Thanks Tom Barr!

[I Love Aqautic Weeds!]

Hey Guys this is my first post here. I run into Tom Barr a week or so ago in another forum and we had a great discussion about the subject we are all here for. My tag there was The Plant Man. I had never heard about him or his EI method. I’ve been practicing growing plants for about 5-6 years now and “thought” I had a firm grip on it. I mean I do all right. But Tom opened my eyes about a great many things and I just wanted to say thank you Tom Barr.

You’re all right.

The tank is a 46 Bowfront with 2 T-5 fixtures 4 21watt bulbs 2 x 7,600k and 2 x 10,000k. Filters a 2215 with 2217 impeller and a 2217. 4 year old flourite substraite I do 35-40% water change with 15ml Tropica aqaucare ferts per week (for now).

I am not yet completely using his method but not because I don’t want to, I’m just not set up for it yet.

I did make a few changes to my DIY set-up in accordance with his ideas and they have made a remarkable difference!

Some pics.

This is when I set it up just over 3 months ago.

This is now, today

Changes I made because of what I learned from Tom are.

I dropped my light down to 1.8 watts from 2.2 watts.

I added a third bottle to my DIY Co2 set-up

I bought and installed a Drop Checker with 4dkh solution in it and use API's PH drops.

I modified my method of defusing Co2 to get better efficiency.

I dose more ferts and do larger water changes once per week then I was

I will be purchasing a Rexx Co2 system in the future.

The difference in just about 2 weeks has been amazing.

Before adding extra Co2 DIY bottle and after, I defuse it with a power head and an added tube that is restricted at the end. From the three bottles I get a steady uninterupted and smooth stream of tiny bubbles out the end of the tube.

I was dealling with a bit of an algae out break 2 weeks ago but it is mostly cleared up. I am just stuck with a bit of Green Spot on the anubias.

 

[scottward]

It would be good if all aquarium/pet stores handed out a 'Tom Barr' pamphlet to all newcomers to planted aquaria. I laugh when I look through the many books that I have that are full of rubbish unproven advice.

Yeah, Tom's alright.

 

[Silkjc]

Those crypts look great at the front. Good work

 

[Tom Barr]

Have you gotten more of the L peruniesis/granulosus. I'd make a nice wall of that on the back 1/4 of the tank. Top it and replant the top, but leave the stump, about 4" tall, it will sprout new tips and plants.

May as well read up on the CO2 regulator threads, Ideal Needle valves etc.........then see about going gas tank.

Trim the Gloss often, maybe 2x a month to keep if from piling on top of itself too much, 2-3 layers deep is okay, but not much more. Do not uproot it.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[I Love Aqautic Weeds!]

Have you gotten more of the L peruniesis/granulosus. I'd make a nice wall of that on the back 1/4 of the tank. Top it and replant the top, but leave the stump, about 4" tall, it will sprout new tips and plants.

May as well read up on the CO2 regulator threads, Ideal Needle valves etc.........then see about going gas tank.

Trim the Gloss often, maybe 2x a month to keep if from piling on top of itself too much, 2-3 layers deep is okay, but not much more. Do not uproot it.


Regards,
Tom Barr

It's funny you mention about the Granulosus, I did exactly that just a few days before taking the picture above! It had grown to the surface and was poking out of the water. I figured that because it had grown so crazy fast it would make an excellent foreground plant. So I tore it out in its entirety, separated the stems (I had 6 in total now, it grew two new ones), grouped them in two’s and replanted along the back. Although I did cut off the entire root system and chop the stems up to the leaves, when I originally received the plant it had almost no roots so just assumed it would reroot itself. The amount of roots it grew in just 2 and a half weeks was crazy! It took me about 10 minutes to pull it out with out affecting the Crypts to much! Freakin’ weeds! This has had a negative effect on the plants in general but I think they’ll pull through. I just have to get your IE method in place as soon as I can.

Again, Tom,

Thanks buddy!

One question I have for anyone who may know. I am currently dosing with Tropica. I have both firts (with and without N and P). How much in this tank with it's current growth should I be using?