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  1. tiger15

    Lava rock stacking

    I have seen demonstration in YouTube you can use cigarette filter in conjunction with superglue to bond rock. The two will react exothermally to form strong bond with good contact, but be careful to avoid getting burnt. I have not tried it myself though as I don’t want to permanently bond...
  2. tiger15

    wabi-kusa question

    Wabi Kusa is commonly referred to growing aquatic plants emerged in the west. In Japanese, Wabi’ denotes something aesthetic, imperfectly beautiful and natural. ‘Kusa’ means ‘grass’ or sometimes ‘plant’. Therefore ‘Wabi-kusa’ does not literally mean that they must be aquatic plants, but...
  3. tiger15

    Lava rock stacking

    Lava rock make stable rock pile as they are light in weight and have good traction to grip on one another. I use them as foundation to attach epiphytes. I don’t pile dirt on top of rock to root plants but rather hide non epiphytes in net pots hidden behind rock. I prefer hollow out rock to...
  4. tiger15

    Mysterious red ring stain

    If it is indeed Coraline algae, it is a mystery why a rare freshwater form would grow in my dim light, non planted, non dosing tank where no other algae can grow. Coraline algae is loved in a reef tank giving live rock color, but looks dirty staining my heater, glass and ornaments. The stain...
  5. tiger15

    Mysterious red ring stain

    You may be correct. From my research, there is only one species that lives in freshwater. While it is desirable in reef tank, not in my freshwater tank as the stains are out of place and hard to remove.
  6. tiger15

    Mysterious red ring stain

    It started on the surface of a clay pot and spread over onto the heater glass and elsewhere like rashes. These red circular rings are smooth to touch and cannot be rubbed away easily. Are they inorganic or biological in nature. What are they.
  7. tiger15

    Effect of CO2 on New Fish

    Run away CO2 (> 50 ppm) is toxic to and will kill fish, which had happened to me by accident when I was a new user of CO2. So make sure you babysit how your new CO2 regulator is operating closely for a few days before leaving it alone. Maintaining CO2 below 30 ppm is safe to all fish, even...
  8. tiger15

    72" plant lighting

    Why do you have to avoid two 36 inch strip led. Is it because your tank has no central brace, and you want to hang the light on open top. My 125 gal came with glass top, central brace and double 36 inch fluorescent light hood, and I am glad to replace with double 36 inch led strips that are...
  9. tiger15

    In Tank vs Inline

    No, depending on the type of diffuser, in tank diffuser can be as efficient if not more so than in line diffuser. Do not use any ceramic style diffuser which wastes a lot of energy to overcome the pore resistance. I use the bubbling style in tank diffuser by Tunze Tunze CO2 Diffuser | Coming...
  10. tiger15

    Journal Vertical Garden Projects

    Here are pics of my lfs set up of a vertical garden on top of a planted tank. The set up is rather simple, using a timer to pump tank water to irrigate the garden once daily. The tank is back lighted with changing color, not my taste as I prefer more natural look. Another pic is a mono...
  11. tiger15

    Grow Lights for House Plants

    3000 to 4000k has been standard lamp color for centuries since Edison invented incandescent bulbs. It makes human face looks blush, saving make up for ladies (and Trump). 6500k led is not white but blue hue white. White is not a spectrum color but created in our brain by perceiving all...
  12. tiger15

    Grow Lights for House Plants

    Natural or not is not subjective based on the eye of beholder, but has been measured in actual sunlight. In a living space, how human face looks like is as important as plants and surrounding. Only in halloween display do we want to see human faces appear ghostly blue...
  13. tiger15

    Grow Lights for House Plants

    10000k looks good in aquarium, but too ghostly blue for living space. 2700k is similar to incandescent, too warm light for aquarium, but looks fine for living space. Natural sunlight lamps are typically between 5000 to 6500k.
  14. tiger15

    Grow Lights for House Plants

    You don’t want purple grow light for houseplant as you grow houseplant for the natural look, not to appear like in another planet. Most houseplants are low light forest canopy plants, demanding even less light than aquarium plants. I’m able to grow lucky bamboo and pathos in dim room light...
  15. tiger15

