40G Planted Walstad Incoming...

BillHN 2013-04-01, 02:47

Gonna buy an LED Fixture from Cory.
Picking up a nice Acrylic 40 from a friend, with a nice t5 setup.

Gonna plant it with Bin's HC, and some fissidens, and Dwarf Hairgrass.

I've got some nice wood already.
Can't wait to work on this by next month.
I'll be populating it with H Formosa, H Cory's, and probably Cherry Reds.
Saw a nice sale on Cherry Barbs, may pick those up as well.

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-01, 02:59

OOOOOOOOH!! I can't wait to see pics!! Very Happy

I wish I knew more about LED lighting, to help you out... but I'm still stuck in the fluorescent age. XD

Lamental Jester 2013-04-01, 12:54

I just got some manzanita online:

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prices are decent, shipping was super quick, the drawback though is you don't see it till you get it. I haven't used LED yet either, I've been a T5HO guy. But I just got [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] for a 15 column shrimp tank i'm gradually setting up. I know Lars On had success with her 10 gal with LEDs.

pbmax 2013-04-01, 13:28

Good luck! Sounds like all sorts of fun. Smile

Ditto on LEDs... too many weak setups floating around out there. I think there are some threads out there on APC or TPT with lists of LED fixtures and PAR numbers - worth some searching for sure.

Edit: Here's a thread comparing the evo fxture to others:

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**lars on** 2013-04-01, 14:21

Im all for LED, people keep telling me to return it but my plants are growing like mad under it. Red LEDs are supposed to be really good for plants too Smile

I think I'm actually looking at the 48" version of that light for my 55g walstad

Anthraxx 2013-04-01, 20:32

LED's are AWESOME my man. topdogseller(s) on ebay has great prices. got all mine from him and they showed up early, he even shipped a replacement power cord literally an hour after i msged him about it. as for the soil (from all the reading i did back when i gave soil a shot) it all reccomended getting the most basic top soil u can. most of the potted stuff at local hardware stores has a gel type substance that is used to hold more water. not to mention all sorts of non fish safe plant nutrients. GL to ya took me FOREVER to figure out wat potash was lolz.

Lamental Jester 2013-04-01, 21:19

Anthraxx wrote: as for the soil (from all the reading i did back when i gave soil a shot) it all reccomended getting the most basic top soil u can. most of the potted stuff at local hardware stores has a gel type substance that is used to hold more water. not to mention all sorts of non fish safe plant nutrients.

As long as he's using the ORGANIC Miracle Gro Potting Mix he's fine. Thats the brand I use (And one of the brands recommended by Diana Walstad)

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-01, 21:35

I 2nd what Lamental Jester mentioned, Organic Miracle Gro Potting MIX (not Potting SOIL)... Very Happy

pbmax 2013-04-01, 22:30

I don't think there is an organic choice "potting soil" (at least my googles and bings are coming up empty). As long as it's organic choice and potting you should be fine.

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-01, 22:34

Oh good. I just remember reading something about it having to be potting mix, and not soil. Dunno where I read it, or IF I read it, or maybe my mind is just playing cruel tricks on me. AHHHHH!!! D:

pbmax 2013-04-01, 22:35

Yeah, don't get the organic choice soil; make sure it's "potting" Smile

You've gone FISHLOOPY! affraid

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-01, 23:22

MY MIND IS ABLAAAAAAAZE!!! Too much research will do that to you. I feel like I'm back in college, during cram week. Hahahaha

BillHN 2013-04-02, 19:18

Delete me!

BillHN 2013-04-03, 10:45

Delete ME TOO! ^^^

pbmax 2013-04-03, 11:15

There's a market section for that sort of thing. Smile

I figured I'd tell you before *cough* Officer Fishbox *cough* read that post Wink

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-03, 14:06

LOLOLOL, pbmax, ohhhh... haha

BillHN, STOP. RIGHT. THERE.
Now, according to the rules and regulations of this forum, you are supposed to POST any ads that contain selling and/or buying merchandise, be posted in the proper section of this forum...

lololol... joking, just playin' with ya Very Happy

GUPPIIIIIIIESSSSSSSS!!!!!!

