Can anyone help me? My plants keep dying... I used to put fertilizer every 3 weeks but they still die...
PLants keep dying...
- Thread starter Armored_delhezi
- Start date
do you have fish that are chomping on the plants and distressing them? CO2 can help the plants in addition to proper lighting and micro nutrients..... what are you using for light? what is the kelvin rating?
FSM;3154854; said:
This is one of the best questions ever to ask.
Here's a few good places for plant info and lighting needs.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/myplants/
http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php
Wyldfya's sticky is pretty good too, but it lacks pictures, so if you don't know the name of a plant, it is not as useful. It can help you decide which ones you might want in the future.
Bear in mind that generally WPG is used to determine lighting strength, 4 is 'high' 2 is 'medium' and 1 is 'low.' The bulb should say on it how many watts. If it doesn't, search the brand name and model number and you will find it. Adding in the approximate size will help, bulbs are usually in multiples of 12'' long (length is based off of the fixture usually) If you don't know the name of the plant, search by type.
Generally, if you just have the lighting that came with the tank, it is insufficient... for all but LOW light plants. I had brown algae all over the walls of my tank, green spot algae on the glass and rocks... but the light was 21 watt over 65 gallons.
If you have repeated failures, get HORNWORT. I cannot stress this enough, hornwort is amazing and awesome! If you are impatient as to seeing changes in the plant, you will love hornwort. In low light it gets bigger every day. Within a few days it will be covered in side shoots.
Don't believe? I have hornwort in 1.3 wpg and it is doing amazing. It isn't eaten by herbivores, but they might damage it initially, (it is brittle) especially new side shoots, which are softer. It doesn't mind being uprooted, as it never grows roots and can grow floated. It can also be weighed down.
HOW TO TELL IT IS HORNWORT
It has undivided leaves, in pairs like pine needles, that are in a whorl... and an abundance of sideshoots. It never forms roots along the stem like other stem plants. It is easy to mistake with other stem plants, though. It does not collapse out of the water. The leaves are firm to the touch.
Image borrowed from AquaticPlantCentral.com
My 2 cents.
I can testify as to horn wort it does grow fast. Since you mentioned algea problems, I would also suggest Giant Murmio balls. They are algae colonies that grow in round balls, they look neat, there as hard to kill as normal algae, and they will out compete normal algae. I have used them in two of my set ups in the past and they are great for planted tanks because they keep the annoying forms of algae at bay until you can figure out what kind of plants are going to work and get them established. Look them up their fascinating plants: they will move themselves around your aqariam like underwater tumbleweeds. When they dont like the lighting in one place they will make themselfes boyant and float around till they find a better place then make themselves sink.
Seeing as you said "I have algae" and added that you don't think the lights are the problem I'm going to ask, what type of light, what color of light and how long are you leaving it on?
Too much light burns your plants, makes them look like they're melting.
Too much light burns your plants, makes them look like they're melting.
My W/C schedule is 30% twice a week... my light is a little dim color violet... Is the schedule of my water change the problem?
nope, 30% twice a week is fine... Unless you get a nitrate deficiency, but that probably won't happen. Even then, dosing nitrogen can solve it too...
Did you check the brand on the end of the light tube?? My guess is the LIGHT is the problem. Also, lots of plants are way easier than others. So, the species you buy matters quite a bit.
Did you check the brand on the end of the light tube?? My guess is the LIGHT is the problem. Also, lots of plants are way easier than others. So, the species you buy matters quite a bit.