Hi all.
sorry for not updating my emerged (later submersed) project, but here we go;
This is how my HI-tech HC aquarium look like today (approx 2 month old set-up);
Detail;
Note;
I didn't use Amazonas as Tom suggested, but instead used Aqua Soil mixed with Tropica substrate, and I sticked a few Tropica+N&P capsules into the substrate.
I layed 1-1,2mm gravel over the soil (4cm thick).
I wasn't sure (even saturated with water) will gravel get any nutrient from the aquasoil, for the emerged HC, so I decided to add 15ml of Tropica Aqua Care+N&P, to the water used to saturate the gravel, just to be sure HC gets enough nutrients to take off.
After approx 4 weeks, the HC started spreading and forming nice roots (so no floating up, mess), I started the submersed method.
I started the CO2 dosing (4 bubbles per sec via ceramic disc diffuser) and added 15ml more of Aqua Care+N&P.
I ignored one very important thing though;
I planted only slow growing plants that aren't tall (Eleocharis, HC, Pogosyemon helferi, C. balansae, Blyxa japonica) which couldn't out compete Green water algae for nutrients (my assumption, it could be also the NH4 from the aqua soil).
Green water started, also lots of Hair algae. Halgae I killed with Easy Carbo (like Excel), but GW stayed for almost a month.
I was doing wc every day (every second day) 80% for a month, UV filter, stopped dosing liquid ferts, planted lots of Hygrophila Rosanervig...nothing really helped...
UNTIL I read a part in D. Walstads book about GW, where she mentioned the lights with lots of blue spectrum.
I had 4 tubes with lots of blue in them, so I performed a huge wc (90%) to remove as much GW as possible (still running the UV), removed the middle 2 which had most of the blue, and replaced them with tubes from Sylvania which have only red, green and yellow (no blue at all).
Things started improving the next day, and day after I could proudly present my Hi-tech HC aquarium
So, if using aquasoil under the gravel, yes do mix some KNO3 and KH2PO4 with the water (emerged method), but also do plant lots of fast growing tall plants to out compere the possible GW for nutrients that will enter the water column.
Otherwise if you are intending to create an Iwagumi style, use Tom's suggestion...use Amazonas instead.
I would suggest this method to everyone. great way to skip all the HC floating up and algae on plants which are trying to establish them selves (roots) in the start.
@chris81;
1.Yes you should remove all the wool
2. Anubias and Microsorum are in nature mostly found emerged, I planted once the Anubias emerged in my paludarium, and it grew without any problem, just keep the humidity (seal the aquarium).
3. water should not cover the HC when emerged, nor the gravel, but just under the gravel line (approx 1-2mm under the gravel).
Good luck Chris, patience will create a nice HC carpet for you
Kind regards, Dusko
