Journal Ben's Plant Pharm 2.0

[BenB]

In THIS post, I asked if anyone had ideas on how to weigh down small plants. @*Ci* suggested I cut plant weights into strips. I finally got around to trying it tonight. I underestimated the size of the plants, so they don't work as good as I'd like, but I can cut the next batch a little bigger. I hope to do some aquascaping this weekend, and I can't even top off the water in this tank without these plants going flying everywhere. That might be the answer of why they aren't rooting that great. This looks a little tacky, but if it works, it will be totally worth it. It was a great idea. Looks like my tank has braces.





Also, for @techman81, here is a comparison of how big the seed stalks get on those Erios. Honestly, they are like 8"


Lastly, .... look at my reflection in my bottle of BurrFertz. It looks like I have massive biceps!! Hell Yeah!!

 

[Sb1415]

Looking great!!
Does the Erio cerienum die off after the flowering or does it keep growing ? how do you partition/replant ? I would love to keep it once my tank stabilizes.

For keeping the plants down, paper clips straightened out could be another option if you would like something thinner. I know you are open to adding aquasoil, and have seen people recommending small sized aquasoil to hold tinier roots better.

 

[BenB]

Does the Erio cerienum die off after the flowering or does it keep growing ? how do you partition/replant ? I would love to keep it once my tank stabilizes.

I've had this twice. I sold them at the club auction before, but they were so easy, I got them again. They look really good. The seed stalks are a bit of a distraction though. I don't think they die off after they seed, but I usually keep the seed stalks cut. I got this tissue culture, so you end up with a mass of multiple plants. So I've never had just 1 plant to see if it would produce additional. They have a good root system. They've been super easy to grow. If it weren't so damn cold, I'd send you some of these to try.

For keeping the plants down, paper clips straightened out could be another option if you would like something thinner. I know you are open to adding aquasoil, and have seen people recommending small sized aquasoil to hold tinier roots better.

Do you think a paper clip would be heavy enough? Maybe, or at least they are long enough that they might anchor in the substrate better. The problem I'm having with these is that some of them have lost their roots. I'm not sure why. That's part of the reason I'm having trouble with them popping up when I work in the tank.

 

[Koan]

Do you think a paper clip would be heavy enough?

How about 2" stainless pot hooks?

 

[BenB]

How about 2" stainless pot hooks?

I thought I originally saw a pic of wire holding staples? Did you change your post? I think that's a good idea. I might have some of those.
I thought someone posted a pic of these as an idea.
I have to get in this tank tomorrow. My dry hands dread it though.

 

[Koan]

I thought I originally saw a pic of wire holding staples? Did you change your post?

I did change it because apparently galvanized steel leaches zinc into the water which is hard on fish if you decide you ever want them.

So the stainless pot hooks are about the same size

 

[BenB]

I did change it because apparently galvanized steel leeches zinc into the water which is hard on fish if you decide you ever want them.

So the stainless pot hooks are about the same size

Ah, OK. Yeah, lets not do that.

 

[Kwyet]

Like you, I’ve been having dry, cracking hands ever since moving here. I finally went to the doctor to see about it, and the diagnosis was eczema exacerbated by water (aquarium maintenance). I got a prescription for triamcinolone acetonide and also was told to use Eucerin eczema relief cream. I still get some roughness on my palms, but am very much improved.

 

[BenB]

Like you, I’ve been having dry, cracking hands ever since moving here. I finally went to the doctor to see about it, and the diagnosis was eczema exacerbated by water (aquarium maintenance). I got a prescription for triamcinolone acetonide and also was told to use Eucerin eczema relief cream. I still get some roughness on my palms, but am very much improved.

You live in Colorado. It's definitely so dry there. I'd have this trouble all year there. Here in the SE, the humidity will go up when it warms up and this will get better. If I go to Colorado, I have to take chap stick, nose spray, and lotion. I'm too used to southern humidity. I use Gold Bond, but @gnatster has recommended Bag Balm. I bought some and will try it soon.

 

[Kwyet]

I was using Gold Bond before this, but it wasn’t doing any good. I haven’t tried Bag Balm. Good luck!

 

[BenB]

I was using Gold Bond before this, but it wasn’t doing any good. I haven’t tried Bag Balm. Good luck!

I find just staying super hydrated helps the most, but I don't have eczema. As much as I whine and complain, I bet I don't have as much trouble as you. I have a couple plants I want to put in the tank right now, but I worked in the tank this afternoon, went to the gym, cooked which involves 100 hand washes, and just had a hot shower. Every time I think about those plants my hands yell at me.

 

[techman81]

I use Gold Bond, but @gnatster has recommended Bag Balm. I bought some and will try it soon.

Bag balm works well, but smells bad. I imagine it's scent wasn't a high priority since it was originally created in 1899 to soothe dry, cracked cow udders . I like CeraVe products.

