Hc plant help

[some_1s]

ok to cut short ,i planting HC using DSM but do i have to cover the top ??
i have read alot about planting HC plant and found thay DSM is the best and easy way .ok without covering the top hc tend to dry up and melt . so i cover up but i got the whole tank was attack buy Mold .so now i very blur to cover or not to cover ?
i stay in singapore

Tank size : 2x1x1.5
Light : 3 tube 10k T5 (running at 13hrs at 2 timing)
Soil : ADA
Temperature :28.6 (in tank)
Plant :HC plant was brought from fish farm plant is plant outside on (red
mud) not submerged type .


now whole tank have melt in just 1day i going to restating planting again but i need all pro for help .

so i need advise on water level and cover or not to cover (because i cant mist a few time a day cause need to go work)

currently my water is at level 2 .whice is the best ?

[Urban Aquaria]

You can have a read through my HC DSM journal for techniques and steps which worked well for me:

http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ethod-Journal!

Btw, i never covered my tank during DSM (which greatly reduced the chances of mold) and i usually only mist it twice a day... once in the morning before going to work, and then the 2nd time in the evening when i come back from work.

In addition, i only mist the soil until it looks moist, i don't allow the soil to be filled up with water until puddles end up forming. If you look at the side of the glass and see water trickle between the soil granules, then that is good enough.

[some_1s]

I have read up your web many time just dont no I dont need to put water in it and just need to mist .the things is how come the plant will dry up is I only mist . I guess that maybe is the plant I brought the plant which is planted outside and your plant YOU brought I think is in the water ?

[Urban Aquaria]

I have read up your web many time just dont no I dont need to put water in it and just need to mist .the things is how come the plant will dry up is I only mist . I guess that maybe is the plant I brought the plant which is planted outside and your plant u brought I think is in the water ?

The HC i got are packaged in plastic cartons too, not submerged in water.

When you mist, it should just be enough to make the soil wet, the water will eventually trickle down to the bottom layer where the excess water will sit and be used, the top layer can dry abit between mistings but as long as you keep up with regular misting the HC will have enough water in the soil to grow (but not allowing mold to develop).

If you see this photo below of the soil through the glass, the entire layer is just moist.



Btw, how long have you been running the DSM for? I noticed you mentioned the plants melt in one day... usually the browning of HC happens initially in the first 1-2 weeks, a portion of the weak or damaged HC will die off, then new growth will develop from there.

[some_1s]

ok i started last sat night 20/4/2013 1st i do not cover but on the 3rd day , some of it started to melt then i cover on that day , on the fourth night i discover some of it started to have mold then i remove the cover n remove some of the water till level 4 on my drawing on the sixth day night i discover HC started to dry up and melt then again i cover up ,so on the seventh night when i get home all of it is cover with mold and melt so my HC only last for 7 day .

[Urban Aquaria]

I guess all the drastic changes in water levels, constant mold attack and unstable tank environment probably cause the HC to keep dying off and no chance to recover and establish properly.

You'll not see immediate recovery and growth in just a few days of DSM, it takes weeks to see the progress. Next time don't panic and do changes to the routine... just need to be patient.

Maybe you can consider getting a new batch of HC, then this time plant them properly and densely, mist them regularly to keep the soil moist (but don't cover), give the DSM process time to develop.

[some_1s]

Yes I have got another 8 port , this time I get from lfh 4 is submerged 5 is only the port is submerged.

[Urban Aquaria]

Actually its not really necessarily to get submerged versions of HC, since you are already doing DSM which is emersed planting anyways.

Submerged HC would need to go through another transition process if put in emersed conditions, so it has to go through another extra step during DSM.

[some_1s]

ya i get both because there not enough of each type ^^

[felix_fx2]

LFS have sell submersed grown ones? or it is those placed inside water... how can you be sure it is grown submersed...
just plant more during during dsm.

[some_1s]

ya it is in the plant tank

[Shadow]

doubt it, most likely they just put the pots inside the tank. HC was grown emerge at farm, unless fish shop home grown.