    Journal Vertical Garden Projects

    My local fish store has set up a wall garden on top of a planted aquarium. I believe the aquarium and the garden circulation systems are integrated in such a way that water in the aquarium is pumped up to the wall garden and dripped back to the tank. Plants in the wall garden appear to be...
  16. tiger15

    Has anyone grown this red plant, Macarenia clavigera

    So this plant has been explored for the aquarium hobby, but has not been commercialized. It belongs to the Podostemaceae - Wikipedia Podostemaceae genera of which many species are epiphytes adhere to rock in rapids and waterfalls with suction cups. So it is similar to Bucephalandra, but...
  17. tiger15

    Has anyone grown this red plant, Macarenia clavigera

    Macarenia clavigera is a species of aquatic plant that is unique to the Caño Cristales River. It is a submerged plant that grows on the riverbed during the dry season when the water level is low and the river is exposed to sunlight. The plant has several distinctive features that allow it to...
  18. tiger15

    bamboo

    True bamboo need full to partial sun, and well drained soil. There are no swamp bamboo, but surprisingly desert bamboo thrive in Sahara. So growing true bamboo in aquarium is impossible. If you want dead bamboo stems in aquarium, their lush green or black color will quickly fade to tan, and...
  19. tiger15

    bamboo

    Are you talking about Lucky bamboo or real bamboo stems. I grow Lucky bamboo and stick it to the glass with suction cups. It grows well with submerged stem and leaves above water.
  20. tiger15

    Removing Glue from lava rock

    I tried acetone already. It did not work. Once superglue is set, it hardens up like cement. A sure way to remove glue residue is to use an electric grinder, which is labor intensive. . Its better to glue plants on grey and white rock like limestone or lace rock which blend in the white...
  21. tiger15

    House Plants in Leca (Semi Hydroponics system)

    I grow succulent in LECA. I filled LECA into a transparent glass jar with no drain hole. Since I can see where the water level is, I water just enough water to inundate the bottom one inch using a turnkey baster, and only water again when it has completely dried out. It works well with...
  22. tiger15

    glutaraldehyde

    I used glut for years at high initial dosage after weekly water change, and it has no effect on Sag subulata. Sag is a bog plant not expected to be sensitive to Glut. Egeria, hornwort, Val’s and all mosses are sensitive, but repeated uses may develop resistant strain if a few survive...
  23. tiger15

    glutaraldehyde

    Glut is used widely as a biocide, not herbicide. It has plenty of toxicity test data on aquatic organisms but don’t expect to find any data on higher plants. I use glut for systemic water treatment , not spot treatment as it is much cheaper to spray with peroxide on exposed plants during water...
  24. tiger15

    glutaraldehyde

    Excel used to have 1.5% Glut years ago but now raised to 2% without changing the dosing receipt. API Carbon Booster used to have 1.6% Glut., but now probably 2%. Glut has low toxicity to fish and shrimp, and need many times over dosing to be harmful. I have compiled toxicity test results...
  25. tiger15

    glutaraldehyde

    Do not use any glut without knowing the concentration as you have no way of calculating the right dosage. I’m sure if you do some search you can discover the concentration from the material safety data sheet. In US, I bought the generic glut Metricide 14 and adjust the dosage based on 2.6 %...
  26. tiger15

    Cactus, succulent and some houseplants

    I have a collection of dozens miniature succulents, just not the thorny cactus type. I scrape them in half gallon bowls, and train some into bonsai trees. They receive 6+ hour filtered sunlight on my west facing window, still not enough PAR to retain red on red cultivars. This is in...
  27. tiger15

    Life expectancy of aquarium silicone ?

    I have two 75 gal tanks in continuous use for 30+ years, one 125 gal and 75 gal in continuous use for 20 years, still holding water with no leak. Previously I owned a new 10 gal tank and a used 30 gal tanks that leaked after a couple years. I have no clue if there is a finite life expectancy...
  28. tiger15

    From aquascape to succulent scape

    More updated photos. Since sunlight comes from the back, placing taller plants in the back as in aquascaping will shade front plants and needs to be reversed. I’m pleased with the outcome as the scapes are colorful, diverse and require less maintenance than aquascapes — slow growth, no algae...
  29. tiger15

    Life expectancy of stem plants

    Do some stem plants have short life expectancy? I grow garden perennials and am aware that some perennials are short live requiring rejuvenation every few years by division or restarting from seeds. I’m asking the question as I’ve experienced decline in vigor in my narrow leaf Ludwigia...
  30. tiger15

    CO2 by air..?

