THIRD STEP – DRY START METHODE AND FILLING THE TANK
Products Used:
SCUDO, LINFA A & B, BACTERYA, NUTROBACT, BIO-ALGANEX, FLORIDO C7.
Plants Used:
– Alternanthera reineckii ‘Mini’
– Bucephalandra sp. ‘Red’
– Cryptocoryne parva
– Eleocharis sp.’Minima
– Leptodictyum riparium (stringy moss)
– Anubias barteri var. nana ‘Mini’
– Anubias barteri var. nana ‘Mini Mini’
– Vesicularia dubyana
Tank:
Shallow Tank 90x45x27 cm
Ceiling light:
GNC Heaven LED
Dry Start Methode ‘DSM’:
After the planting phase the tank began its maturation period, in particular I opted for the 30-day Dry Start Methode, let’s see together what this biosystem start-up procedure entails in detail:
– Nebulisation of the tank by means of an ultrasonic nebuliser inserted in the tank and operated by a timer to ensure a medium humidity level;
– Covering the tank with kitchen foil, suitably perforated to ensure constant internal humidity but also minimum air exchange, which is essential to avoid dangerous mould and fungal attacks;
– In this way we also allow the CO2 present in the atmosphere to be continually exchanged within the tank to ensure optimum photosynthetic activity of the plants;
– Maintain a constant water level (derived from reverse osmosis) in the substrate, replenished with Scudo, Linfa A & B and Bio Extra (bacterial floral activator and anti-algae) to promote biological activation of the biosystem;
– Constant 8-hour photoperiod from the first day of DSM;
The main advantages of activating a tank using the DSM procedure are as follows:
– Fast development and anchoring of mosses on wood and furniture;
– Faster plant rooting, as they do not have to change leaf morphology and do not suffer transplant stress;
During the DSM procedure, the tank must be constantly monitored, as the main risks are the occurrence of moulds and fungal attacks, which would compromise the balance of the biosystem and the success of the start phase.
Below are photos of the Dry Start Methode, note the exponential growth of the plants driven by the rich substrate (VIGOR PLUS and Terra Nera) and the perfect anchorage of the mosses on the wood:
Filling the tank:
Net litres filled: 90lt water derived from reverse osmosis
Products inserted in Water and Dosage:
– LINFA A &B: to remineralise water to GH 8° dGH and KH 4° Dkh;
– SCUDO: 20 ml in 90 litres net;
– BACTERYA: 2 ampoules for tank activation;
– BIO-ALGANEX: 2 ampoules for tank activation;
– NUTROBACT: 1 vial of nutrient support for new bacteria;
– FLORIDO C7: Organic carbon supplementation, two dispenser pressures;
– Constant CO2 supply H24 from the moment the tank is filled;
– 8-hour photoperiod;
– Activation of the filter, filled with STILLA for the biological filtration part and simple perlon wool for mechanical filtration.
Below are photos of the tank as soon as it was filled, and the moment when I inserted the products for activating and remineralising the water:
Part 4 coming soon, Roberto Bielli
