Re: Now Lo-Tech nano - now up and running with photos
Nayr, thanks I hear what you're saying and ultimately you might well turn out to be right. But there is a distinction that's worth drawing between a look and a method. Naturally they often go hand in hand because the method typically limits what you can and can't grow and how it will grow.
However, I don't think it's the case that a low tech tank has to be jungle-like or not heavily scaped. I think it can be the latter but you just have to wait a hell of a long time for it to get where you want it to be. Stems can grow and do ok in this environment as you say. HC? Almost certainly not although I have seen it done (e.g. in the AGA entry I linked to above). RE: the substrate, Tom Barr in his take on the Walstad method does suggest active substrates like I've used.
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2817-Non-CO2-methods
I think this tank is likely to fail That's not too much of a disaster as it's a bit of an experiment. However, I think the method and scape combo (HC aside) won't be the cause - my impatience and lack of experience will. Should have waited longer for the filter to mature, should have added mulm to the substrate, should have planted more heavily.
Totally know where you're coming from with the moss carpet, would have looked even better than HC probably. But I wanted as much planted in the substrate as possible to feed oxygen to the bacteria.
BTW, should I remove the far left rock, at the back of tank. I'm finding it jarring.
Nayr, thanks I hear what you're saying and ultimately you might well turn out to be right. But there is a distinction that's worth drawing between a look and a method. Naturally they often go hand in hand because the method typically limits what you can and can't grow and how it will grow.
However, I don't think it's the case that a low tech tank has to be jungle-like or not heavily scaped. I think it can be the latter but you just have to wait a hell of a long time for it to get where you want it to be. Stems can grow and do ok in this environment as you say. HC? Almost certainly not although I have seen it done (e.g. in the AGA entry I linked to above). RE: the substrate, Tom Barr in his take on the Walstad method does suggest active substrates like I've used.
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2817-Non-CO2-methods
I think this tank is likely to fail That's not too much of a disaster as it's a bit of an experiment. However, I think the method and scape combo (HC aside) won't be the cause - my impatience and lack of experience will. Should have waited longer for the filter to mature, should have added mulm to the substrate, should have planted more heavily.
Totally know where you're coming from with the moss carpet, would have looked even better than HC probably. But I wanted as much planted in the substrate as possible to feed oxygen to the bacteria.
BTW, should I remove the far left rock, at the back of tank. I'm finding it jarring.