Anubias

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H

HugeGhost

Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 28, 2006
375
4
48
California
Ok seems my Java ferns and moss are all brown. This tank is under a window 100 gallon and gets 2 10,000k lighting!
I have the Anubias close to 250 bucks worth on one corner of the tank all sitting there held down by a piece of driftwood. It gets 4 hours of sun a day and now i am going to give only 10 hours a day of artificial lights. What else can i do i am scared with my luck these plants will die. Should i just start added nutrients i will do anything to save them i am so upset the java ferns and moss cost me a fortune and they are all brown and rotting away my water messing the whole tank up. I am thinking about taking everything out of tank and doing a cleaning since the filetrs are always clogged any advice for this importnant tank that house small Payaras
 
From what I understand, Anubius are pretty industructable. I'd wait for WyldFya to reply though. I have a couple of them myself.
 
How many watts are you using and how far from the plants are your lights?

Are the actual plants turning brown or is there brown algea growing on them?
 
The above questions are good ones. Watt per gallon is important, because while the plants are a low light variety, they still need at least 1 wpg. Sounds like it is pretty densly planted, check the nitrate levels, as well as if you have a phosphate test kit. Do you have a bubbler in the tank, or surface agitation? Brown leaves are a sign of either, nutrient deficiency (including carbon dioxide), or lack of lighting, if you have them getting around 1 or more wpg, then it is a lack of nutrient. Seachem flourish products are decent, but not a good staple as they cost WAY to much. Try www.gregwatson.com, and get either the PMDD mix, or if you want more control over what nutrients are going in, try the CSM+B monopotassium phosphate and potassium nitrate. If you don't have a plant substrate, you may also look at a chelated iron.
 
I don't know about anyone else but I have learned that my anubias and java ferns don't like aquarium salt. If you add that. That could be a factor. However I know that java moss will grow in it.
 
Another thought. Test nitrates. If at zero and you have a heavily planted tank most likely not enough nitrogen which is 1 of 3 main things all plants need to survive. My planted tank has alot of fish in it and they still don't provide enough nitrates for my plants. They started browning and I got nitrogen and they greened up again. Also Potassium is key and Iron.
 
There is much more than just nitrogen, potassium and iron. There is also phosphate, magnesium, macro and micro nutrients. CO2 really boosts the use of lighting and ferts.
 
Anubias and java fern only need a couple of things. The 3 main ingredients in fertilizer is nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium. Look at a bag and study it. Those plants will grow with just that. Iron is good because it helps plants green up. Only if you are keeping more expert plants will you need other macro and micro nutrients as well as co2 injection. Co2 from fish is plenty for those plants.
 
It depends on what you want. You won't have deep dark greens on your anubias without the macro at least. Growth and color are greatly affected by co2, as well as lighting. Yes they will grow, yes they will survive, but they really don't thrive until you give them everything they want. Who cares if he is a kid or 80, I started with plants nearly 10 years ago, and I have known several that have started as early as 12. Age in this hobby isn't really an issue, it is experience. When I first started keeping anubias they were under basic lighting (T8s), and had nothing but fish waste. Then I started using basic ferts, and they grew a little more, but color wasn't really affected. Once I moved to Greg watsons ferts where I had more control, the color became more vibrant, and once I got up to pressurized CO2, the growth was far faster. I frag my anubias at least once a month into several 3" sections. I am putting recommendations out that will further the growth, not just survival.
 
I am thinking the tank is just too heavily planted. If i take out the anubias and put it in my 135 in a corner and direct a small t5 light 10 hours a day will it stay alive and maybe even grow.

This tank by the window that gets 12 hours a day of strong light is burning my plants up and robing my water i think.
 
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