OK, so here's a difference between "High Tech" (which I too would define as using CO2 supplementation, and shifting the limiting factors on plant growth) and "Low Tech". The Low Tech setups FORCE you to learn patience (or pull all your hair out in frustration), LOL! The biggest thing I've found is the time it takes for a plant to become "established". For this reason, I no longer put emersed grown plants directly in an el natural tank - the transition time is fraught with algae problems, and can affect the rest of the tank in a very adverse way. I have a small transition tank in the basement under my plant lights. There, the plants will undergo their transition (in a Walstad mini setup) with a team of snails and a few shrimp to keep the dying emergent leaves cleaned up, and the algae at bay. I really think a lot of my problems could be traced back to the transition period - it just seemed to upset the proverbial apple cart of my el natural setups far too much.
Whew, more than my 2ยข worth.
-Jane |