Hi all,
So I am a few weeks into the DSM with my 40 gal breeder using mineralized top soil I prepared according to Aaron Talbot and I even added some local ground moss from a nearby park and my backyard after rinsing thinking since I have dirt under the gravel and the tank is wet but not filled these might grow.
Today I had to remove one of the moss sections mounted on an old plastic HOB filter screen as the whole thing went from healthy green to cotton white.
The rest of my foreground plants also look to have melted or turned brownish. I know that just because I misted heavily instead of flooding the tank to below the gravel level it still might be too wet. Now I am trying to dry out the gravel by not misting it at all. The tank receives 9 hours of light a day and I have the glass lid on except for 2 spaces along the back where I have added some plastic wrap. It certainly is not airtight but it should be closed off enough to maintain moisture for growth. I usually don't cover the open back spaces during the day then cover them with the plastic wrap at night. Am I doing somthing wrong or do I just have to wait the full 8 weeks (I plan to fill and finish planting the last week of August). Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated - thanks. :eek-new:
So I am a few weeks into the DSM with my 40 gal breeder using mineralized top soil I prepared according to Aaron Talbot and I even added some local ground moss from a nearby park and my backyard after rinsing thinking since I have dirt under the gravel and the tank is wet but not filled these might grow.
Today I had to remove one of the moss sections mounted on an old plastic HOB filter screen as the whole thing went from healthy green to cotton white.
The rest of my foreground plants also look to have melted or turned brownish. I know that just because I misted heavily instead of flooding the tank to below the gravel level it still might be too wet. Now I am trying to dry out the gravel by not misting it at all. The tank receives 9 hours of light a day and I have the glass lid on except for 2 spaces along the back where I have added some plastic wrap. It certainly is not airtight but it should be closed off enough to maintain moisture for growth. I usually don't cover the open back spaces during the day then cover them with the plastic wrap at night. Am I doing somthing wrong or do I just have to wait the full 8 weeks (I plan to fill and finish planting the last week of August). Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated - thanks. :eek-new: