My first aquascaping! (iwagumi)

[Ahxren]

I am sorry to be a wet blanket. Where did you read that HC does not need CO2?

http://www.tropica.com/en/plants/pla....aspx?pid=048B

In my opinion, Urban bro manage to pull it off because he took a systematic approach to it and a understanding in plants need. It is luckily you did not tear the HC into even smaller bits as the plants may not have enough plant mass to recover/transit back. I have learn it the hard way.

I wish you luck nevertheless! Welcome to the HC family.

Thanks for the heads up! I do hope it turn out well!

[Ahxren]

Well, i believe with the right light intensity and controlled photoperiod, its still possible for HC to establish roots and spread using the limited Co2 and nutrients naturally present in a balanced tank (it'll be very slow but its possible).

The most crucial stage is the initial transition phase, it just needs enough plants mass to establish in time before too much of them die during the transition, and before shrimps pull them all out bit by bit... so its best not to add shrimps until the HC establish strong roots!

Hey! Mind if I ask, what is the right photoperiod and what is the right light intensity? Mine is a 18watts for 12 litre tank.. Do you think it is enough?

[cherabin]

Dry Start Method. Google it and you find loads of good reads.

[bennyc]

DSM is dry start method.

[bennyc]

Hey! Mind if I ask, what is the right photoperiod and what is the right light intensity? Mine is a 18watts for 12 litre tank.. Do you think it is enough?

If you are using DSM, photoperiod is not an issue. Normally, a planted tank is total of 8 hrss. Urban's non co2 injected uses 4 hrs light on- 4 lights off- 4hrs light on regime. Correct me, if i am wrong, urban bro sinseh.

[Urban Aquaria]

what is DSM?

DSM = Dry Start Method... its a technique to grow plants emersed (above water), so that they can grow fast and establish strong roots properly (without the issues of Co2 or algae), before the tank is filled with water. It greatly increases plant survival rate and subsequent growth.

You can check out my Dry Start Method (DSM) Journal for HC carpet in this thread:

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ethod-Journal!

[Ahxren]

Thanks all for explaining it for me! Well, since it's done, I just hope it would be alright! Will continue to update!

[Shadow]

Well, i believe with the right light intensity and controlled photoperiod, its still possible for HC to establish roots and spread using the limited Co2 and nutrients naturally present in a balanced tank (it'll be very slow but its possible).

Let see if you can maintain HC carpet for at least six months without CO2 injection. My guess HC will start going upward with smaller leaf in say three months time or maybe not growing at all

[Urban Aquaria]

Let see if you can maintain HC carpet for at least six months without CO2 injection. My guess HC will start going upward with smaller leaf in say three months time or maybe not growing at all

Yeah, i'll have to see how it grows without additional Co2 injection, so far its just growing slowly (i can see new plantlets creeping along the soil)... with the combination of no other competitive plants, scheduled lighting shifts and balanced bioload, hopefully it can be a sustainable long term approach.

Since my HC carpet was already created during DSM before flooding the tank, i actually don't really need it to grow much anymore... so i'm mainly aiming for maintenance growth (just enough new growth to replace old growth).

[jrt]

nice impressive!

[Ahxren]

nice impressive!

Thank you very much!

[Ahxren]

Let see if you can maintain HC carpet for at least six months without CO2 injection. My guess HC will start going upward with smaller leaf in say three months time or maybe not growing at all

Well, I just hope they won't melt.. Growing into carpet would be a bonus. Is it okay to put cherry shrimps in now?

[Urban Aquaria]

Well, I just hope they won't melt.. Growing into carpet would be a bonus. Is it okay to put cherry shrimps in now?

Probably best to hold off on putting shrimps for the moment, as they will usually pull out small plants like HC if the roots are weak and not established properly yet... you'll end up seeing most of your HC floating all over the place.

[Ahxren]

To all seniors out there, what type of Fertilisers you guys recommend for HC? And would an 18 watts PL light be enough? If not I am going to change..

[felix_fx2]

Let see if you can maintain HC carpet for at least six months without CO2 injection. My guess HC will start going upward with smaller leaf in say three months time or maybe not growing at all

hc need alot of light. those tanks i have which are along my walkway are out in the sun are also growing hc without co2
(cannot put co2, since there are children with itchy hands running around)

Sent from my GT-N7105

[Ahxren]

hc need alot of light. those tanks i have which are along my walkway are out in the sun are also growing hc without co2
(cannot put co2, since there are children with itchy hands running around)

Sent from my GT-N7105

So you are saying that my 18W won't be enough for my 24 litre tank right? Oh and my tank start to have brown algae, what do I do?!

[teowxu]

you can just scrape off the brown algae using sponge. or better still, introduce oto catfish. brown algae is food for them although you may need to supplement them with algae wafer occasionally. not sure if they will disrupt your HC though especially if the roots are not established yet

[Urban Aquaria]

Brown diatoms are very common in new cycling tanks (usually in areas where there is less light) and will usually gradually go away as other more aggressive algae take over.

Best not to add any fishes or shrimps yet, as the tank is still new and cycling... once its completed the cycling process than can add in fauna.

teowxu is right, otos do eat brown diatoms, so after the tank is cycled, any that still remaining can be food for your otos.

[Shadow]

Diatoms normally appear on the fist 7 days after setup. Between 8 to 17 days after setup, green and other algae emerge, remove them ASAP. Once biological filtration cycle complete, algae normally under control.

[Ahxren]

Thanks guys! Oh, I read up online saying that I could use neon tetra to help with my cycling, is it advisable?