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Bruce Hallman 
wrote:
: Jim, thanks for your post, I have four questions:
The problem with Red Algae
1) You mention problems with algae, and explain in depth how to deal with: filamentous algae. You mention red algae, but do not elaborate. Is red: algae a problem with which you have experience, or have heard about?Yes, I have had problems with the red algae which is called "Staghorn" algae. It seems to grow only on plants that are not doing well. Every time it appears, the growing tip has slowed its growth noticeably (in stem plants). Once a leaf is badly infected you just have to remove it. Previously I have found that iron deficiency was the cause of the lag in growth, but I am not sure that this is the general cause. Learning how to prevent algae is an ongoing project for me (and everyone).
The Nitrate Test Kit.
2) You recommend the use of a low range nitrate test kit. Which brand of : nitrate test kit do you use, and do you like it?I have a Wardley's dry tab test kit which I bought because it was cheap and I don't necessarily recommend it. The lowest scale mark is 10 ppm but you can see when it is between 10 and 0, so really it's good enough.
Soil recipe, ratio of soil to vermiculite.
3) You explain that the exact ratio of vermiculite to loam is not : critical, but roughly what ratio (by volume) do you use?The indications given in the text are the best I could remember. I really just did it by eye. Next time I will measure more precisely. The best I could guess is 1/4-1/2 gallon loam to 1-2 gallons vermiculite.
Water hardness in Davis, CA.
4) You describe the "hardness" of your tap water: are you talking general : hardness or carbonate hardness? I know you said that it isn't important, : but I am curious about the GH and KH values of your tap water.The values I quoted were from our city water which the analysis said was due to calcium carbonate. I am now using campus water which comes from a different aquifer and is softer: 150 ppm on my Aquarium Pharm. general hardness test kit, but I don't have an equivalent analysis to the city water. I really wouldn't worry about the hardness if you're adding CO2 unless the water is very soft (<50 ppm?).
Jim.
To Bruce Hallman's plant page.