Reply With QuoteI started out with 0 knowledge on NPK+ traces or EI for that matter. What i can say is there is always a new school of thought all the time in helping manage your tank better.
I'm opening the subject for discussion.
Mods, this thread is open for discussion, please shift for me if Beginners' Corner is not the approprite section. I'd like to gather as much feedback and generate as much discussion as possible.
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For a person (layman who know nuts about chemistry and calculation of parameters) to want to enjoy having a planted tank, is it really necessary for him to know KNO3, Nitrates, carbon cycle, lighting (WPG), etc.
How can we spead the joy to a layman (per the definition above) and tell him to just buy plants, put water in the tank and pour in all-in-one fertilizer or nutrients and start to enjoy his planted tank?
To the mods and experts out there...is this possible? Enjoy planted tank without knowing water chemistry but just following simple instructions like doisng frequencies and routine water changes. I'm assuming there is a need to tell him how to avoid algae (which he'll probably encounter) but without the need to measure this and that and calculate ppm or wpg, etc.
Would like to gain your experience and feedback. Thanks!
I started out with 0 knowledge on NPK+ traces or EI for that matter. What i can say is there is always a new school of thought all the time in helping manage your tank better.
I think searching for new knowledge comes with the hobby, as you are into the hobby longer, you would want to find out more.
When I started out 1 year ago, I stumbled onto Diana Walstad's book and wonder why someone would write such a technical book on water plants. Recently I picked up the book again and have to admit it's probably one of the most intersting book on planted tank around.
I believe if one is in the hobby long enough and the interest is still there, just knowing what to dose and when to dose will not be enough.
I understand your point. This is precisely why we are here in the forums and reading a lot on algae, plants, lighting, etc.Originally Posted by newtank
I think searching for new knowledge comes with the hobby, as you are into the hobby longer, you would want to find out more.
When I started out 1 year ago, I stumbled onto Diana Walstad's book and wonder why someone would write such a technical book on water plants. Recently I picked up the book again and have to admit it's probably one of the most intersting book on planted tank around.
I believe if one is in the hobby long enough and the interest is still there, just knowing what to dose and when to dose will not be enough.
I'm just thinking if it were any auntie / uncle who are iliterate on the street and goes goo goo ga ga over those nice planted tanks that they see and wants to also own one...is it possible to give them a routine and regime so that they can do it themselve by just following those basic steps or instructions.
I guess many times when we just started off and encounter problems like algae, first thing we do is go to the LFS and look for algae control / killing solutions. This may be costly and ineffective as most bros here would say the problem would still return.
They'd probably turn technical and say things like watch your wpg, know your water parameters, maintain balance of nutrients, etc. Those layman would not know what you are talking about at all.
yes yes... i am one such newbie who saw how beautiful a planted tank is and wish to cultivate it as my hobby. From beginning, i know nuts about aquarium stuffs and now im trying to read up as much as possible and try to let myself have a cooling period, so it wont end up spending on impulse and neglect my tank after some time...
I think aquascaping has 2 components, the scientific and the artistic component, though not exclusive to each other. I think it depends on you the aquascaper to decide which component you fancy. If you like to deal with numbers and symbols, you might find joy in trying to undestand and achieve the perfect water parameters plus getting the best gears. If you are into the subjective component, layouts and composition, you will find joy in trying to develop a good sense of design. Again, like i mentioned these two components are not mutually exclusive - all artistic and no science your plants and fish probably wouldn't live long enough for you to enjoy, and all science with no artistic input, well, you get a tank with plants. At the end of the day it depends how much of each component you would employ to do your scape to get the most joy out of it.
As for me, i'm on the "need to know basis", knowing just enough to get my tank to where i want. cheers
Bern still suck at Water Chemistry + Plant Names
My interest has wandered! Do U?
Patience is one thing you got to have in this hobby, passion also another issue. You will learn on the way. You may follow the book, and talk like a pro, or use the step closely, but each tank setup and plant demand is totally different. When the tank mature the dosing of ferts is different also. Every tank is different, and they look different. Add more add less depend on the progress of the growth, if is so systematic you wouldnt enjoy this hobby at all.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! TIME TO LAY BACK AND RELAX!
A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step
agree with blue. This hobby requires a fair amount of patience as well as planning. Start with a low tech and enjoy aquascaping with low tech plants, then progressive move to high tech. Though i believe alot of bros moved back to low tech after achieving their high tech goals. lol.
My interest has wandered! Do U?
I've started with high tech tank in the first place, and almost wanted to give up also, though i've do much research on it, i still find that to gain experience, the only way is to hands on with it after the research and experience yourself.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! TIME TO LAY BACK AND RELAX!
A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step
Hand ons is a good way to discover which type of tank would be suitable for you given the time and commitment. Totally agree here.
Hi Panther, at the moment there is no one size fits all kind of formula that any layman can use to set up a planted tank. For any hobby to be meaningful, a hobbyist needs to acquire the necessary knowledge associated with it. Otherwise the failure rate is very high, he will lost heart and interest not mentioning all the money that has been wasted.
Hi to all who have contributed so far.
I agree this hobby is about patience (esp for plants) and the art comes in with experience. Many plants may not show their true beauty or fit into a particluar scape when first bought and they need to accustom to the water and probably after several rounds of trimming and growing, will the hobbyist see the real fit of the plant. Of course, for those who have read enough, you'd probably can imagine how the plant would look like n the newly planted tank 6 months down the road.
Nevertheless, I feel pretty dishearten to hear that it is likely a layman would not likely be able to enjoy a nice beautiful aquascape if he is not "technically trained" on computing the water parameters and chemistry of fertilizers and nutrients.
It seems to me many of these layman would thus be "cheated" (pardon my language, it may be an improper use of the word) everytime they go to the LFS, buy all they need to set up their nice aquascape, only to realise that they would be wasting their $$$ unless they start to read up on the science first. This would turn them off and away from such an enjoyable hobby.
Well, I guess we have to recognise that "gardening" requires a ceretain among of knowledge, there isn't really much we could do to get around that. Can it be enjoyed by people without a Chemistry degree? I believe so, they just need some sound advise from knowleageable people. Its a bit like photography, one can only do so much with a point and shoot cam, and even if given a pro cam, one needs to know a bit on the characteristics of lights and how to play with it.
I am gonna break the mould here..
If the "layman" just wanted a tank that is pleasant looking.. ie some plants and fish.. I think it is quite easy..
easy.. choose non demanding plants.. and a few small fish.. introduce into a tank which has been cycled..
if the layman wanted a gorgeously planted tank with specific plant types or fauna.. then it is gonna be difficult ... coz he wouldn't be able to keep it going beyond planting it all in and introducing the fish..
I believe low tech tanks with ferns and moss are the simplest and least demanding.. if that is the effect that is required .. then I say.. that the layman can do it..
cheers
Jerry
Good summary of the real situation!
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