    CO2 builds up quickly inside the car to 1000+ ppm if you don’t turn on venting. Outdoor CO2 fluctuates between 385 to 425 seasonally due to photosynthesis and furnace operation.
  31. tiger15

    CO2 by air..?

    O2 demand and CO2 release in soil is significant component of climate model, but was missed out in the Biodome experiments in Arizona leading to unsustainable O2 level unsafe for experimenters. I think 3000 ppm is the upper limit of CO2 for safe operation of green houses.
  32. tiger15

    CO2 by air..?

    Years ago I calculated aqueous CO2 concentration based on Henry coefficient and 400ppm atmospheric CO2 and came up with less than 1 ppm. The calculation is complicated by unit conversion as unit weight of air is much lighter than water, and Henry coefficient is temperature dependent. Also...
  33. tiger15

    CO2 by air..?

    If you aerate your water with an airstone, there is good chance you strip more CO2 out of water than injecting more in. Your fish and bacteria respire and generate CO2 above the atmospheric equilibrium level off photo period without agitation.
  34. tiger15

    From aquascape to succulent scape

    Update pics of my succulent scape. It displaces much color, form and textural diversity. I’m also starting a succulent bonsai tree from Jade plant. He is happy now back to his little quarter. He was never bullied but shy away from bigger tank mates.
  35. tiger15

    Angler lands one of world’s largest goldfish in French lake

    It's not a goldfish, but a gold carp. Goldfish are mutant, with double tail and crooked spine. Gold carp are natural gold morph carp, similar to koi but without human selective breeding.
  36. tiger15

    From aquascape to succulent scape

    Just completed a miniature succulent garden on another bowl adjacent to the nano aquascape bowl in which the paradise fish is popping up color.
  37. tiger15

    Stemphobia

    Stems have delicate texture and can easily be damaged in the planting process resulting in floating. I use a tweezer and chopstick combo to plant stems directly into the substrate. I pre drill a hole with the chopstick first and then lightly hold the stems with the tweezer and insert into the...
  38. tiger15

    Floater Maintenance?

    This is not GMO, but environmental intervention. It’s only an idea, with chance of success and unintended consequences unknown. Floaters can bloom and collapse just as easily, and I have personally experienced with certain floaters.
  39. tiger15

    From aquascape to succulent scape

    I currently run one 125, three 75 , one 30, one 20 gal tanks, and a handful of small fish bowls. I have plenty of tank space to house big and small fish, and am always breeding and growing out some species. Many betta keepers grow out betta in quart jars and having a gal bowl for a Chinese...
  40. tiger15

    From aquascape to succulent scape

    No, they are not the same fish bowls. I still have one paradise fish in one bowl, and a second paradise temporarily relocated to my 75 gal . It is the one in my 75 gal that is unhappy, hiding all day long inside the plants to avoid getting bullied by more aggressive cichlid tank mates. I...
  41. tiger15

    From aquascape to succulent scape

    There can’t be more difference to move from aquascape to succulent scape. One need lot of water and the other hardly any. On the hand, there are as many if not more textural and color variance of succulents as aquatic plants. So I try it for the first time on my nano fish bowls. The bowls...
  42. tiger15

    Floater Maintenance?

    55 million year ago, quantum growth of Azolla cooled the earth from thermal maxima towards the first ice age since the Triassic. Scientists are proposing to use Azolla again to combat global warming. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-the-fern-that-cooled-the-planet-do-it-again/
  43. tiger15

    Floater Maintenance?

    Since they grow fast, don't bother to prune out brown leaves but to remove the whole plants. The remainder will recover with lusher leaves after thinning out and soon fill up the gaps. I have to thin out mine every two weeks in warm months. But in winter, my red root floaters, water...
  44. tiger15

    Floater Maintenance?

