Tom Barr's Dry Start

[shrimppaste]

Hi Everyone,

I was reading Tom Barr's posting on how he starts his planted tanks with just the foreground plants emmersed. My question is, if I am using plants that requires low temperature like Japanese Haigrass (24 degress) then can we still use this method? Thanks!

[blue33]

Yes it can work, i have try on acicularis, the long hairgrass. Most important thing you need to take note is to cover the tank, so that the soil is moist but not too wet. This is to create a green house effect. Let the light on for around 8hrs.

Btw hairgrass is very easy to grow, you dont really need to do this. Infact i dont see the point of growing emmersed, if it can be grow submmersed.

[shrimppaste]

The only reason I can think of is saving the CO2. Hahahah!

[blue33]

If you thinking of saving CO2, then you might as well forget about high tech planted tank. Go for low tech tank then. How much is CO2, it is so cheap btw. And plant make up of 40+% of carbon, so do you think the plant dont need CO2? Maybe low tech plant from fish poo poo.

Back to the topic! Growing emmersed, you need more time to grow them, and later when you transform them to submmersed, it'll take awhile to adapt also depending on what type of plant. Just go for the one within your comfortable zone, then you'll enjoy this hobby. Either way will still work... depending on the person most of the time.