delivery system...

...in the substrate is probably most important, and that is why I would <"ideally want an emergent plant">, one with <"Diana Walstad's aerial advantage">, leaking carbohydrates, proteins and oxygen into the substrate around the growing root tip. I also have some <"hardy tank janitors"> added...

...up and process ammonia (NH3)"> (and all the other forms of fixed nitrogen). If you have plenty of plants, including some with the <"aerial advantage">, they are <"very efficient at removing nutrients">. I'm no trying to be funny, but most of the things written about cycling and water...

...mineral nutrients are missing. That was one of the reasons for choosing a floating plant for the <"Duckweed Index">, they have the <"aerial advantage">, access to the atmospheric <"419 ppm CO2"> and this takes CO2 availability out of the equation. It might be the <"assembly line aspect of...

...produce"> allows the tank to deal with a larger bioload. I like a <"floating plant"> (all right, I'm <"obsessed by them">) because they have access to <"415 ppm CO2"> and can respond rapidly to increases in ammonia etc. Diana Walstad wrote about this as the <"aerial advantage">. cheers...

Hey Darrel, can I get your opinion on this please? I've been using your method and I see in one of my propagation/experiment tanks(a 1L beaker) that the new growth on my Salvinia Aruculata is coming out light green or even yellowy now so I am thinking a have a deficiency? I haven't changed...

Good to know thanks. Roger. On this note and not pertaining jusy to my salvina, I really wish I owned a PAR meter as I am really finding that knowing if I have enough or too much light for my current setup is challenging. I have a high end LUX meter, would that be of any use? Wow, that looks...

...discount CO2 deficiency, any floating, or emergent, plant has access to <"415 ppm of atmospheric CO2">. It is <"Diana Walstad's "aerial advantage"> and have a look at <"150 ppm co2?">. I think so, I also think that light is probably more important than nutrients in terms of the degree of...

Tank is 6x2x2 low tech, I have fine gravel substrate with root tabs and weekly dosing of liquid fert. Nitrates are about 20ppm and weekly waterchanges of 20%

That's what I've found really weird as well, u also have hard water and everything else in the tank is flying. Can't work out why

...a monkey's about CO2 since it’s able to synthesise its carbon from bicarbonates. And as it grows across the surface it gains the aerial advantage and grows even stronger. But it just stayed where it was planted and sulked. It didn’t grow, and mostly finally dissolved in to nothing. We...

...oxygen supply"> always exceeds your (potential) <"Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)">. I just think plants (including some with the <"aerial advantage">) are the <"easiest way of doing this">. It isn't <"very exciting">, but <"it works"> and is <"accessible to every-one">. I want people to...

...distribution of the stomata in the leaf cross section and they are all in the upper (adaxial) leaf surface. It is actually the <"aerial advantage">, the <"access to atmospheric gases">, that makes floating plants so effective at reducing fixed nitrogen levels and also why you can add them...

...we thought were essential for cycling don't actually occur in aquarium filters If you have plenty of plants (and some with the aerial advantage) you can use them both to improve water quality and as an indication of when to add fertilisers. "Plant/microbe biofiltration" is much more efficient...

...doesn't apply to floating plants">, because they always have access to atmospheric gases, via the stomata in their upper leaf surfaces. This access to atmospheric gases (<"Diana Walstad's "aerial advantage">) is why <"floating plants can utilise more of the nutrients in the water">. cheers...

Yes, there is a system or an approach there that is something different. Whatever @Sudipta, @Happi and others are doing differently is at least working beautifully for them. Sudipta mythical lean tanks I am going to keep posting this picture to remind us that this is an ultra lean, no/low CO2...

...substrate. Pogostemon erectus will be fine in both but root system will adapts based on availability - just example. With lots of aerial advantage, low tech can use more nutrients than high tech. Less substrate disturbance imo since the co2 won’t be set for maximum N … as such any...

...would give the ammonia neccesary to combat the nitrate requirement but even if they didn't, there is so much CO2 from atmospheric aerial advantage that they can just waste it to make ammonia from nitrate). So I dump 20 ppm in this eve ... probably going to drop to 170 ish tomorrow ...

...to be desirable, or indeed possible, for most home aquarists. That led me to a floating plant (so still with <"Diana Walstad's aerial advantage">) and originally <"Lesser Duckweed (Lemna minor)">, hence the <"Duckweed Index">, and the "duckweed" subsequently evolved into Frogbit (Limnobium...

I think the potential usage for plants with the aerial advantage goes even beyond that. Darrel always says plant/microbe filtration is "belt and braces", what about belt, braces and bootstraps (or something). The reason im still trying to work out a way to include some CO2 unlimited plants in my...

