Tom,

Thanks for youir comments. I always learn a lot from your posts. Keeping planted tanks can be very frustrating and some of that probably came out in my post. I like the EI method because it does not require the aquarist to constantly test in order to maintain narrow nutritional parameters.

My main reason for using the Lamotte tests is to use them as a learning tool in order to see if I can objectively confirm what I think is going on in my tank. To be honest, I have seen fe deficiency often enough now so that I don't think I need to test. I just don't think I trust my own observations yet after so many past failures.

I have always wondered why planted tanks seem to be so much more popular in Europe than the US. Do Europeans have green thumbs, better information, better products, more patience ?

That said, things really are going pretty well for me. My 30 gallon is about 6 mos old and is now very stable. I've been encouraged enough so that I set up two more tanks. I will post on my progress.


Henry Hatch