nipat;43103 said:
I asked that because I just want to buy a 3 kg bag of AS, crush it (the grain isn't
that hard, isn't it). And use in the same fashion of MTS or worm castings. Call me
not dedicating enough, but if I don't have to go out and dig wet land soil or buy worm
castings then rinse it, mineralize it, etc. Then good. I'm not expect super rich substrate,
just wanting something in the gravel that is better than rood tabs.
Yes, that should work fine.
Many live in high urban areas where they would not trust/have the wetland soils etc. Or cannot boil Worm castings due to family mutiny. There are many reasons/excuses, trade offs for various sediment types, and water column dosing management.
I think we have a much higher chance % at success when we use several locations, methods together with a wider group of hobbyists.
So rather than one or the other, learn both.
Same for non CO2 or CO2 enrichment.
High and low light.
Rich ppm's or lean ppm's.
Then you can see what effects these have, both for yourself and your habits, as well as those of others, you need to compare the successes, not the failures so much with each method.
The successful application of a certain method, location etc is evidence that something about that method/location etc can work well, how much trade off, how sensitive the other parameters are to management are key follow up questions.
Still, if there's a success, that's evidence enough for me.
Failures just means perhaps it was the method, or perhaps it was some other factor that person did not consider. You cannot say much there. You can when you get a nice reference example.
That falsifies the claims that excess ppm's or lean water column ppm's or sediments etc cause algae or cannot do well with growing plants. Then you go back and look at why someone might have failed, where others did not fail.
You know it's not due to water column ppm's however at that point.
That is particularly useful.
BTW, you can limit water column ppm's say PO4..and reduce CO2 as PO4 can become more limiting than CO2, thereby indirectly affecting CO2= less CO2 demand=> non limiting CO2=> reduced, or removing algae that way.
If the CO2 was independent, well..........then you do not see that. If it was not independent, then there's a good chance of it. It's still a CO2 management issue, not limiting PO4.
Some try this and see a reduction in algae, then think there's something to it.
Some see good growth say at 5ppm NO3/0.5ppm PO4 and think that's evidence those are the best ppm's. It does not explain how the other observations(not just their own!!!) exist without issues they claim affect the results.
Poor testing, poor test kit resolution etc, there are many ways to make mistakes here.
And many of us make them a few times before understanding.
As far as ADA AS, you can ball it up, or semi compact it, add that under there.
If you add some KNO3 and other ferts, you will still get good results over long time frames.
Adding WC's to the ADA AS is not needed I think.
Will not hurt though.
Regards,
Tom Barr