MrHammonds
Seedling
Morning all, my first post on this forum as I'm struggling to get a clear answer whilst doing my 'google' research!
I've been running a couple of planted, 'low/ medium' tanks so far, a 46l and a 125l tropical. They have both seen good planting results with a seachem fluorite base on one and a sand base on the larger with liquid ferts and liquid co2, fish have also been healthy and my water is pretty decent with minimal water changes and no algae in either tanks, both these have been active for a year and I'm chuffed !
Anyway... I've just splashed out (pardon the pun) on a new 180l tank. I want to try the Walstad Method and I'm concerned by my local water. I live in West Cumbria and it is a soft water area (although it is now a blend from boreholes now). On the water website it says the following;
Typical water hardness: Soft
Hardness clarke: 2.94
Date of update: 09/02/2018
Water supply zone: Ennerdale North
Water supply zone ref: Z031
The water supply to this area can vary in hardness from soft to moderately soft.
Now... I'm going to be buying John Innes No.3 soil for my 1 inch base and capping with 1-3mm gravel.
Will I need to mix in a source of CC (lime, coral etc) to keep my plants AND fish happy or am I going overboard? I'm assuming after initial cycling and water changes any chemical alteration I might see from the soil should reduce? Do I really need to start mucking about with the water chemistry or can I get away with it?
The tank will be quite heavily planted with the following;
3 x Limnophila hippuridoides
1 x Micranthemum 'monte carlo'
3 x Ludwigia palustris
2 x Eleocharis sp
2 x Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica'
2 x Microsorum pteropus 'Trident'
1 x Anubias barteri var. nana
3 x Rotala bonsai
2 x Echinodorus tenellus
2 x Eleocharis acicularis 'mini'
I will initially be dosing liquid co2 until I will probably switch to pressurised. I will also be EI dosing (if and when it is needed as the tank matures.)
Can I just crack on or do I need to think about a CC source? I don't want to get the tank set up and have to drain it because I've mucked up at the first hurdle...
Sorry for the lengthy post, hope you can help!
Cheers,
MrHammonds
I've been running a couple of planted, 'low/ medium' tanks so far, a 46l and a 125l tropical. They have both seen good planting results with a seachem fluorite base on one and a sand base on the larger with liquid ferts and liquid co2, fish have also been healthy and my water is pretty decent with minimal water changes and no algae in either tanks, both these have been active for a year and I'm chuffed !
Anyway... I've just splashed out (pardon the pun) on a new 180l tank. I want to try the Walstad Method and I'm concerned by my local water. I live in West Cumbria and it is a soft water area (although it is now a blend from boreholes now). On the water website it says the following;
Typical water hardness: Soft
Hardness clarke: 2.94
Date of update: 09/02/2018
Water supply zone: Ennerdale North
Water supply zone ref: Z031
The water supply to this area can vary in hardness from soft to moderately soft.
Now... I'm going to be buying John Innes No.3 soil for my 1 inch base and capping with 1-3mm gravel.
Will I need to mix in a source of CC (lime, coral etc) to keep my plants AND fish happy or am I going overboard? I'm assuming after initial cycling and water changes any chemical alteration I might see from the soil should reduce? Do I really need to start mucking about with the water chemistry or can I get away with it?
The tank will be quite heavily planted with the following;
3 x Limnophila hippuridoides
1 x Micranthemum 'monte carlo'
3 x Ludwigia palustris
2 x Eleocharis sp
2 x Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica'
2 x Microsorum pteropus 'Trident'
1 x Anubias barteri var. nana
3 x Rotala bonsai
2 x Echinodorus tenellus
2 x Eleocharis acicularis 'mini'
I will initially be dosing liquid co2 until I will probably switch to pressurised. I will also be EI dosing (if and when it is needed as the tank matures.)
Can I just crack on or do I need to think about a CC source? I don't want to get the tank set up and have to drain it because I've mucked up at the first hurdle...
Sorry for the lengthy post, hope you can help!
Cheers,
MrHammonds