Recent content by Planted-Pete™

This is my 36 gallon bowfront, I purchased the tank in sept-oct 2020 Substrate: fluval Stratum Water: "ShrimpMineral" remineralized RO Ph: 6 Kh: 3 Gh: 3 Co2 injection: Yes Filter: fluval 307 W/ 2 kilos biohome ultimate Ferts: nilocg shrimp safe liquid, and iron Flourish, and homemade...

I've had super thick staghorn in my Xmas moss for months since before I added co2, used flourish for 3 weeks, got up to 7.5 ml per day in 30 gal of water and it's still there, tried alternating and treating with 2ml h2o2 per gal at night, man this stuff is tough. Looks like it's being eaten by a...

Did a bunch more research last night, turns out you could have fed that filter vodka, methanol, grenadine, sugar water.....didn't need to buy those expensive tablets....any simple source of carbon. In the substrate decaying organic matter is the carbon source Also you're right, they are still...

That's funny, and definitely do-able. I know approx 80% of the surface area of my tank is plants NOW, I wouldn't consider it "mucking around" because it was more of a Ron Popeile "set it and forget it" kinda thing?

Thank you so much! I think it's gorgeous, I love it, it brings me so much peace and joy. You've got me convinced, But I've seen ones that brought tears to my eyes (international aquascaping competition I think) so I've set a pretty high bar for myself ?, it's so much more than "pets" ....it's a...

Thanks, I appreciate that! I was thinking about it, just real overgrown and jungle like right now.

This is a great insight And it makes perfect sense, and as you stated before water changes are necessary from time to time. I do them weekly....but I'm not forced to do it because of nitrates, and my fish don't need to suffer because I'm lazy and forgetful. Truth is, most people have severely...

That's interesting about the filters, the link I attached to my OP mentions that it's been known about in the marine aquarium hobby for decades, but it's almost unheard of in the freshwater community. I had to use very specific search terms to find sources outside of pondguru

Absolutely, water changes are a must ( but not for nitrate removal in a properly set up tank) And I still vacuum the gravel, not much surface area I can get to, but I vacuum what I can....lol besides...I gotta feed the detritus worms or the planaria might starve?

That's cool, hope to speak to some fellow scientists. I'm a mycologist and I've studied soil biology for 25 years

So here is my tank now, the substrate is fluval stratum and it's between 3.5 and 4" throughout the tank. I realize that people may think the plants are playing a role (which they are), but I've had perfect water for months, since the plants were negligible... It's 36 gallon with a fluval 307...

There are many cycling how-to's out there and they will all get you from ammonia, to nitrate which is removed by water changes, this is called the nitrification process. Any of these guides can and should be followed, however with minor modifications to your tank setup, you and also harbor...

As am I. I paid over $160 for the 4" of fluval stratum in my tank and it's doing the job I needed it to do. P.s. it's also porous and has infinitely more surface area than sand