Beginner Resources

[MoMa]

In addition to this forum, and a few Aquatic Gardeners Assoc. sites, what would you recommend (websites, books, etc.) for a beginner w/ huge aspirations B) ???

I've found this forum to be a great help, although I still have a few unanswered questions, and most of the available websites seem to be geared around those with a bit more experience.

 

[qwikimpss]

Barrreport.com Tom Barr is an aquatic plant GENIOUS (Not taking anything away from out own George Farmer of course.)

 

[voo]

What kind of things are you looking for?
This plant forum is for new people too, a lot of people ask for help too. I'd say it's about half of this part of the forum are experienced people with their journals that others follow, the rest are a lot of people new to planted tanks who are asking questions all the time about CO2 and fertilizers.

Ask whatever questions you have, they'll most likely get answered or you'll be pointed in the direction of an answer

 

[Themuleous]

Forums are the best place for ideas and up-to-date info on whats hot and whats not in the planted tank world.

Sam

 

[MoMa]

I suppose the reason I ask is that I have dozens and dozens of unanswered questions. A book or something that could answer most of them would be ideal. Then I could move on to asking the "experienced" questions.

I've had success with low-light plants (w/o co2), but would like to do a bit better.

i.e.
Can I use an everyday airstone as a diffuser in a 10g tank? If so, how?
Can I use 5-10 pond snails for co2, phosphates, etc. in a planted pint glass (yes, pint glass)?
Does anyone (in the states) have experience with the "Fizz Factory"? If so, are there any tips/tricks to make it more effective?
On a DIY soda-bottle set-up, what is the maximum amount of air line I could use and have the system still be effective (multiple tanks in different parts of a room)?

...just to name a few.

basically, i've got quite a few questions that would basically take over the forums if I asked them all!!!!!!


cheers,
MoMa

 

[zig]

Just keep reading and make the search function your friend for a few months, thats how I started off, visit all the planted forums and just read the threads, this was the best way to learn in my experience, and obviously trying to grow plants in the suggested manner, trial an error in the beginning. but just keep reading regardless and soon enough you will be sucessful with planted tanks.

 

[George Farmer]

In addition to this forum, and a few Aquatic Gardeners Assoc. sites, what would you recommend (websites, books, etc.) for a beginner w/ huge aspirations B) ???

The internet is your best resource. Just beware of the "hear-say" factor with some forums, a lot of what you may hear may be passed on in good intention but not all of it is to be believed. There's some decent experience levels on here and if you're lucky they'll reply!

My top tip is to think about the thread title before posting. Be as detailed as you can in the space provided. Titles like, "Help" or "CO2" are unlikely to be read by myself at least. "Hair algae problems in my new 55G" or "Would CO2 help in my low-light set up?" would stand a much better chance. If you're after some advice then make the manner you ask as helpful as possible to the potential advisor.

TFF is one of the best interactive resources for beginners IMHO. I am a mod on three planted forums and am active member on a few others and out of them all this caters for the widest experience level, from complete newbie to experienced grower.

There are so many planted tank sites out there I wouldn't know where to begin. Except for forums I like Google.

As for books, I own most of them on this subject. Most of them aren't very good and some print nonsense. Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium is the best for the science-minded, although it reads like a textbook. There isn't any one book that will answer all of your questions (directly at least), the complex nature of this hobby would make such a book enormous!

I suppose the reason I ask is that I have dozens and dozens of unanswered questions. A book or something that could answer most of them would be ideal. Then I could move on to asking the "experienced" questions.

I've had success with low-light plants (w/o co2), but would like to do a bit better.

i.e.
Can I use an everyday airstone as a diffuser in a 10g tank? If so, how?
Can I use 5-10 pond snails for co2, phosphates, etc. in a planted pint glass (yes, pint glass)?
Does anyone (in the states) have experience with the "Fizz Factory"? If so, are there any tips/tricks to make it more effective?
On a DIY soda-bottle set-up, what is the maximum amount of air line I could use and have the system still be effective (multiple tanks in different parts of a room)?

...just to name a few.

basically, i've got quite a few questions that would basically take over the forums if I asked them all!!!!!!


cheers,
MoMa

To answer your questions -

1. Everyday airstones are ineffective at supplying CO2 due to the large bubble size produced. The bubbles float to the surface before the CO2 can dissolve into the water. Glass/ceramic diffusers have smaller holes that produce microbubbles. These dissolve more effectively. Some need pressurized CO2 rather that DIY CO2 to work.

2. Not sure. Try it and see. It's the best way to learn. 1 pint isn't much of a risk if it goes wrong after all.

3. No experience with Fizz Factory but after a quick "google" it seems to be long-term expensive. I would prefer DIY CO2.

4. DIY CO2 is only really effective for smaller volumes. I would use one bottle per tank. Standard silicon airline leaks CO2 over time. CO2 proof hosing can be purchased.

I hope all this makes sense.

One final comment. There's no such thing as a stupid question - that is unless the answer is already very easily accessible via the pinned threads or a quick search.

Cheers.

 

[MoMa]

thanks!
I'm definitely going to look for the Walstad book (I don't mind textbooks!).

and thanks for the tips on posting my questions more effectively.
Most of my queries went unanswered through the search function. While I'm def. '''noob''', I've got a few years of aquaria under my belt and understand most of the basics.

again, thank you all for your help.
be ready for the onslaught of well-written questions!!!

cheers,
MoMa

 

[anodized]

links i use are in my signature. just updated it since i refer to these regularly.