Restarting tank with HC via Dry start method

[jowy_ham]

Tank specs :

1.5 ft x 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft (cube) tank.
Lights : 3 x 24W T5HO (set to 8hrs daily)
Gex soil

I bought 2 pieces of HC lawn over the weekend at Seaview and plant them into the tank as it is (didn't separate into smaller lawns/pieces)

I'm trying to grow HC via Tom's dry start method, read through most of the related posts, it is mentioned that the tank needs to be covered but considering once the tank is covered, light penetration becomes a problem (saw 1 of the bros posted a picture of his tank being covered, alot of condensation/evaporation/....)

As such, could the fellow bros please kindly help me out with the following enquires :

1. Must the tank be covered ?
2. If Yes, for Q1, may I know the rational behind it ?
3. If answer to Q2 is to keep moisture within the tank, would constant wetting of the plants be sufficient ?
4. Must the HC lawn (roughly around 13cm x 10cm per lawn) be separated into small lawns for planting ?
5. Fertilizer needed during the initial 2 months ?
6. If answer to Q5 is Yes, when roughly should I start dosing ?
7. Is my current light wattage enough ?
8. If the current light wattage is NOT enough, pls recommend.


Will try to post some pictures tonight

Thanks in advance

[Shadow]

1. Yes must
2. Too keep the moisture
3. Yes sufficient but you must make sure water level in the tank always below the substrate level.
4. If you are talking about those HC grow in piece of filter wool, then I preferred to remove it. You don't know what kind of thing that hide inside
5. Nope, especially if you are using ADA soil.
6. Answer is no
7. More than enough
8. Answer is enough

[neverwalkalone]

I guess most using Tom Barr's Dry start method followed his practice of wrapping the tank with cellophane cling wrap to keep the moisture in. FYI, I have also successfully done it WITHOUT covering the tank. "Learnt" this from the farm where I saw HC grown in the open.

I kept the substrate moist and had a nice carpet within a month, with only daily sprinkling of water. It was a small tank (1.5') and I left it next to a window. It had direct morning sun for abt 1 hr when the sun came into the room. The HC carpeted nice and low, very happy with the result.

I suspect the cling wrap was used in Tom's case as the US is relatively less humid that sunny Singapore. If Tom is reading this thread, perhaps he can comment on this. Forumers are welcomed to try this to validate my results. :-)

Btw George, per Robert's (Shadow) advice, do remove the filter/wool completely as I've seen pretty nasty worms n bugs come out from them. :-(

[neverwalkalone]

Sorry for double post. Clicked/refreshed error.

[virus666]

I guess most using Tom Barr's Dry start method followed his practice of wrapping the tank with cellophane cling wrap to keep the moisture in. FYI, I have also successfully done it WITHOUT covering the tank. "Learnt" this from the farm where I saw HC grown in the open.

I kept the substrate moist and had a nice carpet within a month, with only daily sprinkling of water. It was a small tank (1.5') and I left it next to a window. It had direct morning sun for abt 1 hr when the sun came into the room. The HC carpeted nice and low, very happy with the result.

I suspect the cling wrap was used in Tom's case as the US is relatively less humid that sunny Singapore. If Tom is reading this thread, perhaps he can comment on this. Forumers are welcomed to try this to validate my results. :-)