BillHN 2013-04-03, 14:58

The only problem is... can't delete them after matt made his post sooo.... XDDDDD

Hmmm...... Hm.......
I'm thinking about getting 3 portions of STAR MOSS Surprised

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-03, 16:30

lololol... it's a little inside joke between me and pbmax. Very Happy

no worries. Hahahaha...
Star moss, never heard of it. Gonna have to google it and see how that stuff looks like Very Happy

Lamental Jester 2013-04-03, 16:37

Star Moss (Tortula ruralis) isn't a true aquatic plant, and you'd be lucky to keep it alive submerged for a few months.

pbmax 2013-04-03, 16:39

Dead plants are easier to care for. Smile

Lamental Jester 2013-04-03, 16:46

Agreed. Don't have to worry about ferts, lights, pruning......

BillHN 2013-04-03, 17:13

LJ! Don't troll me! That stuff looked so nice though! Sad

Lamental Jester 2013-04-03, 17:26

Lol, didn't realize stating fact was trolling Wink

pbmax 2013-04-03, 17:28

BillHN wrote:LJ! Don't troll me! That stuff looked so nice though!

You could try some Star Grass - very pretty, but somewhat picky (at least for me).

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Lamental Jester 2013-04-03, 17:38

Phoenix Moss (Fissidens fontanus) is a good alternative to star moss from what I've heard, slow growing but easy to care for
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BillHN 2013-04-03, 17:52

Not literal trolling. More like crushing my hopes and dreams.

Lamental Jester 2013-04-03, 17:55

BillHN wrote:Not literal trolling. More like crushing my hopes and dreams.

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It's kinda my job Very Happy

BillHN 2013-04-04, 10:56

Haha! XD
Btw here's a new 20L Using everything listed above!
With 8 Panda cories (there were 9 but... one just died ]: )

and 5 Molly Fry, and some RCS
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Oh and I made an office 1 Gallon Walstad too Surprised

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Lamental Jester 2013-04-04, 13:55

One thing I would recommend is maybe get more rooted plants in there. Take advantage of the dirted benefits!
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BillHN 2013-04-04, 16:19

Lamental Jester wrote:One thing I would recommend is maybe get more rooted plants in there. Take advantage of the dirted benefits!
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I gots tah buy some man. And it's like 9 bucks for some, but I'll probably take some off of matt's hands this weekend

Lamental Jester 2013-04-04, 17:46

BillHN wrote:"I gots tah buy some man. And it's like 9 bucks for some"

YOLO!

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-04, 17:48

Lamental Jester wrote:
BillHN wrote:"I gots tah buy some man. And it's like 9 bucks for some"

YOLO!

.................... . . . . . .. ..... . . .. . ... .....
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BillHN 2013-04-04, 17:50

I FOUND POTTING SOIL
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LOL MAN I already speant over 30 bucks on hairgrass!
Some of it got choked out by my subwassertang, soooo I moved it all to a 10g emersed growout tank Surprised

If u Got some I'll buy some from you at the general auction!

Lamental Jester 2013-04-04, 17:56

Where did you get your hairgrass? I need to get a bunch soon for the shrimp tank I'm setting up. Hmmmmm, I might have some green temple good to go by the time the auction comes

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-04, 18:02

omg auction. SEE YOU GUYS THERE!! Very Happy

BillHN, be careful, that miracle grow garden soil stuff sounds like it has lots of fertilizers in it @_@... I'd still stick with miracle grow's organic potting mix. Just to be safe Very Happy

I think I accidentally killed off my subwassertang that pbmax gave me Sad

. . . I tied it onto a rock, and kept it in a really shallow tupperware thing, filled it up with water, and left it alone for a couple days... I forgot to replenish the water, and so the subwassertang was left to dry out for... who knows how long. Sad

I placed the rock with the subwassertang in my 20 gallon tank, hoping that it would rejuvinate, but I think I got to it too late. SAD.

pbmax 2013-04-04, 18:07

Like Poke said Smile

Walstad's "official" directions are to go for Miracle Gro Organic Choice potting mix as the others have too many nutrients. That isn't potting soil regardless - it's "garden soil" which is pretty much top soil. I'm going to try using some miracle gro organic choice garden soil in an emersed grow container, but I wouldn't submerge the stuff - too many nutrients, I think.

pbmax 2013-04-04, 18:07

Lamental Jester wrote:Where did you get your hairgrass? I need to get a bunch soon for the shrimp tank I'm setting up. Hmmmmm, I might have some green temple good to go by the time the auction comes

Petsmart sells tissue culture topfin branded dwarf hair grass. I may buy some this weekend if they have any...

