hahaha no the vals are there to stay. I am more worried about my stargrass and this bloody weed called Hygrophila Polysperma "ceylon" lol! The Hygro started out as a tiny tiny tiny little piece of plant, and ever since I hooked the CO2 and started fertilizing again it has grown these bloody 3-4" long thin red leaves and is growing so tall! I have already cut the Hygro in half and it needs it again. And the stargrass I know how it grows, but the bottoms die off, so they may very well be the plant to get tossed. I like its looks a lot but if I have to keep uprooting it each time to trim it and remove the dead bottoms then forget it
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As an update... I love my mineralized soil. So far my vals are sending out roots like mad and they have the healthiest and greenest leaves I have ever seen them have, and my hairgrass is *already* starting to send out new runners and carpet. After seeing these results I doubt there is any way I am going back to pure flourite or ecocomplete or anything. Soil and a gravel top is all you need
. Based on my limited observations thus far, anyways
EDIT: I forgot to mention that my rotala is starting to grow properly again, nice rosy colour with dense bushy growth
.