Dry Start Method issue

[JohnnyR711]

Hi all,
So I am a few weeks into the DSM with my 40 gal breeder and I even added some local ground moss from a nearby park and my backyard thinking since I have dirt under the gravel and the tank is wet but not filled these might grow.
Today I had to remove one of the moss sections mounted on an old plastic HOB filter screen as the whole thing went from healthy green to cotton white.
The rest of my foreground plants also look to have melted or turned brownish. I know that just because I misted heavily instead of flooding the tank to below the gravel level it still might be too wet. Now I am trying to dry out the gravel by not misting it at all. The tank receives 9 hours of light a day and I have the glass lid on except for 2 spaces along the back where I have added some plastic wrap. It certainly is not airtight but it should be closed off enough to maintain moisture for growth. I usually only cover the open back spaces during the day then cover them with the plastic wrap at night. Any suggestions or advice - thanks.

[felix_fx2]

Hi there,

Can I know the lighting your using? Also the ambient temperature if it is possible.
A picture would do good also

Dsm just requires adequately damp substrate. Not overly damp that water pools. Think growing vegetables in a tank.

Not too sure what moss you obtained from the park. They might not be cut put for dsm as the humidity of the park is way different from the tank. (thinking that your from the US.)

[JohnnyR711]

The tank is equipped with 2 - 39 watt T5HO lights suspended some 8 inches above the glass lid and the lights are on for 9 hours a day.
I have the tank enclosed with the appropriate hinged glass lid along with 2 pieces of plastic wrap at night covering the spaces along the plastic strip while during the day I allow for air exchange by removing one of the pieces of wrap.
I can only assume that the tank temperature is the same as the room which is approximately 80 degrees farenheit today.
The tank has mineralized soil that appears wet when I dig through the black gravel, it also has 2 pieces of mopani wood, 2 medium sized slate caves and 2 small
pieces of slate set into the gravel. I have planted marsilea quad, hairgrass, staurogyrne repens and some aquatic mosses all of which seem to have 'melted'
by that I mean went from green to brown and apper to be at least moist.

[felix_fx2]

IMHO, just covering the whole top with cling warp still has enough co2 for the plants.

The lighting is moderately sufficient.
I am not sure what type of soil your using, mineralized as in quartz? Or is it aquasoil (compressed pellets) or potting soil/topsoil.

The plants basically you mentioned, I've got them as potted plants. They do well in my climate. Moss wise till we know names I do not comment. Since I don't the names nor there is a picture which can be compared.

So believe it should be a slight bit more humid then the environment to work.

If your not too sure, a picture will tell many thing which you can't tell what is it and unmentioned.