plant questions

[Fishbert]

i assume this is the right spot for a thread like this.. i usually get my plants from petsmart. they're cheap and real close to my house but everytime i do i get the one in the little tubes grown in the gel because if its not them, its fake bamboo covered in snails. anyway, they always die. granted they don't last buried in the substrate for too long because of the crayfish i have but even just floating around on top they always end up decaying and dying before they even begin to grow out. does every kind of plant like that need to lose its above water leaves before it grows it underwater foliage? is there any sure way to speed that up or do i just have terrible luck with real plants?

Thanks guys!

 

[z400]

Details Details Details


Lighting?
Using any fertilizers?
Root Tabs?
Dosing any CO2?
What type of substrate?

 

[Fishbert]

pool filter sand, nothing but water an im running two 36" natural daylight bulbs made by marineland.. im not sure of the wattage, they came with the tank but it lights up pretty good

 

[z400]

What size tank, dimensions and how many gallons does it hold?


Your substrate isnt too great by it self. Actually, it sucks for plants. Your going to need root tabs and depending on what plants your trying to grow, fertilizers also.

 

[bbortko]

Most of the plants I've seen at PETsMART will do just fine with root tabs and 8-10 hours of average light. Try keeping the plants a few weeks after the loose their leaves, a lot of plants will "melt" when you put them in a new tank but come back after a couple of weeks.

 

[rolandk10]

I don't know if those are the same plants Petco sells but they come in the tubes with gel. One thing I found out recently is that not all of those are true aquatic plants even though they're sold like they are. I know the two species I bought (kyoto grass and white ribbon) are bog plants and will die in a matter of weeks if planted underwater. Some of those tube plants are really aquatic. Which species are you planting?

 

[Fishbert]

the tanks a 125, 6' long and i think 21" high if that sounds right. right now i have 3 amazon swords.. two are still in the substrate, one floating around but the one floating is getting better roots so there is hope for that one at least. ill try some fertilizer regardless and some root tabs in the sand once they get established.. i want to partition off a section that the crayfish cant get too for just fish and plants without using a divider for the whole tank but i think thats going to be tough for me to do.

 

[Pomatomus]

You might want to try some plants that don't need to be in the substrate. Also, I'm assuming your lights are simple T8 fluorescent tubes? That's not a ton of light, but is suitable for many plants.

I would recommend java fern and anubias. There is a VERY good chance that you are buying plants that are not truly aquatic, but live on the banks of marshes. I shop at the place Petsmart/Petco get their fish stuff from, and almost half aren't true aquatics.

 

[z400]

The tank is 6ft long and you have 2 36w T8 or T12 bulbs on it..


Lol im sorry man, but thats not going to grow you too many plants.
Those 2 light bulbs might grow you different types of Algea, java ferns and maybe moss. But dont expect too much more from them.
You came here for help and im trying to make suggestions.

Check out my tank, i know what it takes to grow plants decently.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b265/ride_wake_210/90%20gallon/001-9.jpg

Thats a pretty gosh darn old picture. I need to upload a few recent pictures.

 

[rpow]

that is a pretty nice tank z.

your only real chance of growing anything in your tank is something like java moss, that stuff even grows like wildfire in a jug in the dark side of my kitchen, it'll surely grow in your tank. Just tie it to a piece of rock or driftwood that's not touching your substrate, it's a horror trying to maintain it then lmao.