[dougz]

Great, thanks, Pat!

I've read the one by Walstead..

Frankly I was left with more questions than answers..

SOIL as a substrate? Bi-ANNUAL water changes? No vacuming of the substrate? No C02 injection required? Go crazy on the fish food? The more direct sunlight the better?? No need for liquid or tab ferts?

I mean, it all sounds good..

The soil already has the bacteria necessary to sustain fish from the get-go, and the other micro nutrients such as iron for the plants..

The breaking-down of the fish food and the soil provide the C02 and nutrients for the plants..

But it flies in the face of everything I've been reading about so far..

She does say that there are problems inherent in using soil, but she says they are temporary, and can be gotten around.. But she doesn't elaborate..
I've since learned that the nutrients in the soil make for an EXTREME risk of crippling algae blooms, unless your tank is like 75% plant!

Thanks, but I'll stick with my high tech tank..


The Teapoot one was a bit of a disappointment as well..

I was a little disappointed with this one..

I was a bit baffled by the German and French translations.. Could they not justify separate printings for those other languages?

And the photos are excellent, but frankly I thought the Hiscock encyclopedia did a better job of describing stuff like optimal growing conditions, maximum plant heights, etc..


Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock

This one is awesome!!!