It is not proof that your plants are or are not at their peak. Some plants will produce oxygen easier than other, it seems (ricca and anarchris vs crypts).
It indicates you have plenty of Oxygen as the water is not absorbing the oxygen the plants are producing and the plants are healthy. It doesn't mean that increasing any one of CO2, ferts, lights would cause more pearling or not.
It is not proof that your plants are or are not at their peak. Some plants will produce oxygen easier than other, it seems (ricca and anarchris vs crypts).
It indicates you have plenty of Oxygen as the water is not absorbing the oxygen the plants are producing and the plants are healthy. It doesn't mean that increasing any one of CO2, ferts, lights would cause more pearling or not.
No it is not proof. I would use the growth and health of the plants themselves to guage this.
1. Are new leaves frequent? Are they well formed and sized?
2. Does trimming induce branching?
3. Do rosettes form new leaves?
4. Does new growth melt?
5. Does new growth develop algae?
6. Is the color and form of the new growth consistent with the species?
I wish it was that simple. But no, the pearling is not the indicator.
Because from my experience, you can increase the pearling by simply increasing light.
And if CO2 and nutrients are not adequate for that level of light, you will have problem.
Some bubbles also come from plant's injury (melting) also, not a sign of good health.
IME, pearling has been over rated. I chased it as a newb and when I had the highest rates of pearling I was running the highest light and having the most problems. I think pearling can be an expression of how fast the system is going and the degree of oxygen saturation in the water, but not much more.
I see little of the dramatic pearling these days, but see an improvement in healthy growth and a decrease in algae issues. If only I could get my darn staurogyne to grow well.
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