BillHN 2013-04-04, 18:53

@Matt I saw some last weekend

@Everyone
I was just trying to say that they actually have miracle gro organic potting soil o.o
I just thought we all agreed that there was no such thing xD, I just thought to revive that dead topic, once I saw this on one of my daily browsing sites.

@ Angelo, omg sorry about the subwassertang!
That stuff is really touchy (well, it keeps on slipping off my lines and floats all around) I'm thinking of putting it in a tank where I won't touch it much, but meh. I'll see how it'll do on the 10G.
I spent some bucks getting that stuff from an online dealer, wasn't cheap neither ]:

pbmax 2013-04-04, 18:55

Call me that again and see if I sell you any plants. Evil or Very Mad

BillHN 2013-04-04, 18:56

Whoa my bad!
Edited!

pbmax 2013-04-04, 18:57

BillHN wrote:
I was just trying to say that they actually have miracle gro organic potting soil o.o
I just thought we all agreed that there was no such thing xD, I just thought to revive that dead topic, once I saw this on one of my daily browsing sites.

Sure, except that's not the organic choice.

BillHN 2013-04-04, 19:03

Oooooo

pbmax 2013-04-04, 19:13

I want to try to soil mineralization, but it kind of takes forever... Sad

So I figured for an emersed grow container topsoil should be fine. I cooked a sheet of miracle gro organic choice garden soil for 45 mins this morning to kill any potential nasties. Now my house smells like DIRT! Very Happy

On the upside, I should have some (at the moment) fungus- and cootie-free soil for the fail of a glass container (terrarium?) I built earlier this week. Now I just need to cut a top for it, buy some DHG, put the dirt in, and I'm ready to go.

BillHN 2013-04-04, 19:28

Hmmmm....... Can I buy some topsoil and bring it over this weekend? XD That way I won't have the same problem xDDDDDDDD
Now that I really think about it...
DUDE whatever you bake in that oven's gonna taste like dirt! Oh no!

pbmax 2013-04-04, 19:31

Hahaha, no. Smile

And no, it won't (at least I hope not!). I ran the broiler for a while (which kicks the convection fan on) afterwards so it should be fine. It really didn't smell too bad...

BillHN 2013-04-05, 11:14

Ended up visiting pbmax and madness' lairs this weekend, then I partied it out in Renton... So... I'll share pics of new stuff I picked up soon!

By the way, thanks guys for all the stuff!!!! I'm definitely gonna showcase those babies soon!

Gizmo 2013-04-10, 14:08

There's a few members on PlantedTank.net that sell pre-made MTS, I bought some (too much) and gave the extra to Angelo.

**PokeSephiroth** 2013-04-10, 14:16

wait... pre-made MTS? Oh man, I was thinking "pre-made Malaysian Trumpet Snails" and then I was like "... but... how are snails....pre-made?"

Then it all made sense to me now. LOL . . . . Mineral Top Soil (I think?)

oh man. That stuff you gave me is hard as a rock. It's still sitting in water, and I've been slowly breaking it into smaller chunks. It's still hard to break down, it's kinda got a really hard clay-consistency, which is good, I think. Still going to wait it out for a bit, so that it becomes softer.
Thank you so much for the extra dirt/soil/mineral top soil, Gizmo[/u]!

pbmax 2013-04-10, 15:08

Gizmo wrote:There's a few members on PlantedTank.net that sell pre-made MTS, I bought some (too much) and gave the extra to Angelo.

Lucky Angelo. Smile

I'm going to try my hand at making some in the forseeable future. I'm just not sure where I'll spread it out to dry....

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