Are my fish killing them?

[AmberC]

I've had my tank up for about 4 months now. Haven't changed anything. I use florish excel for my plants and do not have a substrate (it was too expensive.) All of my plants were doing fab, then all of a sudden my frill is not so frilly and my wisteria has two branches left on it and its not growing anymore.

(It was doing so well before that I had to clip them back) I notice that my gouramis are constantly pecking at both the frill and the wisteria, but never my other plants. Do you think my fish are killing them, or is it lack of substrate?

Oh yea... my lighting is low too. Its just a 15 or 18 watt. I cant remember right now. All parameters are where they should be too if that makes a difference. I dont expect them to flourish all that much due to my not having any substrate in there... I'm just wondering why all of a sudden just these two plants are dying. TIA!!

 

[Sanj]

Hmmm, well its a whole load of pants really.

Have you thought about kitty litter for substrate? apparently it works pretty well and is cheap.

Lighting is important how big is your tank?You really need to be looking at 1.5 watts per gallon for low light plants. Water wysteria prefers at least moderate lighting, but has a tendancy to lose its lower leaves as it grows so can look a bit straggly over time. Is best to cut and replant, but you have no substrate for anchorage. dont know what a frilly is??

Java fern, Java moss, anubias, hydrilla verticiliata (dainty version of egeria), even Hygrophila thailand stricta are some plants that can tolerate lower light levels.

Cos is beneficial for planted tanks, but perhaps not so much if yu lighting is low.

I dont think your gouramis are killing them.

 

[billy61788]

wont cat litter clump when it gets wet? i know when my cats use it i clumps together.

 

[Sanj]

wont cat litter clump when it gets wet? i know when my cats use it i clumps together.

I dont think it will clumb when it is saturated. however i have never used it and wouldnt, because I dont need to.

However I have heard several times of Americans doing so. There is a particular brand they mention, I have never heard it , but then im just a quaint Brit

However it is an option if substrate is too expensive for ya.

 

[billy61788]

However I have heard several times of Americans doing so. There is a particular brand they mention, I have never heard it , but then im just a quaint Brit

im an american and ive never even heard of it so i guess its just one of those things someone decided to try

 

[AmberC]

Interesting. I'll have to look into that kitty litter thing. Thanks

 

[Sanj]

Ok if you go to the 'planted tank' and go into forums looking under substrate. Kitty litter is discussed many times.

One person uses 'Special kitty' brand.

Apparently kitty litter has more iron content than flourite.

Tou can also consider play sand for msome kids store, maybe even mix its with kitty litter or put a layer of sand over the kitty litter.

It would be good for you to check out that forum