View Full Version : plants dying
acidburn470
11-04-2005, 2:47 PM
I have about five plants in my 20 gal and two of them in the back look as though they are going to die they have holes in the leaves, and some of the leaves are turning brown and the other plants are starting to show signs of a similar course just moving slower to it. I was wondering if there was anything Im doing wrong. they are in basic substrate of gravel about an 1.5 inches the light for them is a light specifically for plants and is 10,000k. I have started adding liquid plant food to try to help. any ideas would be appreciated.
ballsmcgee1234
11-04-2005, 4:54 PM
try adding another light or making a CO2 liter. We've had good luck with adding more light. We were actually told from a trusted fish store owner not to buy plant lights, like from petco or stores like that, and to use regular lights. Here's how we made our CO2 things. Link below...We used them for a while, as it seemed to help, but stopped after a couple of months and our plants seem to do fine.
http://www.hallman.org/plant/CO2.html
HarleyK
11-04-2005, 8:24 PM
light specifically for plants and is 10,000k.
Howdy,
That's not a good plant light. By giving a Kelvin temperature I assume you have compact fluorescent? Try the Coralife Freshwater light (somewhere around 6700 K). DO NOT use those purple plant lights. The only plants they're good for are algae...
Although the bad light is already reason enough: What are your water parameters (NO3, pH, PO4, Fe)?
HarleyK
thefishofdoom
11-04-2005, 10:21 PM
list what kinda fish u have with ur plants i have a sword like that buts its because of my plecos
sohfatfish
11-04-2005, 11:56 PM
10000Ks are fine... ive used them for a long time already and theres nothing wrong with my plants.
Yours is probably short of nutrients and trace elements in the substrate and water. How long has the plants been growing in that tank btw, new plants tend to melt as the change from emmerse form to submerse form. Also the water parameters might not be suitable for the plants that you are growing. Check your water parameters and then crossrefer to a plant data base like tropica, eheim or get an aquarium book specifically for plants.
HarleyK
11-05-2005, 1:31 PM
Yours is probably short of nutrients and trace elements in the substrate and water.
psssssssssst : He says "I have started adding liquid plant food" in his post ......
What plants do you have that grow at 10000K ?! Saltwater?!
HarleyK
acidburn470
11-05-2005, 4:08 PM
My tank is totally freshwater, but I was told by the LSF that the best light would be the 10,000k light with a blue and red spectrum.
yourmylunch
11-05-2005, 10:29 PM
how old are the bulbs they might need to be replaced because they lose intensity after 6-10 months
acidburn470
11-05-2005, 11:09 PM
The bulbs are still pretty new less than a month old. What does sohatfish mean by new plants tend to melt? My plants are pretty new they have been in there for maybe a month on the outside.
sohfatfish
11-06-2005, 2:01 AM
psssssssssst : He says "I have started adding liquid plant food" in his post ......
What plants do you have that grow at 10000K ?! Saltwater?!
HarleyK
I think uve gotten mixed up Harley, 10000Ks arent blue at all. They are just bright white, 20000Ks then are really blue for salt water. Ive managed to grow the usual plants like hairgrass, e.tennelus, Cyperus helferi, glosso, Blyxia japonica , some toninas but then again these are relatively easy to keep.
Sry Acidburn i did not read ur post properly about dosing ferts already. Plants are usually cultered in emmersed form and will melt when they change from emmerse to submerse when you place it in the aquarium. They will eventually grow back once they established themselves as submersed form.
HarleyK
11-06-2005, 2:36 PM
I think uve gotten mixed up Harley, 10000Ks arent blue at all.
10,000k light with a blue and red spectrum.
Who's right?!?!?!?!?
But anyhow, let's not discuss the lights anymore. I have great success with 6700 K, if
sohfatfish has no problems with 10000K, then this might not be the problem. (Although I still hold it as a possibility).
BTW: Not all plants die off when they get submerged. This actually mainly applies to Cryptocorynes.
acidburn470, to come to the bottom of your problem: What plant species do/did you have, and what are your water parameters, like pH, Fe, nitrate, phosphate?
Only if we know that, we will be able to help you.
