HELP!! Plants are dying!!!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Post a pic of your lighting fixture -- I'm curious as to why it could be using bulbs of differing wattages.

If you are serious about growing plants, you may want to think about changing out your substrate. You could go with flourite, eco-complete, ada aquasoil, 3m colorquartz, or even pool filter sand. Any old beach sand might not be ideal for an aquarium, especially a fresh water tank.

You will likely need more than 34 watts on a 40 gallon tank, depending on the tank depth that may not be enough for even low light plants. Perhaps you could look in the classifieds for someone selling a fixture (in the range of 40 to 80 watts unless you want to start using CO2 for higher wattages) which will fit over your tank (also check the aquaria central classifieds).
 
kal123456;3340454; said:
In my 10 gallon tank, the lamp is of the same brand but less power.(wattage-14)

In my 40 gallon tank i have two light bulbs. one of them is 20, and the other is 14 watts. I still think the light is a little bit dim. I wish i could take a pic, but i don't know how to post one. Please help!!!
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you need more light. http://www.fishneedit.com/t5ho-ligh.html
nugpuffer;3340593; said:
If you are serious about growing plants, you may want to think about changing out your substrate. You could go with flourite, eco-complete, ada aquasoil, 3m colorquartz, or even pool filter sand. Any old beach sand might not be ideal for an aquarium, especially a fresh water tank.
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if its clean now there is nothing wrong with sand in the tank. i would have been more worried about the sand killing the fish off then anything.
 
as suspected, your lighting is pretty low . . . even by the old watts-per-gallon rule, your 10G tank was better lit (1.4WPG) than your 40G is now (only .85WPG) . . . you should consider at least doubling your wattage; on my tanks, I'm running about 3x what you're using (note: I don't use CO2)

also, one bulb being 20W and one being 14W sounds really odd

one more comment on sand: if it is large-grain sand, then maybe you can use it for plants, but it is also inert, i.e., it has no valuable properties for plants, such as iron (which you would get using the for-plant substrates, like Eco-Complete or Flourite) . . . so, if you want to keep using sand, I recommend you mix in some laterite and/or root tabs to provide some plant nutrients
 
hmm, that's a good idea. about mixing laterite. i should try some.

i'll try to post a pic of my aquarium and plants by tommorrow...if i have time.

Can i add fertilizer to the sand if i don't have a filter? or it will mess my water up?


also, about one bulb being 20W and the other 14W, that's because i have 2 lamp fixtures(different ones).

Thanks for helping out!!!:)
 
you can add laterite w/o having the filter; just make sure to rinse it first and add it very slowly, mixing it into the sand a handful or so at a time . . . the basic rule for laterite is you need about 1oz per gallon, so you'd need 40oz . . . it's pretty easy to find, places like PetSmart or Petco usually have it . . . it's a little bit "old-school", but that doesn't mean it's not good . . .

I know you say your filter is coming, but do you have nothing you could run on this tank in the meantime? how 'bout just a cheapo HOB filter from the LFS? I never like to leave the water unfiltered for too long . . .
 
Good news!! My filter is coming tomorrow!! so I think i will wait until it comes instead of buying another one. and yup, i'm gonna get some laterite today !! :)


Thanks for helping out !!!!!!:)
 
Hurray!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)
my filter came today!!

I already installed it, and put some fertilizer for the plants. I will add the CO2 a little bit later; first i want to see how the plants do!

thanks guys!! :)
 
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