    I have all 3 of your floaters plus Azolla I recently acquired. All floaters grow fast if they are happy. If they are not happy, they turn yellow and ugly. Maintenance is regular thinning, and trashing out the extras. Otherwise, they will grow thick and stamped the bottom to rot.
  45. tiger15

    A warning to check your canister filter connections

    The Aquaclear style HOBs has a small chance of overflow when the foam block is clogged and popped up . Cartridge style HOBs have no chance of overflow as it has a bypass spillway when the media is clogged. Even air hose can come loose and back siphon. It happened to my sponge filter in my...
  46. tiger15

    A warning to check your canister filter connections

    There is no fail safe canister because there are many external plumbing (clamps, O ring and connections) that can fail. When any part fail by wear and tear or human error, a canister can turn into a fountain and potentially drain the tank if not discovered early. For fail safe filters...
  47. tiger15

    Crypto undulata red versus wendtii

    How can you tell the difference between Crypto wendtii red from undulata. For a long time, I thought I had wendtii, but I’m not sure now as pics of undulata look similar and it is described as belonging to the wendtii family. There is also wendtii tropica that looks similar. I guess unless...
  48. tiger15

    Leca question

    Terrestrial plant roots need oxygen and moisture to thrive. Constantly submerged roots can lead to rot and drainage holes prevent it from happening. LECA provides good oxygenation and drainage, and is great for succulent. But pumice and larva rock provide better nutrient and moisture...
  49. tiger15

    When to have lights on

    6 hours seem short because the average photo period is between 8 to 10 hours. But if it is 6 hour full intensity light with no CO2 dial down, it's not that short. Dennis Wong suggests turning on CO2 1 to 2 hour before light on and off CO2 1 to 2 hour before light off, but for photo period 6...
  50. tiger15

    When to have lights on

    6 hour intense lighting is fine. I have seen one poster whose meticulous high tech nature tanks get only 6 hour photo period and he claimed it is a trick to keep algae out of healthy plants. Dennis Wong cited that photosynthesis is most intense in the first 4 hours and diminishes thereafter...
  51. tiger15

    Leca question

    LECA will not sink if fully submerged. It cannot be used as an aquarium substrate. I use LECA to grow house plant, half filled with water. A better alternative is bonsai grade crushed larva rock that will sink. I use it as substrate in my planted shrimp bowl. It has greater porosity than...
  52. tiger15

    When to have lights on

    The photosynthetic depletion of CO2 in lakes has been documented in many limnology studies, and cited in Walstad book in support of a siesta period in low tech tanks. I can validate it in my window sill planted bowl where pH fluctuates between 7.2 to 8.8 pre and post sunlight period, and with...
  53. tiger15

    When to have lights on

    No net photosynthesis is technically the same as no photosynthesis, no sugar accumulation, and no net oxygen production. The OP thread asked when is the best photo period for optimal photosynthesis. If ambient light starts the circadian clock, then any night time photo period is a waste...
  54. tiger15

    When to have lights on

    Photosynthesis will not be activated by ambient light if it does not exceed the plant light compensation point. Indoor ambient light is typically below LCP and this is why artificial light is needed to grow aquarium plants. So aquarium plant circadian clock is artificial, not measurable by...
  55. tiger15

    Thread algae cause ?

    GTA is high light issue. This is why it is common in outdoor pond. You can eliminate it by dialing down the light, but then you may encounter other algae such as BBA, GDA and GSA that don’t need high light to thrive. I don’t remember ever seeing bba in my window sill bowls and outdoor tubs...
  56. tiger15

    Thread algae cause ?

    Glut is effective against bba, a form of red algae, but useless against green thread algae. I tried glut a few times and gave up. Physical removal is not too hard, as spirogyra will come off clean in strands, but you have to keep doing it if the fundamental cause is not eliminated.
  57. tiger15

    Thread algae cause ?

    There are many types of thread algae. If it forms short clusters hugging substrate and hard surfaces, it is clado. If it forms long silky strands covering plants, then it is spirogyra. Both are green filamental algae, the former is branched and the latter straight. Both thrive in high light...
  58. tiger15

    Lighting schedule twice a day?

    True. Growth and photosynthesis are two separate processes that don’t have to occur concurrently . Photosynthesis makes sugar utilizing CO2, H2O and light. Growth burns sugar energy to make tissue, chlorophyl, hormone, reproductive cells, toxin, etc by utilizing N,P, K and other nutrients...
  59. tiger15

    Lighting schedule twice a day?

