windyzz Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 So.. i've been doing these type of research on how effective do plants absorb ammonia or nitrate. However, due to the unreliable variety source of informations on the net I got confused. Some says that plants only absorbs nitrates, whilst others says ammonia and nitrates. If aquatic plants only absorbs nitrates, then wouldn't it be useless to plant tank that are not cycled, especially like betta jars?? I have a 2x 1.5 gallon container each housed with a female betta, with no filter but placed with huge clump of java moss and one fern each. So what do u guys think? erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 According to some experiments carried out by Diane Walstead (author of Ecology of the Planted Aquarium** and all-round plant guru), plants choose ammonia first, nitrite second and nitrate last. It is contrary to a lot of information out there, but when you look at how incredibly low or non-existant the ammonia and nitrite spikes are in cycling planted tanks, I tend to think that she's got the right idea. They will use all three, but as it becomes more processed it takes longer for the plants to get at it. Stem plants or 'bunched' plants tend to be better at using nitrogenous waste than slower growing plants, but they all gotta eat. Do you have lighting on the bowls? The more things the plant has to help it thrive, the more it should require in the way of food. If you have light, consider hornwort, it is fantastic for sucking up nutrients Are you trying to cycle the containers or just keep them more stable in between doing changes? **I think that was the title. White book, picture of a soil base tank on the cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windyzz Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Unfortunately, my nearby LFS don't have hornworts ><. I regularly changed the water in my 5.6 litre tank (1.5 gallon) about once a week. Not planning to cycle them though, as they have no filter and no substrate, but i do have a cycle 2 x 9.5 litre tank and a 13 litre tank (all planted). Thx for the info, i was just confused at most of the information sources from the net T_T. At least i'm relieved that the moss and ferns are keeping ammonia suppressed in those 5.6 liters. Btw, i currently have no lighting for my 5.6 liters tank except my room light, do u think these mosses and ferns can die? thx again :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Elflett Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Moss will survive in *no* light - but it won't grow much... you want it to grow, or it won't use nitrogen... Numerous sources verify Callatya's information on 'which' nitrogen plants absorb first, but slow growing plants absorb less than fast growing plants - think of it this way, when you need to trim overgrowth out of your tank, every bit you throw out is nitrogen removed from your water column... I throw out a good, solid handful of nitrogen from my 60L planted tank every week... Even with lights, plants still need trace elements, and a carbon source,to utilise those nitrogen sources... give them what they need, and they'll work hard for you in keeping your tank healthy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windyzz Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 ohh ok cool.. thx for the info. Do u have any advice on the optimum growth of my moss in the 5.6 litre tank?. I really cannot afford another filter at the moment >< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Elflett Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 Optimal growth... hmmmmm... *some* light, not a lot, but some light to generate growth - even a 5w compact fluoro in a desk lamp/clip on housing for a few hours a day would help it grow a lot - less than $10 at a discount store... Use a good multi purpose aquatic fertiliser, like Tetra's Florapride, daily or once per week (different dosage, depends on how often you're doing water changes, too) $8 a bottle, will last years on a 5.6L tank... Seachem Excel will help growth, but will cost you more than a $10 filter, so I guess that's out... As long as there is a little light, and a nitrogen source, it will grow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windyzz Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 koool thanks for the advice!! I might get myself those multi purpose aquatic fertilizer tomorrow. heheh.. i really need those mosses to grow, so i can buy more fishieeesss xD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celeste84 Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 try getting those fertilizer tablets, you can get specific types for speeding up plant growth i think there are seachem, sera and red sea brands? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windyzz Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 kool thx for the infos i;ll be doing alot of shopping in my LFS tomorrow i guess cheerz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Elflett Posted August 24, 2007 Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 And API - but they're all more expensive than a little filter... The manutec tabs I mentioned in the post about plant tabs do work well on Java Moss, too... not too harsh for it, keeping a steady supply of trace elements... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windyzz Posted August 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2007 so i guess those multi-purpose aquatic fertilizers are just the right ones for java moss. + i could also use it to my 10 litre cycled tank as well, just to boost my other plant growths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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