Input for Dark Start Method

[Aquahorti]

Greetings,

As I am starting a comparative experiment involving a three different methods used when setting up a new aquarium, I am in need of some input for one of the methods.
I will be running the experiment twice, once without CO2 and once with CO2 and setting up three identical aquariums in each of the two runs.
Hardscape will be inert lava rock, Tropica Soil/Powder will be used as well as some inert sand. Each aquarium will have the exact same amount of each of the above mentioned items in it (with an error of 1 gram per substance). Plants used will mainly be Tropicas 1-2 Grow!. Fertilizer will be Tropica Specialised Nutrition and will be using the 90 day guide for the setup period.

My problem is that one of the methods I will be testing is the Dark Start Method (DSM) and I have no pratical experience with this method. I have been reading about it but there seems to be a few different schools on what it is.

The DSM I have been thinking of using is as follows:

1. Add the soil and sand to the aquarium,
2. Fill the aquarium to the maximum filling hight (marked with tape on all three aquariums),
3. Start the filter and cover the aquarium with a dark cover so most visible light will be unable to enter the aquarium,
4. Do a water change every week for five weeks (note evaporation, lower level marks with another piece of tape),
5. Test water from water change,
6. Fill the aquarium up to the maximum filling hight.

Water used will be tap water.

After the five weeks the remains two aquariums will be set up along side the DSM aquarium, adding hardscape and plants to all of them.
Livestock will be added once all aquariums are cycled (Neocaridina ‘Bloody Mary’, Otocinclus and Corydoras habrosus).

Metrics will be pictures and dry matter yield at the end of the experiment.

My question to the users here on UKAPS is the following:

How would you do a five week DSM? ​

It will have to be a five week DSM due to constraints in the test setup.

Thanks.

 

[Simpsoid]

I have a bit of a question about Dark Start method for my case. I want to do a dutch style tank, no hardscape. I'm going to use a nutrient right sub layer (mineralised topsoil) and then topped with Amazonia Ver2 soil. It's a 60cm (w) x 40 cm (d) x 30cm (h) tank, with an Eheim 2217 (Classic 600). But to me, the idea of dark starting with no actual hardscape and only the Amazonia v2 seems a bit.... pointless or dumb?

What would you guys recommend for that scenario? I know it'll knock some of the ammonia out, while my filter cycles (I'll be pre-seeding it with a batch of "drippings" from an existing filter onto some Seachem Matrix. Also dosing some starter bacteria so I think it'll get running quickly). But to me that leeching and then wasting the nutrients is something that would be handy for the plants to utilise (the aim of not letting the algae utilise it is what I'd be keen on though and I assume mostly the reason for dark start). Maybe I can dark start just for a week until the bulk of the ammonia has leeched out and then plant?

 

[PARAGUAY]

If your using a very nutrient rich substrate like ADA Amazonia (original) and want a planted carpet then a dark start would help, as leeching of ammonia and melting would not be a issue, especially with delicate roots as tissue culture. Tropica soil has less nutrients, planting potted plants from day one without a dark start shouldn't be a problem IMO