HarleyK
sohfatfish
11-07-2005, 4:16 AM
Lol... yeah plants absorb red and blue colours the most but 10000K look white to me. Well i just bought a new PL light set yesterday and im trying out 6500K lights now. The ballast of the old light set died on me again. (dam those china brands)
acidburn470
11-07-2005, 9:59 AM
All water parameters are fine except for nitrates which are at 40 and slowly going down, and the plants are a amazon sword tail and a broad leaf something that I cant remeber I'll look it up online. The plants were bought at PetCo from the funky tube things which I dont know if that could be a problem. I did that cause I was told it was the best way to avoid getting snails.
HarleyK
11-07-2005, 11:20 AM
All water parameters are fine except for nitrates which are at 40 and slowly going down
Howdy acidburn470,
It's always hard to evaluate values when you say they "are fine".... If you recently measured then, posting the actual values might help us a bit more. Again: pH, iron, phosphates, also hardness (kH, gH). Measure iron before you fertilize and 30 min after. Both values will be of importance. Your levels of nitrates are not the problem for plants dying.
The bulbs are still pretty new less than a month old. What does sohatfish mean by new plants tend to melt? My plants are pretty new they have been in there for maybe a month on the outside.
I just realized this: What was first: The new light or the plants? Looks like the plants were. Did they go downhill since you got a new light? Any observations, any changes that co-incided with the start of the plant decay???
the plants are a amazon sword tail and a broad leaf something that I cant remeber I'll look it up online. The plants were bought at PetCo from the funky tube things which I dont know if that could be a problem. I did that cause I was told it was the best way to avoid getting snails.
I assume you mean Amazon sword plants. Sword tails are fish ;) Anyhow, these are pretty hardy even under marginal light conditions. You're absolutely right that you will prevent snail invasions when you buy the "tube things". But, as sohfatfish said earlier, these were cultivated outside the water and might decay at first when they are submerged. However, it's been a month now, if I understand you correctly. By now, you should see fresh growth! Are there any new leaves??
Bottom line: I need your water chemistry data before I can say anything else. Post it, and we'll be more likely to be able to help. Also: What filtration do you have? Do you use carbon filters? If so: Throw them out, they adsorb plant nutrients! And: What substrate are you using, what fertilizer (brand), and in what intervals do you add it??
Please think thoroughly about my questions and let us know. I am sure We'll get to the bottom of your problem, we just need to know all details.
HarleyK
If you have an undergravel filter that may be preventing your plants from establishing a root system, and then it doesnt matter what your water peramiters are or how hearty the plants are, without roots they wont live very long
HarleyK
11-09-2005, 10:56 AM
If you have an undergravel filter that may be preventing your plants from establishing a root system, and then it doesnt matter what your water peramiters are or how hearty the plants are, without roots they wont live very long
Howdy,
as a matter of fact, I've heard that some undergravels are actually good for plants. I guess it depends on how much substrate you have above the filter. 2-3'' should be enough. I've never had one, though. Anyone with experience?
HarleyK
guppy
11-10-2005, 12:10 PM
I like covering the central front portion of a tank, about 1/2 the tank floor total, that portion I do not plant. Small rounded bottom planters are also great in a ugf tank, I use 2 1/2-3+" of gravel and the planters nestle down into the substate nicely while the rounded bottoms prevent dead spots. They also help keep burrowers from uprooting the plants.
acidburn470
11-15-2005, 7:21 PM
Thx for all the advice I talked to my buddy who also has a planted tank and he looked at them and we used his test kit, and he told me that the plants go through a cycle losing some leafs and regrowing others and since the root system is good were ok.
Thx for all the advice I talked to my buddy who also has a planted tank and he looked at them and we used his test kit, and he told me that the plants go through a cycle losing some leafs and regrowing others and since the root system is good were ok.
That is what sofatfish meant by melting.
MarlboroMan
11-19-2005, 4:26 AM
your lights are good, so its not that. your gravel level might be too low. sometimes i have tanks where the sand/gravel on one side is 7" and the other side is just 2 or 3 inches on a 60 gallon. plants thrive better when their roots are able to stretch.
even a 20 gallon i would keep a minimum of 4" of gravel where the plants are