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Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

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  • #1

    Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

    I have planted 2 tank's following D. W.'s method but now I will switch to T.B.'s way and start adding Excel.  He has a great forum which I'm sure many of you know about.  I'm going to go low tech, slow growth, non-CO2 until I get a CO2 bottle.  I love the emersed growth, rapid cycle idea.  I'm also looking to buy a 75g to experiment with.

    My end goal is a slow growth, low maintenance aquascape.  Minimal effort and upkeep.  I want to spend my time aquascaping and enjoying not doing WC's, testing, measuring and/or dosing.  Is anyone here currently doing this?
    Painting the world with drool and poop since 2007! ~ Papa Greg
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  • #2
    Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

    I haven't tried her method, though I've read about it. I am also a member of The Barr Report forums, and have learned much from Tom and the other folks over there. I seldom post, but read a lot. I'd like to see the progress of your experiment with Diane's method. I've read lots of cons over the years and very few pros.

    Mark
    What are the facts? Again and again and again--what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore devine revelation, forget what "the stars foretell", avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable "verdict of history"--what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your only clue.

    Robert Anson Heinlein

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    • #3
      Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

      I'm actually trying all slow growers at this time for the same reason......"low maintenance aquascape.  Minimal effort and upkeep.  I want to spend my time aquascaping and enjoying not doing WC's, testing, measuring and/or dosing."


      However, I'm having a hard time balancing the ferts. GSA is an on going fight at this time.  But my tank is new and I'm sure I'll work the balance issue out.

      p.s. keeping fast growing plants in the beginning will help you fight off some types of algae.
      I ate my fish that died.

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      • #4
        Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

        Forgot to add that I use tom barr's EI.

        it worked great for my last PT (10g with 72w.....but most of the time 36w was used).
        I ate my fish that died.

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        • #5
          Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

          I scrapped my 29g because I made a fatal mistake with not rinsing the substrate and not stirring up the soil.  That resulted in 2" of silt settling on the top of the gravel that 3 weeks of WC and diatom filtering couldn't help.

          haha.  Now I know better.

          The tank has been drained.  I left the bottom layer of soil with, added 1/2" of shultz aquatic soil (clay pellets) and covered with small/med gravel mix.  I'm going to try again but this time I'm going to try using the emersed grow method mentioned here.

          Oops! We ran into some problems.
          http://www.barrreport.com/articles/3594-dry-start-up-method-planted-aquariums.html?highlight=Glossostigma


          I want to grow a carpet of green.  Looking for some help here.  Marsilea minuta or HC or hair grass.
          Painting the world with drool and poop since 2007! ~ Papa Greg

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          • #6
            Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

            I have read over that method a few times.....depending on what you will end up with as far as lighting/tech/ferts/etc. I would use that to decide which of the three you plan on using.

            Marsilea Minuta is the easies and lowest requirement of the three....HC will look the best......Hairgrass is nice but share similar needs/outcomes as the HC but not as nice as HC.
            700g Mini-Monster tank

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            • #7
              Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

              i have tried a few methods as planted tanks go. i tend to lean towards low tech as much as possible for a few reasons. 1. i dont have tuns of time for waterchanges and ferts, hence why i like plants because they are a natural fliter and keep tank stable. 2. its cheaper, and i dont have endless funds.

              I have tried tanks with just a plant type substrate, like all eco-complete, or all flourite, and had some success, have tried plants in sand alone, with some success. now what i try is a combination. for my heavy planted tank i have potting soil with some flourite mixed in capped in gravel with some more flourite mixed in, and in my other tanks just sand or sometimes sand with some flourite mixed in as well. i have found that the soil and gravel works especially well for Crypts and the like, but they do well in sand as well. light wise i dont do anything crazy, most tanks have plain lights, or some PC lights, and nothing rediculous in watt to gallon ratio just to give you an idea. now my heavy planted tank does have a fermentation co2 system, and i tried that mostly because it had a persiistent case of staghorn alge, and that cleared it up completely. the plants are growing a little faster but not crazy fast. but no more alge is nice. that alone made the co2 worth it to me. but i got it cheap. but i DONT fertilize any tank. I just feed a little heavy. had some plants flower a couple months ago too, now have baby bulbs . the main point i was making is that lots of people have lots of success with different methods and their are many ways to aproach having plants. including what kinds you want and how you want them to grow. but if you wanted low maintnance and less WC, then MM would be a good choice, and then i would stick to basic plants like Crypts, and Vals, and different Ferns and Anubias.
              Never fear I is here
              David Abeles
              Vice President
              Greater Houston Aquarium Club

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              • #8
                Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

                Sounds good.  Got any of those plants.  I would like to gets some MM, fer shure.  I have anubias.
                Painting the world with drool and poop since 2007! ~ Papa Greg

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                • #9
                  Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

                  i am hoping that Nash will bring some MM to the auction, I want it too. all the other plants i have lots of and they will be  at the GHAC auction this weekend.
                  Never fear I is here
                  David Abeles
                  Vice President
                  Greater Houston Aquarium Club

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                  • #10
                    Re: Diane Walstad vs. Tom Barr

                    Looks like I better plan on attending.
                    Painting the world with drool and poop since 2007! ~ Papa Greg

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