plants dying

[HarleyK]

I think uve gotten mixed up Harley, 10000Ks arent blue at all.

10,000k light with a blue and red spectrum.

Who's right?!?!?!?!?

But anyhow, let's not discuss the lights anymore. I have great success with 6700 K, if
sohfatfish has no problems with 10000K, then this might not be the problem. (Although I still hold it as a possibility).

BTW: Not all plants die off when they get submerged. This actually mainly applies to Cryptocorynes.

acidburn470, to come to the bottom of your problem: What plant species do/did you have, and what are your water parameters, like pH, Fe, nitrate, phosphate?

Only if we know that, we will be able to help you.

HarleyK

 

[sohfatfish]

Lol... yeah plants absorb red and blue colours the most but 10000K look white to me. Well i just bought a new PL light set yesterday and im trying out 6500K lights now. The ballast of the old light set died on me again. (dam those china brands)

 

[acidburn470]

All water parameters are fine except for nitrates which are at 40 and slowly going down, and the plants are a amazon sword tail and a broad leaf something that I cant remeber I'll look it up online. The plants were bought at PetCo from the funky tube things which I dont know if that could be a problem. I did that cause I was told it was the best way to avoid getting snails.

 

[HarleyK]

All water parameters are fine except for nitrates which are at 40 and slowly going down

Howdy acidburn470,

It's always hard to evaluate values when you say they "are fine".... If you recently measured then, posting the actual values might help us a bit more. Again: pH, iron, phosphates, also hardness (kH, gH). Measure iron before you fertilize and 30 min after. Both values will be of importance. Your levels of nitrates are not the problem for plants dying.

The bulbs are still pretty new less than a month old. What does sohatfish mean by new plants tend to melt? My plants are pretty new they have been in there for maybe a month on the outside.

I just realized this: What was first: The new light or the plants? Looks like the plants were. Did they go downhill since you got a new light? Any observations, any changes that co-incided with the start of the plant decay???

the plants are a amazon sword tail and a broad leaf something that I cant remeber I'll look it up online. The plants were bought at PetCo from the funky tube things which I dont know if that could be a problem. I did that cause I was told it was the best way to avoid getting snails.

I assume you mean Amazon sword plants. Sword tails are fish Anyhow, these are pretty hardy even under marginal light conditions. You're absolutely right that you will prevent snail invasions when you buy the "tube things". But, as sohfatfish said earlier, these were cultivated outside the water and might decay at first when they are submerged. However, it's been a month now, if I understand you correctly. By now, you should see fresh growth! Are there any new leaves??


Bottom line: I need your water chemistry data before I can say anything else. Post it, and we'll be more likely to be able to help. Also: What filtration do you have? Do you use carbon filters? If so: Throw them out, they adsorb plant nutrients! And: What substrate are you using, what fertilizer (brand), and in what intervals do you add it??

Please think thoroughly about my questions and let us know. I am sure We'll get to the bottom of your problem, we just need to know all details.

HarleyK

 

[Gooda]

If you have an undergravel filter that may be preventing your plants from establishing a root system, and then it doesnt matter what your water peramiters are or how hearty the plants are, without roots they wont live very long

 

[HarleyK]

If you have an undergravel filter that may be preventing your plants from establishing a root system, and then it doesnt matter what your water peramiters are or how hearty the plants are, without roots they wont live very long

Howdy,

as a matter of fact, I've heard that some undergravels are actually good for plants. I guess it depends on how much substrate you have above the filter. 2-3'' should be enough. I've never had one, though. Anyone with experience?

HarleyK

 

[guppy]

I like covering the central front portion of a tank, about 1/2 the tank floor total, that portion I do not plant. Small rounded bottom planters are also great in a ugf tank, I use 2 1/2-3+" of gravel and the planters nestle down into the substate nicely while the rounded bottoms prevent dead spots. They also help keep burrowers from uprooting the plants.

 

[acidburn470]

Thx for all the advice I talked to my buddy who also has a planted tank and he looked at them and we used his test kit, and he told me that the plants go through a cycle losing some leafs and regrowing others and since the root system is good were ok.

 

[guppy]

Thx for all the advice I talked to my buddy who also has a planted tank and he looked at them and we used his test kit, and he told me that the plants go through a cycle losing some leafs and regrowing others and since the root system is good were ok.

That is what sofatfish meant by melting.

 

[MarlboroMan]

your lights are good, so its not that. your gravel level might be too low. sometimes i have tanks where the sand/gravel on one side is 7" and the other side is just 2 or 3 inches on a 60 gallon. plants thrive better when their roots are able to stretch.
even a 20 gallon i would keep a minimum of 4" of gravel where the plants are