...alternative floating plants, or rather, any kind of plant with access to atmospheric CO2. Having at least some plant mass with the "aerial advantage" seems like such a good safety feature, as their capacity for growth is just much greater. I cannot keep my tank without at least a partial lid...

Thanks @dw1305. Information like this and what has been provided earlier is why I joined this forum. Most appreciated. I'll just enjoy the process and wait until the time is right

...perfect illustration of why <"plants make such a difference"> in the aquarium, and also why <"Diana Walstad talks so much about the aerial advantage">. If you think of that root mass ramifying through the substrate and <"leaking organic carbon and oxygen"> into the rhizosphere it explains a...

...even when nitrogen levels were higher. It had to be a floating, or emergent, plant to access the 400 ppm of CO2 (Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage">) and not all tanks could have an emergent plant, so it had to be a floating plant and all the <"other options had some issues">. It would...

I see Frogbites as an alternative to massive water changes. You can dose ferts quite relaxed as you know that the floaters are using them like crazy! The only downside is my red plants that are not so red any more. But BBA has not returned, so Frogbites rule!

Growing plants out of a hang on back filter is an alternative way of getting the 'aerial advantage' if you want some light to reach the plants in your tank. And I don't have to water my Monstera :)

Hi all, You are talking <"to the converted">, I'm a <"Frogbit obsessive">, but it was Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage"> that led to the <"Duckweed Index"> and eventually Limnobium laevigatum as my <"preferred "Duckweed">. cheers Darrel

...of any nitrite (NO2-). The simple answer, <"the KISS solution">, to all <"these "problems"> is just have a plenty of plants, ideally some with the <"aerial advantage"> then you can ignore the build up of any form of fixed nitrogen, because it just <"isn't going to happen">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'm not a tap water user and that <"is one of the reasons">. Drinking water needs to be safe to drink, it doesn't need to be fish safe and any threat to the integrity of the water main is likely to be swiftly followed by <"emergency chloramine dosing">. If I was obliged to use tap...

...enough plant biomass into the tank with the fish, you would need <"some spatial separation">. This is also where <"Diana Walstad's "aerial advantage"> comes into play. <"Turned up to eleven"> plants, with access to atmospheric CO2, are always going to be able to assimilate more fixed...

...... which species would deteriorate first, if you don't match the rate of deterioration - all else constant - with plants gaining aerial advantage to keep up with the influx of N in the system, what will happen?) What we really need is the log of observational thoughts that went through...

The problem I have with plants with my 450 litre aquarium is boistrous fish (Clowns and Loaches) and feed. Ideally I need plants that are tough and hardy. Can't be uprooted and don't need much feeding. I might try floating but they can become problematic in a short space of time (overgrowing the...

...the tank"> and your high nitrate (NO3) levels are over. I'm a floating plant fan, mainly because they have <"Diana Walstad's "aerial advantage""> Difficult to say really, the NO3- ion doesn't probably <"become an issue"> until you're are in the hundreds of ppm. In a non-planted (like below)...

...(NH3) and convert it to a safer form. It doesn't matter how you get rid of the ammonia, it just needs removing ASAP. If you have a very heavily planted tank, with plants with the <"aerial advantage">, they will mop up any ammonia from the breakdown of chloramine pretty effectively. cheers...

Hi Marcel, Yes this is a problem in The Matrix. We often cannot tell what is real and what is an illusion. Check this out. you can buy what is essentially powdered rust as a trace element. I used to use this stuff from this vendor all the time: Gardens Direct Ferric It was fine...

...becomes relevant if those iron ions (Fe++/Fe+++) are subsequently available in the water column. It needs to be a plant with the <"aerial advantage"> for the Duckweed Index to exclude CO2 availability. If you used a <"rooted emergent plant">, as your canary, it would be better, but more...

...fish in there. Plant/Microbe biofiltration would give you <"belt and braces">, but you would need a lot of plants, ideally with the aerial advantage. Something like <"Eichornia or Pistia"> would have the highest potential nitrogen removal values and would be best in a shallow, very brightly...

...it has access to 420 ppm of atmospheric CO2. Diana Walstad talks about this in <"The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium"> as the <"aerial advantage">. A lot of plants do better at lower pH values, partially because the TIC is in the form of CO2 and partially because many nutrients are more...

...dissolved oxygen, not having a single point of failure, having plenty of plants in active growth, including some plants with the aerial advantage etc.. I'm still using a mix including both <"ammonia and urea">, but in a much <"less scientific manner"> than @Zeus., partially because I'm a...

