Planted 90 gallon piranha amazon

[dcp5082]

I installed a t5ho 48" fixture from fishneedit.com about 3 weeks ago. it has a white bulb 6700k and a pink bulb which is apparently good for growth. I dose brightwell aquatics iron, and API root tabs. I see tons of growth with new leaves and stuff but no vertical growth which is what I want. Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong?

 

[JamesF]

What kind of plants are they?

 

[dcp5082]

amazon sword, java fern, dwarf and regular subulata, Cryptocoryne Wendtii, Hydrocotyle leucocephala

 

[dcp5082]

ph 7.1

ammonia 0 ppm

nitrite 0 ppm

nitrate 5 ppm

 

[JamesF]

3 weeks isn't all that long to expect a big change in growth. Some of those plants aren't exactly vertical growers either (java fern, hydrocotyle). Crypt wendti can take months to start to grow large, sometimes even years.
What are the dwarf and regular subulata?

 

[dcp5082]

ive seen java ferns more than a foot tall. and amazon swords i know can reach up to 24" or even taller.

dwarf subulata is also known as saggitaria, this

 

[kwells]

How big is your tank? It's possible that too much light could cause the plants to stay low. I agree with JamesF that 3 weeks isn't long enough to expect rapid vertical growth. The sword will probably be the first to start exploding, though. Trim off any old leaves and it should practically erupt.

 

[limz_777]

are you using co2?

 

[JamesF]

Amazon swords can easily hit 4' if you let them grow out of the tank.
Java fern can get huge, but don't expect for a couple of years.
I've rever heard of sggiteria being called subulata before. That's its latin name not common name. It can also reach 24" under good lighting, but don't expect it soon either. Usually 6 months to a year after planting.

 

[dcp5082]

How big is your tank? It's possible that too much light could cause the plants to stay low. I agree with JamesF that 3 weeks isn't long enough to expect rapid vertical growth. The sword will probably be the first to start exploding, though. Trim off any old leaves and it should practically erupt.

like the title says its a 90 gallon aquarium. I use 50% solution of metricide 28. 8ml saggitaria subulata is the name ive seen planted experts use. in common terns, just tropical grass basically. and im not expecting tremendous vertical growth, anything would do... they haven't increased in height at all, there are 6+ new leaves per plant at least, all green and healthy, just short and spread out.