I'M DONE!!!

[jerppyjerp]

ok. Here's some advise. Get a reading on your water params and then post it. From there maybe we can help you more. Are you using any type of co2 setup?

A co2 kit would help replenish co2 that your plants are using up. The co2 kit will also give them enough co2 to promote plant growth. If you're not using a kit then more than likely your plants are getting carbon from your KH. KH helps stabilize your pH. That basicly means that your pH levels can be all over the place, which isn't only bad for your plants, but for your fish.

Now for substrate I'd suggest adding something like Flora Root enricher to your current substrate. It will help give your plants the nutrients and minerals they need. If you're willing to change the substrate then maybe look at Seachem's Flourite.

As for lighting I'd go with a full spectrum bulb.

That's all the advise I can think of for now. Hopefully you continue working on your tank and find some of this info useful.

And btw - I don't even have a planted tank yet. I'm planning on doing one and learned all the advise I just posted by doing research on it. Once again, not bashing, but it makes life easier if you know what you're getting into before-hand. Good LUCK (hehe. put that in there for Del.) on your tank and let us know if you see any improvement.

ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT!!! See now thats exactly what I was hoping for. I just got my shipment from petsolutions and will check the levels of the tank and get a better light. As for the co2 system...is it ok to buy a system or should I just make one? I honestly havent been in the hobby to long and never took chemestry so dont know to much about the essentials (ph,kh, so forth). Thanks for everything...

 

[MrRngr94]

As for the co2 system...is it ok to buy a system or should I just make one?

Whichever. Depends on how advanced you want it to be and how much you're willing to spend.

 

[HarleyK]

I might as well keep me mouth shut and go to another site!

Consider me a child when it comes to this plant stuff.

Okay. In that case, I suggest you do your homework : Search this forum for the following key words "start planted tank" and "beginner". The threads you will find will be of great help for you in general terms, since many members have been in the same situation before that you are in now.




Now let's troubleshoot your specific situation:

Before you put all the time, effort and $$$ into a planted tank, make sure to work out the problems you had in the past. For some reason, you never followed up on the questions and advice you got in an old thread of yours:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17343

Every time I have tried to keep potted plants for my tank, my fish nip at them and they eventually die.

If you have fish that eat plants, you can throw as many plants, ferts and CO2 as you want at the tank, but the end result will be an unplanted tank.

will check the levels of the tank [...] dont know to much about the essentials (ph,kh, so forth).

Great to read that you are getting involved. For most plants you want to know the nitrate, phosphate, iron levels and pH. For your fish, you need to know nitrite, ammonia, kH, gH on top of that.

CO2 is not essential for the plants I listed in my above post. You may be best off spending your money on new beginner plants, lights and ferts than on CO2. Once you have a stable system and sustained plant growth, you can always upgrade to needier plants and higher tech.

Once we have more details on your tank, we will be able to help. Among these details, we need the following:

• tank dimensions
• fish species (scientific names or pics)
• plant species (scientific names or pics)
• invertebrate species, e.g. crawfish, snails (scientific names or pics)
• water chemistry (see above)
• temperature
• lights (wattage, type, age)
• lighting period (hours/day)
• substrate (type, depth, ferts)
• recent use of medication/ferts
• water current (filtration/power heads)

HarleyK