Dwarf Hairgrass Advice

[theonlysuen]

Hi all just started a 24L tank for about a week, needing some advice for ferts, whether I need cO2 injection, and whether i need more Dwarf Hairgrass haha.
Some of the hairgrass is melting and need some help, Temp is 28deg - 28.5deg
Flora
-Java fern mini and some smaller java fern
-Marimo Moss Ball
-Staurogyne Repens?(I think)
-Java Moss
-Thinking of getting some Christmas Moss and attach to the lava rock
Fauna
-Couple of rili shrimplets and adult
-Oto
-One lampeye sadly two died will get more after cycling longer

[Mameshrimps]

Hi theonlysuen,

First thing first, you definitely need a CO2 system (on it only when the lights are up) and ensure there's plenty of surface agitation when the lights are out.

Secondly most aquatic plants strive well within 26 deg cel so investing in a small cooling fan to increase evaporation will help to bring the temp down or if you feel you have spare cash to spare you can always get a small chiller. My tank temp is between 26-27 with a fan running 24/7

Thirdly, don't put in any livestock till your water is fully cycled or within acceptable range. Get some testing kit to test for nitrate and ammonia (Very important).

Fourthly, as for ferts there are quite a few good range to begin with. Look at this thread to get some sensing. I'm currently mixing 3 different brands of fert hahaha so ya... but you can just stick with 1.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...uarists-(POLL)

Last of all, have fun aquascaping as you will always have new ideas running through when you see other people's work.
When ya more experience it's time to upgrade hahaha.

Cheers

[theonlysuen]

Hey thanks man,
Haha the livestock were from my old tank before i got bored and sold and upgraded and had no where to put them, luckily i used some of my cycled media from old tank hopefully it will help. Also for a co2 system would cost around 60 dollars? Where should i get and invest or is low tech possible thanks(:

[Mameshrimps]

Low tech is possible but not with dwarf grass or you can try the new carpet that everyone is hype about. It really depends on your preference what you want to plant.

[Phillipians]

I have had success with dwarf hairgrass without co2. It is possible. 25 to 26 degree is a very ideal temp but unachievable without either air con or chiller (i happen to have a chiller. Only went for it after more than 10 yrs in the hobby.)
28 degrees is a temperature that can sustain more than enough of the varieties of plants in the market. Other than bolbitis, mini pelia and maybe some fissidens.
I will advise you to get co2 and 60dollars will prob only get you a very rudimentary set... that is if you are even able to find it. Look out for 2nd hand co2 sets. Raise it a little more to about say 80 bucks and you can find some. I personally sold mine with a solenoid and bubble counter for $90. Some forumers are pretty kind. 60 to 80 gets you a used set

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[Mameshrimps]

[QUOTE=Phillipians;834711]I have had success with dwarf hairgrass without co2. It is possible. "25 to 26 degree is a very ideal temp but unachievable without either air con or chiller"

Bro, misleading. I definitely always hit 26 during the night and 26-27 in the day (never ever hit 28 with a fan. And I swear I don't have a chiller and I don't have an AC in my living room. My fan is blowing from the west end to the east end of my tank, creating a larger surface evaporation rate. I'm always topping up water everyday. And to make it more interesting my tank is just right beside my living room window and so my curtain on the right hand side is always drawn.

I didn't put ice I didn't even take out my thermometer and yes my thermometer is working just fine before I took the pic. Pic ftw.
20151220_112412.jpg

Happy Aquascaping People !!!

[theonlysuen]

Thanks guys for the advice,added more grass and hopefully it will runner out and carpet LOL i decide to chill my water in the freezer before water change hopefully that will help and maybe use cO2 tablets first. I found a 2l aluminum cannister with a regulator for 60 second hand at a LFS cause he is helping someone sell. Might invest in the future!

[Mameshrimps]

No need chiller. just get a fan. A good one cost 30+. Low wattage also.

[theonlysuen]

Yea this is a pic! Will try and solder up a fan with one of those computer fans in sim lim hopefully it will work. Place a the top or bottom of tank? Thanks guys haha

[Mameshrimps]

Surface bro. Get from a lfs. The hang on type. It's to increase evaporation rate. USB fan also can but must be power enough to create enough surface agitation.

