I just planted my 14 HC pots in my 72gal bow front on Friday the 13th. So far so good. I have a good feeling about this method. Will know more by this weeks end. This is my first planted aquarium, so I hope it goes well. I stuck some stem plants in for the hell of it. I don't think they will make it, but they were cheap and don't care if they die. As long as the HC survives. Hopefully, all the reading I have been doing for the past 4 months will pay we will see. THanks Tom for this DSM information.
DSM started
- Thread starter deucebiggss
- Start date
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HC loves DSM; I've never had the stuff growing faster or healthier. 14 pots though? Even spread out in little plugs, it probably won't take you long to get through your dry start.
-Philosophos
-Philosophos
If you've got aquasoil, then it's not necessary. If you're using anything else, at least anything inert, then yes. With HC, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea even if it's MS capped with an inch or two of inert substrate; HC roots are pretty short.
-Philosophos
-Philosophos
A macro solution would be more helpful. Add micros later. You can push your concentrations up higher with just plants; create predosed EI solutions for water perhaps. Mist with tap though; I've found a crust of ferts doesn't help plants.
-Philosophos
-Philosophos
I have been misting with tap and keeping the glass wet and the HC looks good. Are you saying to fertilize with Macros during the dry start? How would I do that without a crust developing on the plants?
Water between the plants where you can; if you have a substrate that drains decently being a bit uneven in where you water won't hurt. Alternately, you can mist with a macro solution every couple of days so long as you mist with tap after. The former works better than the later.
-Philosophos
-Philosophos
I have the Seachem products right now that I would like to use up. How weak should the solution be?
I usually just do EI like levels for the first month of emersed growth with inert substrate; anything unused won't be changed out, but you can go up to around 10x EI levels and not hit any toxicity for the plants. Odds are you won't hit 10x within the next month or two of dry start.
It's a bit of a different thing if you do emersed growth trays long term, so don't apply the same concept to them as you would DSM if you ever head in that direction.
-Philosophos
It's a bit of a different thing if you do emersed growth trays long term, so don't apply the same concept to them as you would DSM if you ever head in that direction.
-Philosophos
Thanks for your help. I have all the dry fertilizers too. I just wanted to use up Seachem products first. I'll mix up a solution in a couple days. I'll have to take a picture of the HC at some point.