Journal A high tech tank journey

[JPog]

Just to add to this, I've grown incredibly healthy swords, crypts, lagenandra and an assortment of carpeting plants with completely inert substrates and nothing added to it. So the question is, if there is such a thing as heavy root feeders, I don't believe the substrate needs to be active or supplemented, they simply take what they need from the water column.

 

[BigWave]

@ayman.roshdy you should look into mineralized soil. In essence it is taking top soil, laying it out on a tarp and sprinkling water all over it lightly, letting it dry then repeat numerous times. Stiring it each time. What you are doing is letting the enzymes, bacteria etc break down all the harmful elements in the soil. This way the soil isn't what we call hot (too rich in nutrients) thereby killing plants or leaching ammonia.
Here is a link to Art's old ScapeFu podcast explaining it in detail if you like listening. Mineralized Soil with Sean Murphy | ScapeFu058 - ScapeFu
Or you can search both Aquatic Plant Central Forum or The Planted Tank forum for the threads.

 

[ayman.roshdy]

Thanks @JPog very encouraging
Thanks @BigWave will definitely listen to @Art podcast

 

[ayman.roshdy]

Did anyone use a Lux light meter before, can it be used instead of the PAR meter or can we convert the measures from Lux to Par?
I have been searching around for a Par meter and I couldn't find any, what I was able to find is the Lux meter on Amazon for a reasonable price, what do you think?

UNI-T UT383, MINI LIGHT METER: Buy Online at Best Price in Egypt - Souq is now Amazon.eg

 

[ayman.roshdy]

Have been away for some time focusing on reseting all my tanks, so will try to be more active on the forum going forward, as a quick update:

• All the remaining action items above are finished
• My small nano tank is the only tank that is low tech currently and it hosts neocaridina shrimp with some low tech plants
• I have a 50 cm tank that is now a high tech tank using the Stainless Steel DIY CO2 kit
• My old 80 cm tank together with my new 80 cm tank are both high tech now with their own CO2 pressurized cylinder
• The tanks have different substrates; either inert gravel with root tabs, active soil or both gravel and active soil
• I am planning a couple of plastic boxes for some plants and fish breeding experiments
• I am also planning a 40 x 40 cm tank to train on aquascaping, one aquascape per month

I will be posting separate build threads for each tank in the coming period while focusing on planting them and not too many fish

 

[BigWave]

Did anyone use a Lux light meter before, can it be used instead of the PAR meter or can we convert the measures from Lux to Par?
I have been searching around for a Par meter and I couldn't find any, what I was able to find is the Lux meter on Amazon for a reasonable price, what do you think?

The conversions arnt that accurate.
Now there is a new company that came out with a par meter thats relitively cheap. Ill have to go find the link again. So this is a place holder.....

EDIT: Found it. See the ability to actually use websites such as search engines, forums and the like is a dying thing. In todays age people are so used to just having the info presented to them. Rant over.

PARwise is a New Light Sensor from ITC ReefCulture | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

PARwise is an intelligent new light sensor from ITC Reefculture which aims to help shed some light on what is going on in our aquariums. The new PARwise appears to share some DNA with the Seneye from…

reefbuilders.com

Its not out yet. I've searched and searched but appears to be around the $250 USD range.