Low Tech Planted Tank & Progress Report

[Low Tech Tan]

Thanks Astronaut.

Gave my water sprites their weekly hair cut today.
Trimmed 3 large stalks that have grown too long. It is too long when the top leaves of a stalk have formed too large a canopy, which not just looks a bit messy, but essentially blocks out too much light needed by other plants.
Also removed a whole water sprite plantlet that is now encroaching too much into glosso foreground.
In my attached photo, the small tank beside the main tank shows the water sprite trimmings.

My haircut narration is simply to give fellow budding scapers an idea about water sprite growth and maintenance.
It is an easy plant, but ultra fast grower that certainly requires frequent trimming at least once weekly when mature.
If you have a dense forest of water sprites though, the hair cuts should not affect their overall beauty, and you have a slightly different look weekly. Refreshing.

The advantage of a low tech tank like mine is that there is very little maintenace, no filter to clean, no need to vacuum gravel/substrate, just skim off surface water to remove protein slick during water change. Enjoy fish feeding twice daily

Low tech Tan

[Low Tech Tan]

I didn't know that Glosso can grow without CO2.

It can. I remember seeing reports of success without CO2 before, but having tried it for myself, I know by experience it can grow without CO2.
Some of my Glosso started growing tall after I first planted, but now, they are also carpeting sideways and low.
When I introduced glosso, I also introduced more fish, so that there is enough CO2 in the microcosm for the Glosso to thrive.
The key to successful "natural" CO2 doping is to balance between enough CO2 for plants while making sure that you do not exceed the bio-load capacity of your tank.
I do not use any scientific equipment to determine parameters, I just use logic, common sense, and "feel"...making adjustments when necessary.
As long as my shrimps are healthy, it means my tank should be healthy & the system is balanced.

[cmwong]

what is your water temp for the Glosso? Mine failed terribly.

[aquarius]

Did you dose any Excel? I've tried glosso before using ADA soil without dosing Excel or CO2 injection and they didn't survive despite whatever macro and micro ferts that I throw inside. In the end I threw them away cos their slow death lead to algae problems in the tank.

[Low Tech Tan]

what is your water temp for the Glosso? Mine failed terribly.

Not sure, I do not have an aquarium thermometer. My tank is located in a spot far from direct sunlight in a home. I assume Singapore's "room temperature". If I find my alcohol thermometer I will take the temp with it.

[Low Tech Tan]

Did you dose any Excel? I've tried glosso before using ADA soil without dosing Excel or CO2 injection and they didn't survive despite whatever macro and micro ferts that I throw inside. In the end I threw them away cos their slow death lead to algae problems in the tank.

No Excel or any other dosing used. My glosso were planted last though, after the tank is about 6-8 weeks old.
Maybe the soil/tank is "rich" enough from the waste produced by fishes, shrimps etc.
And maybe I have enough creatures in my tank to provide the required amount of CO2 & nutrients in natural way. I purposely matched the bio-load to suit the amount and type of plants planned for the tank - to provide the necessary nutrients the natural way. However I just do the balancing by "feel" or "agar-agar".
Also, I do NOT use any mechanical filters, so I can have a higher nutrient content than a tank with filters that help reduce nutrients and leave less nutrients for the plants.
I also do not have moving water from a filter output or airpump, that helps to minimize CO2 loss from the tank too. I'm just trying to think of some subtle differences from your previous experience and my current tank, which might affect the success of glosso without CO2 & dosing.

As of this moment, my glosso is still growing well, carpeting well, and more abundant than ever - so I think they have stabilized.

Just my humble opinions.

[Low Tech Tan]

Since I'm posting, I just wanted to update on my water change & trimming regimen:
Water change: Previously mentioned once a week. Sometimes it pays to change once every 5 days by scooping away about 8 cups of water. Try to remove as much of the surface film (protein) as possible while scooping away the water. That is like doing the work of a surface skimmer every time you change water.
Trimming: Water sprites grow really fast, might have to trim every 5 days to be more exact....

Fissidens update:
My fissidens are doing really well....extremely healthy now, compared to when I first bought. Those dead looking brown patches are now completely green and healthy. Almost like resurrection...

Planned future project:
To grow HC without CO2 & dosing. Not sure if that's possible, but something I want to experiment.

[aquarius]

Thanks for the detailed info!

[Tycokia]

What soil are you using?

[Low Tech Tan]

What soil are you using?

I dunno the brand, but it comes in a green bag. Those Japan/Taiwan brand for plants/shrimps I think. Common aquarium shop soil these days.

[Low Tech Tan]

Water change & glosso update (and more):

I have not changed water for close to 2 weeks now. Just to test how the tank functions, but partly because I was lazy LOL.
Observations: No problem, the surface film is surprisingly normal. Did not increase in concentration, in fact, it seems to have lightened somewhat too. Surface film usually forms about 3 days after my water change, but you have to look closely to see it.
Everything in the tank seems very healthy despite no water change for almost 2 weeks, not even a dead RCS. All baby guppies are happy too.

I purposely decided to delay water change significantly to ensure water has a good amount of nutrients for my glosso as I do not dose.
My glosso is healthy and have carpeted even more since I last posted.

Fissidens are very healthy too. I think Fissidens have NO problems whatsoever without CO2. Just make sure the light is not too intense as it is a moss afterall...
Just remember if u grow Fissidens without CO2, give it MORE time to "resurrect" and look good after u plant.
Growing without CO2 is like playing Tai Chi....take it slow and easy....exercise lots of patience....too much haste leads to waste and even failure....cycling the tank and taking things in gradual steps is the key to success with Low Tech tanks...from my experience..............

Low Tech Tan

[lewpoh]

Nice success for low tech planted tank.

[alchemistkc]

Nice tank!

How do you bed your water sprite from floating?

[Low Tech Tan]

Nice success for low tech planted tank.

Thank you sir.

[Low Tech Tan]

Nice tank!

How do you bed your water sprite from floating?

I take a small stalk or leaf of water sprite in the beginning and plant it in the soil. Use tweezers and push it into the soil, it should anchor easily.

Then over time, the WS will grow roots and shoots and become a big n tall plant.

Consider WS carefully before planting though, it is a very (super) fast growing plant without any need for CO2 whatsoever. Because the plant is very fast growing, it needs lots of trimming eventually and outgrows the landscape quickly.

In my opinion, it is a good beginners plant and a good plant for certain breeding tanks. You don't really want WS for a top notch display planted tank IMO.

[alchemistkc]

Thanks

Always reluctant to pull out plants out from the basket. Will try on one first.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[GiantMeatball]

Very nice and careful control of your tank parameters ^^

Didnt know you can still carpet without any CO 2. Especially for Glosso