    Photo period has great impact on flowering and fruiting, no doubt about it as nurseries regularly manipulate photo period to force or delay flowering. The unknown is how photo period may impact vegetative growth. There are some tissue cultures that provide nearly 24/7 photo period.
  60. tiger15

    Lighting schedule twice a day?

    Are there any data to show that aquatic plants stop growing after 13 hour photo period. One sign of photosynthesis shut down is certain fine leaf stem plants such as ambulia and Cabomba will close up foliage. I provide 16 hour photo period from 7 am to 11 pm with a 7 hour intermission...
  61. tiger15

    Lighting schedule twice a day?

    I run a high tech tank with two lighting periods of 4.5 hour each in the morning and evening. I do it to fit my viewing schedule, not for the sake of plants. I synchronize CO2 and lighting period, and don’t provide CO2 1 hour before light on, and stop CO2 1 hour before light off as many...
  62. tiger15

    Streaming and growth rate

    Is streaming indicative of rapid photosynthesis and thereby growth rate should be correlated with streaming? But I have not observed the correlation. In my high tech medium light tank, my stem plants rarely stream but grow at fast rate. In my zero tech planted bowls by the window, the same...
  63. tiger15

    Landscape that mimic aquascape

    Many bare landscapes in US is not by choice, but due to lack of water. Xeriscape is the norm in Texas and arid regions of US. With decade long drought, west coast US is replacing lawns with gravel scape. There is more flexibility in humid regions where diverse plant species can be sculptured...
  64. tiger15

    Request for feedback on stocking of large tank: tank 2 8x4x22 (ft,ft,inch) ~approx 450 gallon

    I agree that Cory and Africans shouldn’t be kept together as Cory are soft water fish, and Africans are hard water. But bristlenose and many common tetra can as they have been bred in Florida alkaline water for decades. There are no true cave dwellers from SA/CA., only cave hugger. True cave...
  65. tiger15

    Request for feedback on stocking of large tank: tank 2 8x4x22 (ft,ft,inch) ~approx 450 gallon

    Not true. Close species aggression is greater than distant species aggression. Not speaking the same language enables greater harmony as they don’t perceive each other as competition. The reason you don’t want to mix African with SA is water chemistry requirement. CA and non Amazon SA have...
  66. tiger15

    Request for feedback on stocking of large tank: tank 2 8x4x22 (ft,ft,inch) ~approx 450 gallon

    Tetra are fast, Rams are slow. Diamond, bleeding heart or Columbia tetra grow as large as male Ram. Serpae and rosy are a bit too small to be with Geo. I like Ram too but they are delicate to keep even without powerful competitors, and will certainly be bullied in open water. You have...
  67. tiger15

    Request for feedback on stocking of large tank: tank 2 8x4x22 (ft,ft,inch) ~approx 450 gallon

    You have indeed a huge tank for home aquarium. Nothing wrong with small fish in big tank if you plan to plant scape it. Your tentative inhabitants appistogramma and GBR are dwarf cichlid popular in nano / small aquarium but seem to be a waste of large space that can fit bigger fish...
  68. tiger15

    Rotala H ra question

    I don’t have Rotala Hra, but Rotala Vietnam, and don’t know if it is the same plant. It grows much slower than my regular Rotala rotundifolia. They are both rotundifolia from different locality and one grows too vigorously and the other hardly grows at all.
  69. tiger15

    Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) phytoremediation references

    A limitation of using Frogbit for photo remediation is that it is a tropical plant that won’t grow in temperate zone in cool seasons, In my window sill planted bowl, Frogbit , Water Lettuce and red root floater go through cycle of vigorous growth in summer and decline in winter even though...
  70. tiger15

    Silicone and tank longevity

    I have two 4 foot 75 gal tanks in continuous use for over 30 years with no leak. My tanks have no central glass on top, so I wonder whether the central glass is structurally necessary for your tank or just there to hold the tank top. I also wonder whether aging silicone glass tank in...
  71. tiger15

    algae and algae spores in filter?

