I've tried castings in the past as their composition seems ideal for planted aquariums. However, the result was less than impressive.
Why would they be any better than good old peat?
Why would they be any better than good old peat?
Well, ya use what ya gots... the above technique was developed in Brazil I think, I could image a lack of peat bogs locally would make castings an attractive alternative. Good job on the translation whoever did that, the original babbelfish-translated email I saw a few months ago was downright funnyArt_Giacosa said:I've tried castings in the past as their composition seems ideal for planted aquariums. However, the result was less than impressive.
Why would they be any better than good old peat?
Well its not dead... I wouldn't call it completely healthy - the tank would seriously benefit from some water column ferts. The idea here is that in a very high light tank, iron is screwy and every little bit you can do to help is good... I'm not so sure the castings are providing the nutrients directly, what I think is going on is that the organic matter lowers the redox potential in the substrate, mobilizing the iron from a clay such as laterite... I say this because I don't think it really matters whether you use worm castings or not, peat, mulm, lignite, all that stuff should be just fine...Raul-7 said:Enrinco's tank uses this mix, doesn't liquid fertilize, and his E.stellata is still pinkish!
Algae requires MUCH MUCH MUCH less nutrients than plants. The leaching of nutrients is enough to sustain an algae population. In fact, even if there's no leaching, the mere presence of fish and decaying matter in the tank is enough to feed algae. While we don't know exactly why a properly maintained tank does not foster algae, we do know that limiting macronutrients isn't one of them.Plus limiting NPK to the substrate limits algae...
That's interesting, Bob. Ever since I've been adding more iron, I've been noticing a decrease in algae.About the only element I've added, in appropriate/reasonable amounts mind you, to the water column which has noticeably increased algae growth is iron.