That's where I got the 15ppm figure from, and it looks pretty close in the API test :) Certainly, pic of frogbit is below. Also below is a diagram of how my Bioflow M 3.0 filter is set up, it's very different to the manufacturer setup. The lower biogravel basket is never removed for cleaning...

...tap, from memory the water report for my area averaged 30ppm. That was the reason I started looking at plants that could use their aerial advantage and act as a nutrient export. I found Pothos to be easiest. I seem to struggle with floating plants, other than duckweed but see your salvinia...

Hi Darrel, I forgot to mention that there was no substrate in my setup. JPC

...Wetland Effectively Removes Nitrogen in Swine Wastewater">. Because they are epiphytes? Duckweed (Lemna minor) would be more suitable, just because of its faster growth rate and aerial advantage. It would also get around any complexity offered by root/substrate interactions. cheers Darrel

...and choosing the right plant species in the first place is key. I always favour "easy" plants like vallis that can manufacture carbon from bicarbonates and have leaves that grow across the surface. And floating plants and plants that produce emergent growth, both have the aerial advantage.

...of filters for nitrification, they have a huge gas exchange surface area. You also have a shallow tank with plants with the <"aerial advantage">. It is the oxygen that makes the difference, a few people have <"found this"> and been worried, but I look on <"complete oxidation as a good...

...from the premise that: Plants were the thing that <"really made a difference">, and particularly plants with <"Diana Walstad's "aerial advantage">. A relatively <"undisturbed substrate was a good thing">, and that <"diversity brought resilience">. <"Oxygen was the prime metric"> in...

...The base layer is John Innes Number 3. Another strategy is to use floating plants (see the threads on the duckweed index and the aerial advantage) to reduce problems with algae and slow growth down slightly while I am away. I normally remove some floating plants once a week, while I am away...

...the biomass Think about introducing floating plants (if you do this you can increase the light duration). See the threads on the duckweed index and the aerial advantage. Don't give up. We have all experienced algae problems at one time of another. Short term follow the advice on this video:

...then look for easy vigorous plants and plant heavily. Include floating plants (search for threads on the duckweek index and the aerial advantage). Buy your plants from a reputable source and talk to them about the plants. Aquarium gardens are superb. Once you have this running then start...

...meter"> and a <"spirit thermometer">. It honestly <"is the answer">. Watch the plants, have plenty of plants, some with the <"aerial advantage">, have <"plenty of dissolved oxygen">.It is back to a <"picture being worth a thousand words">. Substitute "penguins" and "ggplot2" for the...

The 50% is arbitrary. It relates to nothing. But the spirit of EI is to dose beyond need. Why do a water change every seven days for example...? Why not six or eight? The flip side is you’ll probably be unaware of any nutrient imbalances until it’s too late and a week is seven days so a large...

...start from the premise that : Oxygen is the <"prime metric in nitrification">, heavily planted tanks, with some plants with <"the aerial advantage">, are very efficient at reducing all forms of fixed nitrogen, and that <"plant/microbe biofiltration"> is potentially a lot more <"efficient...

Hi @dw1305 I'm having problems quoting material from post #52 above. So, I'll try a different approach. I was talking about "setting up a biological filter to handle nitrification only", i.e. NH3>NO2>NO3. But you then say But, if plants absorb NH3 or NO2 in preference to NO3, then why bother...

...ammonia and nitrite are always well below their toxicity thresholds. If I have a tank with lots of plants (including some with the <"aerial advantage">), and high levels of dissolved oxygen, scientific research, and my experience, tells me that it is going to fulfill these requirements. All I...

...for <"Tim Hovanec">. Good idea, that is definitely what I'm recommending, filters as <"nitrate factories"> and plants, with the aerial advantage, to suck up the nitrates. There is a bit of research on it in the waste water industry as the <"Extended aeration or complete oxidation">...

...than that it should be fine. In terms of fertiliser addition you can either start using some fraction of EI dosing, or you can add a floating plant and use the <"Duckweed Index">. The advantage of a floating plant is that it isn't CO2 limited and has the <"aerial advantage">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Welcome, it doesn't look very happy. Because you live in Denmark I'm going to assume you have hard (high dKH/dGH) water? If the new leaves are pale and small it is an indication of a <"deficiency of a non-mobile element">, and the most likely one of these is iron (Fe). Have a look...

Hi all, That would be my thought as well. The <"plants are grown in">, you have plants with Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage"> and you still have <"stable and resilient biological filtration">. My guess would be that you also have a similar size of gas exchange surface using the Koralia. It...

...comes from. Partially why I like a floating plant in the tanks is that they aren't ever CO2 limited, they have <"Diana Walstad's "aerial advantage">. This is also why I think that the <"no water changes, low tech because they cause CO2 fluctuation"> isn't an argument that holds any water...