    Even though it’s non chemical, UV triggers formation of ozone that kills ick, fungus and algae spores, so its effect is equivalent peroxide. I spray peroxide on exposed plants and surfaces when I drain down the tank in WC.
  72. tiger15

    algae and algae spores in filter?

    Yes, you can sterilize some algae spores if you apply Algaecide regularly. It’s not a one time deal, as you can introduce new spores from new fish, new plants, tap water and even fall out from air for certain algae. If you follow Excel instruction to dose regularly, you can eliminate BBA and...
  73. tiger15

    Coldwater nano fish

    The tiny size of the container doesn’t make the parameters unstable, the lack of heater and circulation does. You can place a zero tech big tank by the window and the parameters will fluctuate just as much. My planted bowls are equivalent to house plants on the window sill. I used to have...
  74. tiger15

    Coldwater nano fish

    The reason shrimp failed to multiply in my nano bowl may have nothing to do with the size but instability. The diurnal temp fluctuation in the bowl can range between 16 to 30C in winter, and pH 7.2 to 8.8 due to direct sunlight photosynthesis. Paradise is one of the few fish that can handle...
  75. tiger15

    Coldwater nano fish

    I fully anticipate comments of animal prison criticism when I posted pcs of Paradise fish in my nano bowls. I used to keep colonies of cherry shrimp in them for 3 years but gave up because they were not happy and did not multiply. So similar to the OP, I searched for nano fish that will fit...
  76. tiger15

    Coldwater nano fish

    Not quite nano, Paradise fish, aka Chinese fighting fish, fits well in a nano tank. They are cold water fish native in China all the way to Korea. Like betta, mature males will fight one another and are predatory on smaller fish, so you can only keep it solo in a nano tank. I keep one each...
  77. tiger15

    Tanganyika vs Malawi biotopish scape

    George Farmer may be a celebrity in planted scapes, but I haven’t found his Malawian cichlid set up a good example. He set up a rockscape and attached Anubias later but in subsequent video he gave up plants due to cichlid abuse. I have been a cichlid keeper much longer than George attempted...
  78. tiger15

    Pear Gourami Male Aggression

    Having female will bring out the best color of male whose courtship display is mesmerizing and protracted. But courtship also brings out the worst male aggression. Courting male has bright orange throat and trailers on anal fin. Many aquascapers keep male only PG colony for color and to...
  79. tiger15

    Pear Gourami Male Aggression

    Pearl Gourami is not Betta and males don't fight to death. To spread out aggression, semi aggressive PG are best kept in group of 3 or more males. As with most gourami, female PG are rather drab in color and you may want to keep another male to make 3.
  80. tiger15

    Easy red plants?

    It’s hard to tell what Rotala Blood Red is not knowing its scientific name. Rotala are generically difficult with the exception of Rotundifolia of which there are many locality variants. . Ludwigia Palustris is not as easy as L. Repens. It struggled in my medium light setup whereas Repens...
  81. tiger15

    Easy red plants?

    None of the red plants you list are easy, and at least half of them are difficult. . Try Rotala rotundiflora and Ludwigia reopens that are easy, so is your nymphaea zenkeri.
  82. tiger15

    Experiences with canister filters in a power outage?

    If you run a canister as a circulation pump, you may be better to install a cheaper circulation pump. I installed circulation pump in all my planted tank to provide cross flow to my HOBs.
  83. tiger15

    Experiences with canister filters in a power outage?

    The very nature that canister is a close system, it is vulnerable to anaerobic condition in power outage. How vulnerable it depends on your stocking, how frequent you clean it, and how much bio fouling you allow the media to build up. There are many good reasons aquascapers prefer canister...
  84. tiger15

    Landscape that mimic aquascape

    I’m also shaping an island with tall ornamental grasses at the center, which won’t reach full height effect until later in the season. There are many more style in terrestrial garden than aquatic. With the exception of Japanese and Chinese garden, I don’t think terrestrial gardens pay as...
  85. tiger15

    Landscape that mimic aquascape

    Ever since I started my planted aquarium, I studied everything about aquascaping, After gaining experience in aquascaping, I was inspired by and began incorporating elements of aquascaping design to my garden. So instead of mimicking landscape in aquascaping, I am mimicking aquascape in my...
  86. tiger15

    Diane Wahlstad and biofiltration making plants suffer and causing algae?

