Easy Plant Feed?

[justjon]

Hi guys,

I've just finished planting out my tank, all i'm waiting on now is two Java fern.

I have;

Java moss
20x Hygrophila Polysperma
10x Vallisneria Americana
Two Java Fern (to come)

I was reccomended the above for my sand tank, i've rooted the Americanas and Polyspermas into the sand.

I want to help the plants along as i'm concerned they don't get as much light as they should, i'm not after a full blown c02 system as it sounds like a lot of work (and money).

Is there something simple I can add to the tank weekly, or even a couple of times per week, that will make the plants flourish?

Thanks

 

[justjon]

bump

 

[plant nutter]

http/www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/store/

 

[jameshughes1989]

TPN+, the best all round liquid fert on the market in my view and from what ive heard.

James

 

[ian]

What lighting have you got and what size tank have you got?

 

[justjon]

It's the Juwel Lido 120 with default lighting.

 

[RadaR]

It's the Juwel Lido 120 with default lighting.

Before the high-lite versions came out, the Lido 120 came with 2x15W t8. Is that what you have?
Or do you have the high-lite version that comes with 2x24W t5?


Either way, each version provides plenty of light. I've yet to see a tank that has plants dieing because of lack of light. It's usually lack of carbon and/or nutrients in relation to that amount of light.

If you have the 2x24W then you will have to add some carbon addition to your tank, otherwise the plants simply wont grow and algae will over run your tank. Liquid carbon might be enough. If you had the 2x24W and you really didnt want to add any carbon at all, then I reccomend you add lots of floating plants to block out most of the light intensity.

If you had the 2x15W, then you should be able to get away without adding any carbon additives.

 

[justjon]

Thanks for the great reply.

I have just checked and it's the 24W bulbs...

Can you recommend which one to add to the tank?

Will limiting the light on a timer for a certain amount of time each day help?

I just notice holes in some of the leaves and they don't seem as happy as they should be.

Carbon puts me off as it all seems very complicated to me, and i'd be scared of messing it up and killing my fish!

 

[ian]

Carbon isn't complicated, but i agree with RadaR, you probably will need to use it. Easycarbo or Flourish excel if just dosed as a liquid, to the size of your tank. Holes in plants normally means they are missing something, ie Potassium. I would recommend you buy some Flourish and Florish excel.

 

[RadaR]

Can you recommend which one to add to the tank?

Which type of bulb you mean? It's down to your personal perference. The plants will do just as well whatever bulb you choose. Obviously you are limited to Arcadia J5 Plant Pro light tubes and Juwel's own brand of t5. Why? Because Juwel's t5 lamp lengths are not like other t5 lengths.
Try opt for two different kinds. For example, one Juwel Nature and one Juwel Day.

Will limiting the light on a timer for a certain amount of time each day help?

Not really. Well....you shouldnt have your lights on for more than 8hours a day anyway. You could go low as 5hours if you wanted. Timers are reccomended.

I just notice holes in some of the leaves and they don't seem as happy as they should be.

Most likley CO2 deficiency. Could even be nutrient deficiency.

Carbon puts me off as it all seems very complicated to me, and i'd be scared of messing it up and killing my fish!

CO2 should be treated with caution. Whether it's gaseous injected CO2 or Liquid carbon dosing (Easycarbo), it should never be overdosed. However if the levels are too low or fluctuate, then the plants hate this and algae rears it's ugly head. If you don't want to add any carbon, then just add lots of floating plants like Amazon Frogit.

Have a read ofback to basics.

 

[justjon]

Thanks again.

Will the floating plants simply cut a lot of light when the lights are on, and the plants will be happier this way?

That's what I worry with carbon, I will look into the products mentioned above.

I don't have an algea issue, but that is probably due to my shrimps and pleco.

The sun also hits about half the tank, I can actually stop this by pointing blinds upwards, is sunlight even worse for the tank?

 

[justjon]

I will pop down the road to my LFS now, would I need both flourish AND flourish excel?

Want to be sure.

 

[ian]

Yes, the flourish excel is the carbon suppliment and the flourish is your fert that you need to dose a couple of times a
week.

 

[justjon]

Thanks Ianho, i'll pop out now

Will let you know how I get on! New to fully planted tanks and want it to grow well

 

[justjon]

Well, that failed.

They had no seachem products at all, the only plant items they seemed to do was API Food Zone, which was cheaper and i'd rather get what i've been recommended.

Can you suggest anywhere on-line where is decent?