Dry Start Method - APE - Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts

*Nuggs* · 04-02-2009, 01:19 PM

Hi everyone

Has anyone tried the "Dry Start Method" Tom Barr mentions on his forum? Basically it takes 4-6 weeks of growing in your foreground plants before you fill the tank. What one would need is preferably ADA substrate, minimal plants (like HC, gloss, maybe lobelia), normal photoperiod of high light, and a little bit of water. Please share with me your experience or knowledge of this method. Thanks so much!

Warmest regards,
*Nuggs*

AquaZilla · 04-02-2009, 07:55 PM

Ive done something similar to this with various other plants like crypts and glosso. I really don't see any reason to start with a method like this. Im not sure what one gains from this method besides getting to watch a carpet of plants grow that may or may not survive when filled in.
If you do start a tank like this I recommend you change most of the water after you refill the tank to remove all the muck water that was sitting on the bottom for weeks festering.
Change the water daily for a few days in a row and you should be fine.
Ive seen folks with good results and folks with total melt down upon filling. Im sure they did not think of changing the water afterwords

I think carpet plants are best settled when rooted under water

Thats just my opinion

-O

*Nuggs* · 04-02-2009, 08:09 PM

Thanks O... you never fail to help me out .

I looked online today after I posted this question and found very different views depending on the forum. I saw some complete melts as you have and then some successes. I also saw some tempers shared! With my size tank, I think I will go the normal route and save the DSM for a much smaller tank lol. ADA Amazonia Soil is just too expensive to "test" with in a large tank!

Thanks again,

*Nuggs*

AquaZilla · 04-02-2009, 08:16 PM

Good stuff

I always look forward to your post!

-O

*Nuggs* · 04-03-2009, 09:47 AM

Shanks! lol Ooooo, did you see that butterfly??? lol

billb1 · 09-17-2009, 11:26 PM

Very old thread - sorry for re-aminating it, but wanted to add my 2 cents.

I did a dry start on a 90 gallon. The plants:
HC
A. barteri "nana"
H. corymbosum "compact"
E. montevidensis

Substrate was Aquasoil Amazonia type 1

I was fortunate and had good luck. Two things were particularly helpful. First, the HC was well rooted and did great after it was submerged. Second, this was a completely new tank and had new filters. The 3 week dry start with Aqua soil helped kick start my cycling period as the Aquasoil contributed NH4 to help establish the bacteria. I did not have a problem with stagnant water after filling.

I would do it again if I had a large area to be filled with HC, but out side of that, it may not offer much benefit in my opinion.

Bill

AquaZilla · 09-17-2009, 11:29 PM

Thats good info...

What would you say are the advantages of dry starting a planted tank?

Markykoi · 06-21-2010, 08:17 PM

I have done this dry setup before on my nano tank.

I was using riversand over mineralized soil as substrate. My tank was 9gal and used 24W GE CFL Daylight. Photoperiod of 8 hours. Misting it everyday with tap water. Plant: Hemianthus callitrichoides (HC)

Covered 3/4 of the tank with glass to maintain humidity.

Advantages, I think conservation of water, no waterchanges.
No fertilizer dosing.

Disadvantage, on my experience, it was slow growth on the HC, I am not sure with other plants. And when flooded, HC goes on a transition, leaves will shrink.
It will go pale green, and when not trimmed correctly, it will float.

04-02-2009, 01:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nuggs Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Davidson, NC Posts: 73	Dry Start Method Hi everyone Has anyone tried the "Dry Start Method" Tom Barr mentions on his forum? Basically it takes 4-6 weeks of growing in your foreground plants before you fill the tank. What one would need is preferably ADA substrate, minimal plants (like HC, gloss, maybe lobelia), normal photoperiod of high light, and a little bit of water. Please share with me your experience or knowledge of this method. Thanks so much! Warmest regards, Nuggs

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04-02-2009, 07:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	Ive done something similar to this with various other plants like crypts and glosso. I really don't see any reason to start with a method like this. Im not sure what one gains from this method besides getting to watch a carpet of plants grow that may or may not survive when filled in. If you do start a tank like this I recommend you change most of the water after you refill the tank to remove all the muck water that was sitting on the bottom for weeks festering. Change the water daily for a few days in a row and you should be fine. Ive seen folks with good results and folks with total melt down upon filling. Im sure they did not think of changing the water afterwords I think carpet plants are best settled when rooted under water Thats just my opinion -O

04-02-2009, 08:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nuggs Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Davidson, NC Posts: 73	Thanks O... you never fail to help me out . I looked online today after I posted this question and found very different views depending on the forum. I saw some complete melts as you have and then some successes. I also saw some tempers shared! With my size tank, I think I will go the normal route and save the DSM for a much smaller tank lol. ADA Amazonia Soil is just too expensive to "test" with in a large tank! Thanks again, Nuggs

04-02-2009, 08:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	Good stuff I always look forward to your post! -O

04-03-2009, 09:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Nuggs Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Davidson, NC Posts: 73	Shanks! lol Ooooo, did you see that butterfly??? lol

09-17-2009, 11:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
billb1 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 7	Very old thread - sorry for re-aminating it, but wanted to add my 2 cents. I did a dry start on a 90 gallon. The plants: HC A. barteri "nana" H. corymbosum "compact" E. montevidensis Substrate was Aquasoil Amazonia type 1 I was fortunate and had good luck. Two things were particularly helpful. First, the HC was well rooted and did great after it was submerged. Second, this was a completely new tank and had new filters. The 3 week dry start with Aqua soil helped kick start my cycling period as the Aquasoil contributed NH4 to help establish the bacteria. I did not have a problem with stagnant water after filling. I would do it again if I had a large area to be filled with HC, but out side of that, it may not offer much benefit in my opinion. Bill

09-17-2009, 11:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,736	Thats good info... What would you say are the advantages of dry starting a planted tank?

06-21-2010, 08:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
Markykoi Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Philippines Posts: 27	I have done this dry setup before on my nano tank. I was using riversand over mineralized soil as substrate. My tank was 9gal and used 24W GE CFL Daylight. Photoperiod of 8 hours. Misting it everyday with tap water. Plant: Hemianthus callitrichoides (HC) Covered 3/4 of the tank with glass to maintain humidity. Advantages, I think conservation of water, no waterchanges. No fertilizer dosing. Disadvantage, on my experience, it was slow growth on the HC, I am not sure with other plants. And when flooded, HC goes on a transition, leaves will shrink. It will go pale green, and when not trimmed correctly, it will float.