_Maq_
Member
I'm considering a new experiment, and there are some points I'd like to get your advice about.
I want to check behaviour of a "typical" aquasoil compared to sandy substrate, and a sandy substrate with and without "typical" root tabs.
Some of you already know my experimental workstation. I imagine I'll establish these four tanks completely anew, lay down the substrate, run a dark cycling for four weeks without WC, then a big WC and introducing some plants. As always, without CO2 injection, without filters, only power head. Water changes 50 per cent weekly (or so), always adding water with constant mineral composition. (I tend to dose lean and keep water soft and acidic.)
Regular checking of temperature, conductivity, and pH, and comparing the health and growth of plants. I hope the experiment will show/suggest something interesting on (dis)advantages of aquasoils, nutrient-free substrates, and root feeding.
You're warmly welcome to comment on any aspect of the experiment, but above all, I need a feedback on these questions:
(1) Is ADA Amazonia the typical representative of all aquasoils? Is there any other one, more typical, more famous, used more often, or anything like that?
(2) Is Osmocote the first choice, the typical representative of root tabs? Is there any other one, more typical, more famous, used more often, or anything like that? (I've noticed that Osmocote is sometimes hard to get. Any similar alternative?)
(3) Is it worth the effort including one more substrate, namely one of those porous ones (lava rock) which supposedly maintain the substrate better oxygenated, provide more colonization area to microbes and so on? Or anything else?
I've got four tanks. One is sandy substrate, second is sandy substrate with root tabs, third is aquasoil, and the fourth is open to suggestions.
Thank you.
I want to check behaviour of a "typical" aquasoil compared to sandy substrate, and a sandy substrate with and without "typical" root tabs.
Some of you already know my experimental workstation. I imagine I'll establish these four tanks completely anew, lay down the substrate, run a dark cycling for four weeks without WC, then a big WC and introducing some plants. As always, without CO2 injection, without filters, only power head. Water changes 50 per cent weekly (or so), always adding water with constant mineral composition. (I tend to dose lean and keep water soft and acidic.)
Regular checking of temperature, conductivity, and pH, and comparing the health and growth of plants. I hope the experiment will show/suggest something interesting on (dis)advantages of aquasoils, nutrient-free substrates, and root feeding.
You're warmly welcome to comment on any aspect of the experiment, but above all, I need a feedback on these questions:
(1) Is ADA Amazonia the typical representative of all aquasoils? Is there any other one, more typical, more famous, used more often, or anything like that?
(2) Is Osmocote the first choice, the typical representative of root tabs? Is there any other one, more typical, more famous, used more often, or anything like that? (I've noticed that Osmocote is sometimes hard to get. Any similar alternative?)
(3) Is it worth the effort including one more substrate, namely one of those porous ones (lava rock) which supposedly maintain the substrate better oxygenated, provide more colonization area to microbes and so on? Or anything else?
I've got four tanks. One is sandy substrate, second is sandy substrate with root tabs, third is aquasoil, and the fourth is open to suggestions.
Thank you.