...a tank without water changes I'd definitely go for a reasonably deep substrate (and heavy planting including some plants with the <"aerial advantage">). Assuming the photo is tank 3.? What I'd be really interested in is what the plant growth was like in the other two tanks? That is...

...but at a much lesser order of magnitude. I agree with @Sarpijk, and I would try the Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum), they have the aerial advantage and should suck up a lot of nutrients fairly quickly. Hopefully the tank will start growing the algae you want again, but I'm not sure it will, or...

...to try an iwagumi etc. and <"it suits the fish I keep">. I always have floating plants, I use them for the <"Duckweed Index"> and because they have Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage">, access to atmospheric CO2 which allows them to respond quickly to changes in nutrient level. cheers Darrel

...all, As @tam says by far the easiest way to achieve a low nitrate environment is to have plenty of plants, including some with the <"aerial advantage">. If you have a lot of plant growth you won't ever have much build up of NO3-, the plants will convert it into more plant. When you remove the...

...tank and still possibly not "cycled", if you didn't have cycled filter media initially? I'm not an advocate of cycling using ammonia, but I like tanks with lots of plants, including some with the <"aerial advantage">. An air stone might help at night. and @Edvet's suggestion. cheers Darrel

Hi all, It is really choosing what is the least worst option. In the cappuccino analogy I want to concentrate on the coffee, not the froth. It is a bit like <"emergency first aid">, so the question is what is the most important thing? For me the the most important bit is that you want some...

Despite what we discussed in those threads (including https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/reconstituters.55797/) I'm still chasing the dream. I'm pretty worried that the day I find the perfect balance, I'll have nothing to do!! With all those salts you're going to want a decent calculator, I...

...really that critical, as long as I don't go mad with something containing <"urea"> or <"ammonia">. As long as I have: a reasonable plant mass, including some plants with the aerial advantage, and those plants are in, at least minimal, growth I'm happy, and so are the livestock. cheers Darrel

...are grown in. I like six weeks for establishment and I always have floating plants, mainly because they have Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage">, the access to atmospheric CO2 and oxygen. Some people will remove the "floaters" once the tank is established, but I like to keep some to use...

...for that component), by maximising oxygen input, increasing the gas exchange surface area and adding in plants (ideally with the aerial advantage). Scientists use the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) concept to quantify how polluted an river, or effluent, is. You can design systems that allow...

...It simply involves growing plants in a wet substrate for 2-6 weeks before the aquarium is flooded. This allows plants to use the aerial advantage to become firmly established. In addition, whilst plant roots are growing in they oxygenate the rhizosphere which accelerates the bacterial driven...

...we thought were essential for cycling don't actually occur in aquarium filters If you have plenty of plants (and some with the aerial advantage) you can use them both to improve water quality and as an indication of when to add fertilisers. "Plant/microbe biofiltration" is much more efficient...

Hi all, That's it. This is where the ecology bit of <"The Ecology...... "> comes in. Under <"Darwinian theories of natural selection"> altruism doesn't really exist, but complex, <"resilient and diverse ecosystems"> can, and will, develop over time. If you think about another "aquatic...

Thank you Darrel. I'm working my way through the thread and links. Lots of really interesting stuff. One thing I'm not clear on - do emergent plants benefit all of the plants in the aquarium by pulling Carbon into the aquarium, or is just a benefit to themselves because they have access to more...

On a basic level, you can stick to everything she says except for the no water change part and no filtration. Get decent filtration and do large weekly water changes and you'll have a successful tank. I believe Diana revised her advise at least about no filtration/water movement because the more...

...Walstad was particularly keen on plants with emergent leaves and access to aerial gases (oxygen and CO2), she called this <"the aerial advantage">. It is one of the concepts that underlies the <"Duckweed Index">. Have a look at <"nitrification">, it talks a bit about why high carbonate...

Thanks dw for the thought out and well explained reply, I was being more specific, as how a Cycling tank *must* have fish at all (if not, then specifically a large amount?) and have a gravel substrate.... I think i must be misunderstanding her comment, because this all is flying over my head...

...recent <"scientific advances in the study of nitrification">. I advise a plant heavily (including plants with Diana Walstad's <"aerial advantage">) and then waiting at least six weeks before adding any fish. Six weeks is probably a bit conservative, but I like "belt and braces". cheers Darrel

...It simply involves growing plants in a wet substrate for 2-6 weeks before the aquarium is flooded. This allows plants to use the aerial advantage to become firmly established. In addition, whilst plant roots are growing in they oxygenate the rhizosphere which accelerates the bacterial driven...