f's e(im)mersed tanks

I want to do a grow tank outside. Should powerhead with bar be fine for emmersed..
My idea is to place all my offcuts on trays and bowls with inert substrate

 

Not very convinced about this ... split the planting into two batches most here and some in the low tech 2ft.




did get to move one of my ferns to the other side of the tank.



Later Ferdie

 

All good we are going strong ....










Later Ferdie

 

Looks absolutly amazing @f-fish... love it

 

Very very nice!

 

Thanks all, the challenge now is to start thinking about a what the fertilizer regime should look like.

Suspect I am going to start with getting Ca and Mg into the tank.

Later Ferdie

 

Love those succulent rhizomes!

You've inspired me; I'm thinking of an outdoor setup too. One of those garden sprinklers that come with a solar panel. Natural heat & light, solar powered spray.
This time I might listen to you and mineralise the topsoil.

What about an all-in-one fert? Tetra, Seachem & Scape all make them. Some time ago (1992) I tried those green fert sticks you get at the nursery for pot plants, just stuck them in the substrate, worked like magic... no rules say you have to use aquarium ferts.

 

True that... esp since I have not been using aquarium fertz for many many years ;-)

Here is the problem, the roots are not in water all the time, the leaves are wet most of the time. I suspect that the exact type of fertz is not the question but what strength should they be ... and how does one combat deficiency without a way for the plants to tap into a reserve.



All three leaves have pushed since the move into this setup .. at this rate the next leaf will be transparent. So something is missing.

Later Ferdie

 

From the googles: "Chlorosis is a yellowing of leaf tissue due to a lack of chlorophyll. Possible causes of chlorosis include poor drainage, damaged roots, compacted roots, high alkalinity, and nutrient deficiencies in the plant. ... Manganese or zinc deficiencies in the plant will also cause chlorosis."

So you can measure PH and gooi some Mn & Zn

 

Yeah .. now welcome to the problem, Zn is right next to Cu when it comes to toxicity, boron is also a bugger ... and ja gooi is lekker. But google Mulder's Chart then as an example "high nitrogen levels can reduce the availability of boron, potash and copper; high phosphate levels can influence the uptake of iron, calcium potash, copper and zinc; high potash levels can reduce the availability of magnesium. "

So am I seeing a missing fertz or maybe a fertz that is blocking uptake.

Part of the fun right - see if one can solve the puzzle.

Later Ferdie

 

There you go throwing those frisbees again.
As a scientist I prefer the age old reliable method of trial & error.

 

Why must everything always be so difficult..

 

its called life
it would be boring if nothing died or got disease

 

Thanks @Adrian Gatter - yeah been contemplating how best to get Fe to a root system that does not have a substrate that can store the needed ion's .... contemplating a flush and the adding some 13% as a boots.

Later Ferdie

 

Always wanted to ask you if you ever used the iron tablets that we drink

 

Rusty nails. Seriously, it works.
I even noticed growth around bits of wire.

 

hmm .. so maybe let the roots that are we all the time lie on a rusty nail ... that could work.

Well let me think about that a bit more.

Later Ferdie

 

Or fish hooks

 

Don't laugh - I have actually used paperclips to hook some of the others onto the back mesh, maybe overtime that will be enough for them.

Later Ferdie