RE: [AGA Member] Re: Aquarium Planning

["Nathan Freedenberg" <gnatster@comcast.net>]

" the benefit to starting a tank with fast growing plants is not
so much to "cycle" the tank, better term would be to "break in " a new
tank"

Ahh, this is what I meant; I believe it comes down to semantics at this
stage. My main concern is to start with very little algal growth.
Experience shows that once given a good foothold algae is a plague.  

" Personaly, I think diffusors are a waste of money compared to the
efficiencey of a reactor"

Again here I new to the aquatic plant realm, my lexicon is not up to
speed. Due to the size tank and desired placement of the
diffuser/reactor in the sump a larger unit is required. My searches
through many sources seem to bear that one of the larger reactors, such
that Robert has available on his site will suit my needs. One could
liken the diffuser/reactor convention much like the reefers protein
skimmer/foam fractionator semantics.  

Of course the deeper I delve into this project the more I learn and
equally the more I become cornfuzeled.  Alas this new adventure in my
aquatic ways is aided much by the availability of others successful
methodologies via the internet. My initial foray with reef keeping way
back in the late 80's had much mysticism, along with many failures. I'm
certainly glad to have found this list and hope to be offer advice as
well as learn from ya'll too. 

Thanks

Nathan 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-aga-member@thekrib.com [mailto:owner-aga-member@thekrib.com]
On Behalf Of Robert H
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 3:45 AM
To: aga-member@thekrib.com
Subject: [AGA Member] Re: Aquarium Planning

>> "My plan is to cycle the tank with fast growing plants only, no
fish."

Cycling refers to the period of time when the bacteria which convert
ammonia
to nitrite & nitrite to nitrate colonize the tank. See
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html for a very nice explanation of
the
nitrogen cycle.

Since plants are nitrogen consumers, not producers, you cannot cycle a
tank
using plants only, unless you were planning to add ammonia as a nitrogen
source in the tank. But, since plants us ammonia and ammonium directly,
even
if you did that you might not see the NH3-N02-NO3 progression that you
would
see in a non-planted tank.<<

I agree, but the benefit to starting a tank with fast growing plants is
not
so much to "cycle" the tank, better term would be to "break in " a new
tank.
Fast growing plants in bulk will help to prevent an algae bloom during
the
first 90 days when the tank is most unstable. A reason to perhaps wait 3
or
4 weeks before addiing fish is to give the plants a chance to fully
acclimate.  Many plants suffer transplant shock and will not begin to
grow
for a few weeks. If the plants are not growing, nitrogen and other
nutrients
are not going to be used up and an algae bloom may follow. The plants
that
seem to react to light and grow almost immediately are species of
Myriophyllum, Hygrophila,and Hornwort to name a few. Others may take a
couple weeks or more.

>>CO2 diffusers are good. A lot of people like the Eheim which
includes a bubble counter. And you can hide a diffuser in the back
rather than have the CO2 fed through a powerhead. You should be able
to easily fit a 10# bottle in the stand. I like the Fabco needle
valve and don't use a solenoid. Unnecessary expense, like the
heating cables, imho.<<

Personaly, I think diffusors are a waste of money compared to the
efficiencey of a reactor, but everyone has their own preference.

Robert Hudson
www.aquabotanic.com


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