 

[BenB]

Little update. My Eriocaulon quinquangulare has been starting to degrade and look bad. With the other issues in my tank, I just thought it was related of that. However, just to make sure I had all my ends tied, I tested my CO2 today. It was closer to 40ppm and E quing needs 50ppm minimum. I took my difuser and soaked it on peroxide for a bit. That usually gets it back going. We'll see. I've been very proud of how well this plant has grown for me, so I'd hate to lose it now. There is a little algae on the glass, but you can see the bunch on the left is looking ratty and falling apart.

 

[BenB]

My tank is going all to hell again.
I'm pretty frustrated. It was so much work to figure out the problems the first 2 disasters. I don't think I'm up for it again.

The diatoms are coming back, gda is bad, and I have this fluffy fuzzy green algae @Naturescapes_Rocco and @bradquade have mentioned. Honestly, I've had it for weeks, if not months, and it has only been a spot here and there, but now it's getting crazy. I bought some new tc plants the other week. One died right away, but I think it came in in bad shape. Another was doing OK and then all the sudden 2 days ago I noticed the lower parts looked rotten because they were waving in the current instead of rigid. It disappeared today. The third is fine so far. The only thing I've done in the last month is I went an extra week without a water change because something was going on, I added about 1.5L of new aquasoil, and when I did a water change the other day, I accidentally had the water a bit cold. For the water change, it was 50% so shouldn't have been too much a shock.

My only clue is that my R macrandra has stunted new leaves again. I'm using Burr Micros. Recommended dose is 2ml per 10 gal, 2-3x per week. My tank is 13gal. I was doing 4ml after water change and then 2ml twice more in the week. Maybe that's too much, but it doesn't seem crazy too much such that I'd have all these issues. I'm going to try 2ml only twice during the week in addition to doing some testing, and see where that gets me.

 

[techman81]

How do phosphates look?

 

[techman81]

Also, are you just using straight aquasoil, or any nutrients/root tabs or other material under the soil?

 

[TRyan]

Man, sorry to hear this. I'm a beginner so I'll let the experts give advice, but wanted to add that I don't heat my 30 gallon storage can at all. It's probably 63°F and I run my tank at 73°. I do 70% water changes. The temp in the tank drops down to 67° or so after water change. I've never experienced any algae outbreaks because of temporary temperature changes.

I hope you can figure this out. Don't give up!

 

[BenB]

How do phosphates look?

I haven't tested in a couple weeks, but I will. I'm going to water change, clean, and all that today.
I am putting in a lot, but the last time I tested it was < 1. My mix is 4.5ppm NO3, 4ppm PO4, 5ppm K, and 1ppm Mg. I do a double dose after wc and then dose 2 more single doses times in the week. I dose trace separately. I know that's a ton of PO4, but the aquasoil just sucks it down.

Hmmm... I was re-reading this after I posted it. My macro mix has been going bad slowly after I make it. It turns color. I've never had that happen before. I might take the Mg out. I don't get a precipitate when I make it, but maybe the Mg and PO4 are binding since I have an unusually high amount of PO4. No reason to think the Mg would swap out the SO4 already bound for PO4. Probably grasping at straws but anything is worth a try.

Also, are you just using straight aquasoil, or any nutrients/root tabs or other material under the soil?

I only do the above. Nothing extra in the soil.
CO2 is 50ppm+, Light 124 PAR (I know a bit high, but not crazy high, and I like growing Erios and Blood Vomit)

Just noticing that some of my R macrandra stunts and some doesn't. I'm not sure why. Its the small new growths from where I've trimmed that stunts. Established growing tips don't seem to stunt. I'll double check that.

I bought more tc plants yesterday. I'm going to get them planted today. I don't have very much plant mass at all, and I feel like in these high nutrient tanks, that isn't optimal. You need a large plant mass for all this input of light, CO2, and ferts.

I'm working on a plan, but any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[techman81]

I bought more tc plants yesterday. I'm going to get them planted today. I don't have very much plant mass at all, and I feel like in these high nutrient tanks, that isn't optimal. You need a large plant mass for all this input of light, CO2, and ferts.

Yeah, even my experience with the APT all-n-ones is that if I start with heavy dosing too early, especially APT 3 and before plant mass is well established, the algae struggle is rough. I'm still not knowledgeable enough to know how to avoid it other than dosing lean early on. I could use some in-person training from some of our experts here.

 

[Fishstery]

Yeah, even my experience with the APT all-n-ones is that if I start with heavy dosing too early, especially APT 3 and before plant mass is well established, the algae struggle is rough. I'm still not knowledgeable enough to know how to avoid it other than dosing lean early on. I could use some in-person training from some of our experts here.

I had this thought as well as I'm about to plant and dial in my tank this weekend. My initial idea is to bury APT Jazz tabs under the planting areas where my stems will be and then start with APT 1 for a few months and then gradually switch over to APT 3, or skip Jazz until my controsoil is done kicking nutrients and start straight off with APT 3 at half dose.