So in your opinion, would you suspect that soil is about as good, other issues aside, as ADA aqua soil?
At least in this case of slower growth, but still nice looking growth?
I'd suspect so.
I use Excel also, but namely as a herbicide rather than a growth/CO2 source.
I'm probably going to do a labeling experiment with 14C on 3 species of plant to see where the Carbon goes, no one has done that with aquatics and it would be ineteresting and relevant to my research.
One plant will be a weed, Hydrilla, perhaps a Milfoil and a native pondweed.
I've focused mainly on CO2 and non CO2 systems, but I suppose some more scaping and long term use of the Excel may be useful.
Then compare the biomass, and uptake of nutrients to the other two methods under the same light intensity.
I suspect that 6 month stage with the potting soil was a turning point for many of the plant species. I think the bacteria ran out of food and stopped cycling the nutrients as well.
Spots are rare but very significant.
The plant knows somethings not right if you see that.
I'd suspect it was more likely due to NO3, than with K or PO4 gievn you got spots.
Plants and bacteria will mineralize N pretty quick and the 6 month time frame is about right to see plant plant differences.
Try adding a little bit of KNO3.
The other thing you might add, if you have a UV handy, try adding a tiny bit of NH4Cl. Maybe some off the shelf plant food.
The excel should kill most of the algae still while allowing the plants good NH4 sources, add only tiny amounts and do not get too sloppy and over dose.
Otherwise, try adding KNO3 at 5 ppm once a week and see.
You may also try root tabs etc. These tend to take longer to see any response.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Regards,
Tom Barr
At least in this case of slower growth, but still nice looking growth?
I'd suspect so.
I use Excel also, but namely as a herbicide rather than a growth/CO2 source.
I'm probably going to do a labeling experiment with 14C on 3 species of plant to see where the Carbon goes, no one has done that with aquatics and it would be ineteresting and relevant to my research.
One plant will be a weed, Hydrilla, perhaps a Milfoil and a native pondweed.
I've focused mainly on CO2 and non CO2 systems, but I suppose some more scaping and long term use of the Excel may be useful.
Then compare the biomass, and uptake of nutrients to the other two methods under the same light intensity.
I suspect that 6 month stage with the potting soil was a turning point for many of the plant species. I think the bacteria ran out of food and stopped cycling the nutrients as well.
Spots are rare but very significant.
The plant knows somethings not right if you see that.
I'd suspect it was more likely due to NO3, than with K or PO4 gievn you got spots.
Plants and bacteria will mineralize N pretty quick and the 6 month time frame is about right to see plant plant differences.
Try adding a little bit of KNO3.
The other thing you might add, if you have a UV handy, try adding a tiny bit of NH4Cl. Maybe some off the shelf plant food.
The excel should kill most of the algae still while allowing the plants good NH4 sources, add only tiny amounts and do not get too sloppy and over dose.
Otherwise, try adding KNO3 at 5 ppm once a week and see.
You may also try root tabs etc. These tend to take longer to see any response.
Regards,
Tom Barr
Regards,
Tom Barr