[Phillipians]

Your picture definitely shows 26 to 27 degrees. However you assume that yours is showing the right temp heh. I bought an ANS one and another from ADA and another from Gush. The difference is 2 degrees. A digital thermometer might be more accurate.
Obviously the ANS one was quite off. Gush is pretty good though. Which thermometer brand are you using?
Also if you look around in the forums, you will realise that apart from maybe the current weather where it seems more cooling, you will not hit this temperature cone feb to sept. In the end you get probably an average of approx 28 degree. Trust me on this. I had 2 fans on. The lowest you go in the day is 26degrees but this will not last. The nights can get up to even 24degrees. Again doesnt last.
Main point being, you do not need 26degrees for most plants. 28 degrees is a pretty good temperature to aim for with a fan. Furthermore, topping up water is a real chore. Using fan has always this problem.

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[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, i'm always abit puzzled by the focus on temperature when trying to grow plants faster... especially when Co2 injection is absent from a setup. While maintaining cooler temperature in a tank is good, it's not super essential for growing hairgrass and wouldn't make it grow that much faster.

The main growth factors are still based on light, Co2 and nutrients. Without Co2 injection, plant growth will always be limited by restricted carbon supply, hence even in cooler water the plant growth will still be slower. So you'll just have to manage your expectations.

If you really want your plants to grow fast, definitely have to invest in a good Co2 system, it's way more important to plant growth than just having cooler water. Money spent on a Co2 system will reap way more direct improvements to plant growth compared to fans or chillers.

Careful though... when you see the vast difference in growth rate with Co2 injection, it's like they are running on turbo-mode, there'll be no turning back.

[Mameshrimps]

Your picture definitely shows 26 to 27 degrees. However you assume that yours is showing the right temp heh. I bought an ANS one and another from ADA and another from Gush. The difference is 2 degrees. A digital thermometer might be more accurate.
Obviously the ANS one was quite off. Gush is pretty good though. Which thermometer brand are you using?
Also if you look around in the forums, you will realise that apart from maybe the current weather where it seems more cooling, you will not hit this temperature cone feb to sept. In the end you get probably an average of approx 28 degree. Trust me on this. I had 2 fans on. The lowest you go in the day is 26degrees but this will not last. The nights can get up to even 24degrees. Again doesnt last.
Main point being, you do not need 26degrees for most plants. 28 degrees is a pretty good temperature to aim for with a fan. Furthermore, topping up water is a real chore. Using fan has always this problem.

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Sigh take it that I lie then since your the pro no point debating with 80p plus post. My tank is right beside the window. Sunny day 27 at most 27.5. I have both digital and liquid therm.

[Phillipians]

Sigh take it that I lie then since your the pro no point debating with 80p plus post. My tank is right beside the window. Sunny day 27 at most 27.5. I have both digital and liquid therm.

Nah. Not any pro. Anyway as UA mentioned, temperature is not the straw that breaks the camel's back in planting. That is all i am explaining. Maybe you live in a cooler part of singapore. I wasnt trying to prove that you are lying. Ultimately, in singapore, due to our weather, we will never get a chance to have cool water lol - except with a chiller.
Cheers and for the thread starter, happy planting. Aim for 28 degrees or lower. Buy a co2 if possible

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[Ingen]

What substrate are you using for your dwarf hairgrass? It WAS one of the easiest foreground carpet I had until recently... I'm no exactly sure but based on my current observation using the same ADA fertilizer regime with co2 from my previous set up, with changes from amazonia to malaya with root tab and from Aquasky 601 to thin zetlight supposedly for planted tank, and the hairgrass are growing extremely slowly... I'm tempted to change back to Aquasky 601 to further test the result but I'm very reluctant because I have set the zetlight to a sun rise kind of manner haha.

I'm not exactly sure how well hairgrass grow on non fertile substrate, although I did have runners growing over sands in my previous set up, but it could also be contributed by the fact that the main body is in very fertile amazonia.

[theonlysuen]

Using mixture of Gex/Some random japanese soil and custom soil (: will get chiller and maybe use excel for carbon source or should i get co2 tablets. Co2 is kinda ex now though. Had any experience with excel on dwarf hargrass? Thanks

[Mameshrimps]

Bro co2 is not ex. First time set up cost u a bit depend on how many litres ya getting. Refill is cheap.

[gimhchng]

http://www.gumtree.sg/a-miscellaneou...10910680373209
Here's a good deal for co2 set, you may want to check it out. I used tablet before and I don't think it's efficient. My hair grass spread like wild fire with co2 added..faster than Monte Carlo.

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[gimhchng]

But your focus is on shrimps, it's OK to have slower growth without co2, as long as algae are under control.

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[theonlysuen]

yea prob getting a chocolate or rilli tank, but thats after i carpet which is proving to be quite hard but normally how low should it take before the roots spread and runners start appearing? Thanks man will look for a good c02 deal