[some_1s]

doubt it, most likely they just put the pots inside the tank. HC was grown emerge at farm, unless fish shop home grown.

yes yes i brought it in LSH 4 submersed brought at yishun 5 emerge (soak with water) brought at c328

[felix_fx2]

yes yes i brought it in LSH 4 submersed brought at yishun 5 emerge (soak with water) brought at c328

it's emerse grown ones or grown via hydroponics.
You planted them yet? since your doing DSM. It don't matter

BTW, i am having a hard time guessing your ENGRISH.....

[some_1s]

Sorry for my poor engrish ,but nvm with the HC

1 problem not solve the other problem come !
maybe i has no luck on DSM .some of the new HC starting to dry and melt in just 1day and the other problem whice is my moss also dieing (i leave it outside to have sunlight but it start to turn brown)
So i've no choice have to flood the tank to save the HC and the moss tree .will try DSM on the other 4ft tank in my friend office.

i've some enquiry as i noob in plant tank ,

1)by looking at the video ,do you think is the flow rate in my tank is it too great ?( using eheim 2228 canister)
2)is there any way to save the moss ?
3)why is the co2 test not working (colour not changing after 5hrs) ?is it spoil or i miss something (i just drip 5 drop in the test kit as show)






Tank :2x1x1
Filter :eheim 2228 canister
Light :Hopar 4 x 10k tube but only use 3 tube (timmer set at 6hrs from 1800 to 2400
CO2 :diy diy co2 (timming set at 6hrs from 1750 to 2350) 4 to 5 bps
Chiller :set at 25c

[ivantan]

my experience is that some of the HC will melt but the majority will survive. (i took the advice from urban aqua)

moss maybe transitioning, no worries.

flow rate should be fine. but it is also dependent on your fauna not all fish like fast flowing water

[some_1s]

my experience is that some of the HC will melt but the majority will survive. (i took the advice from urban aqua)

moss maybe transitioning, no worries.

flow rate should be fine. but it is also dependent on your fauna not all fish like fast flowing water

thank for your input btw i not planning to have fish but only shrimp .whice i already got a big tank with many fish in it what about shrimp can they take ?

[Land2013]

I see your 2228 is quite strong and not so recommended for plant aquarium. Are the chiller already connected to the filter as my 1250 (1200l/hr for 2ft), which I think quite reasonable flow rate only. Good flow rate for circulation is good but try to distribute the flow. You need to mix 4Dkh instead of aquarium water for the drop checker. For initial submerge HC, sufficient Co2 and lightning duration is important but do expect algae. Do be patient when plant HC as melted is always the case. Try to put replacement for melted HC and there will high chance some of them will be survive. Key your problem using the search key and there will be tons of information to guide you.

[Urban Aquaria]

Looks like you got abit impatient again and flooded the tank after just one day... before the DSM even got a chance to start.

Anyways, for your moss, if you do DSM on them, they need to be constantly wet or partially submerged, or else they would tend to dry up and turn brown. If they are put back in the right conditions, dried or wilted moss will recover eventually (unless all of it died then no choice but to get new moss to replace).

From your video, its abit difficult to gauge the actual flow by just looking at some floating particles and the moss moving... though i read that the Eheim 2228 has a flowrate of around 1,050 l/ph, which seems on the high side for a 2ft tank (i use a 2224 for my 2ft tank before which has 700 l/ph and my fishes and shrimps were already fighting against the current, had to adjust the flow down to 70-80% so it doesn't become like a washing machine). I guess you can easily adjust your filter's flow accordingly when you start introducing fishes and shrimps after the tank is cycled.

Is your Co2 solution supposed to be mixed with 4dKh water? If so and you didn't mix it, then maybe that's why its not working.

In addition, Co2 drop checkers take a while to change color so the readings are usually delayed (whatever color you see actually indicate the Co2 levels a few hours before). It could also be possible your DIY Co2 isn't working properly (maybe the bubbles are not fully Co2?), have to check.

Also, from your video the tank seems to have alot of water surface movement/agitation, which would tend to off-gas and reduce Co2 in the water, so that could be one of the causes of Co2 loss too.

[ivantan]

thank for your input btw i not planning to have fish but only shrimp .whice i already got a big tank with many fish in it what about shrimp can they take ?

any type of shrimp is fine. just be patient and let the HC root first if not the bigger ones like yamatos may uproot them if they have not rooted properly.