When wisdom wins over control - how more experienced aquatic gardeners do it

[Art]

@Dennis Wong's journal post today, 20 gallon Rotala Florida tank, caused me to think about his comment that Rotala Florida grows better with a little more GH (5+). I just put Rotala Florida into my tank and I wasn't really sure what my GH was. I kinda new it because I know what my tap water GH is but I hadn't tested it for sure.

Art's control side - "Well, if @Dennis Wong says it's 5+ GH then you better not have 4 or 4.5. Get that GH over the 5 and make sure of it!"

I immediately did a full battery of tests and confirmed my GH was 6, what I thought it was and what my tap water is typically at. What a relief!

But, is my GH mostly calcium? Do I have enough magnesium in there? How do I know? You need to find out and quick!

I began the Google search to find the test kit that can parse out magnesium from the calcium in GH. And, then, about 30 minutes into the frantic search...

Art's wise side woke up - "Ahem, does it really matter? Your plants are growing fine and you've seen no indication that would suggest your magnesium is too low."

Your plants are better test kits than your test kits.

A sense of peace came over me and I closed my browser window with a wise smile.

Anyone else go through these crazy talking to yourself episodes? At least mine saved me some money...

Happy Saturday

 

[Pepere]

Anyone else go through these crazy talking to yourself episodes? At least mine saved me some money...

I would have checked with my water utility for what finished water has for Ca and Mg as it comes out thetap… or I would have bought the test…

I have found myself confidently wrong too often and I dont trust my wisdom so much as verify what I think…