    Her book was the first one I read on planted aquarium. Her book sounds scientific with references supporting every one of her viewpoints. While many concepts appear theoretically sound, they may not be relevant to glass box culture and cannot be validated in practice. For example, her...
  87. tiger15

    Diane Wahlstad and biofiltration making plants suffer and causing algae?

    One explanation is that most environmental studies were conducted either in waters without aquatic plants or in temperate zone where aquatic plants are seasonal. Without active growing aquatic plants for competition, high nitrate and phosphate is naturally associated with algal bloom. If more...
  88. tiger15

    best timer for solenoid?

    I have tried several digital timers and didn't like them. Digital are not user friendly to program nor easy to read what has been programmed. I replaced all my timers with old style mechanical timers that use pins to set time. Even though mechanical tend to lose and gain time slowly...
  89. tiger15

    Fish 'stroller'

    Until I saw my neighbor walk his senile dog with a dog stroller. I didn’t realize there are many in the market. https://www.chewy.com/b/strollers-1466 But walking fish is novel to me. I don’t think fish enjoy the motion, nor can they appreciate the vision. I think fish are near sighted...
  90. tiger15

    Algaecide ingredients thread

    Great information I've been searching. Note that the concentration provided is product concentration, not dosage concentration that has to be diluted per dosing instruction. For Excel, it’s 2 ppm initial dosage after water change, and 0.4 ppm daily thereafter based on product concentration of...
  91. tiger15

    Water Parameters for Nerites

    In low pH, CO2 tank, Nerite shell will lose the brilliant pattern and erode to dull white shell if survive at all.
  92. tiger15

    Front loading vs daily dosing

    I don't think you can generalize. Your complex math logic needs to be validated by measurements as each set up is different and there are many variables. Mine and Gregg's setups turn out to be true perhaps because we both stock heavily.
  93. tiger15

    Front loading vs daily dosing

    Yes, with life stock, the math is more complicated as you need to account for tank generate N from fish food and waste, not easy. I’m not sure how Gregg estimated his tank generated N and plant uptake. I can figure out mine easier since I keep a record of nitrate testing for decades before I...
  94. tiger15

    Front loading vs daily dosing

    Gregg has demonstrated that front loading macros after WC will provide even distribution of around 16 ppm N daily throughout the week, whereas daily split loading of the same amount will provide 5 ppm N on day 1 and progressively build up to 17 ppm on day 7 before the next WC. Even with a dip...
  95. tiger15

    Front loading vs daily dosing

    But the math only tells you the input, not the uptake which varies with plant mass, plant health, type of plants, light intensity, CO2 and other variables. You have super high light, high CO2 injection rate, healthy and hungry stems, so the uptake is on fast lane. Math can only tell you so...
  96. tiger15

    Why are cardinal tetra rarely used in aquascaping?

    Amano’s last project, a 26 feet tank in Sumida Aquarium, has hundreds of Cardinal tetra. It is a combination of the largest aquascape tank in the world with the smallest fish.
  97. tiger15

    Front loading vs daily dosing

    I am surprised to learn that daily dosing without front loading can lead to nutrient dip after WC . This is the opposite effect of EI intent to maintain stable nutrient levels. But I guess it is situation dependent as the dynamic of each set up is different depending on one's WC schedule and...
  98. tiger15

    Front loading vs daily dosing

    I think the daily dosing is not about accumulation, but to provide steady supply of nutrients plants prefer. The weekly 50% WC is to reset and prevent accumulation. I don’t dose daily except iron which has short bio available life. I front load all other nutrients after weekly 75% WC. I keep...
  99. tiger15

    Is it possible to eliminate algae by sterilization

    True, things don’t always go as intended. Among the fundamental rules to grow healthy plants without algae are high plant mass, low organic load, adequate CO2, and no excessive light. When I started my first planted 75 gal tank, it’s too costly to fill up a big tank with high plant mass...
  100. tiger15

    Is it possible to eliminate algae by sterilization

    Yes, this has happened before, and was on TV news. The neighbors complained. Turning the lawn into a meadow is no excuse for not mowing the lawn the township ordinance prohibits. The concern is not just neighbor complaint but invitation of thief to break in apparently unoccupied house.
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