Further Adventures In A Planted Tank...

[coolie]

OK, so as per some other threads I started, my CO2 was up and running but folk on here pointed out my flow wasn't right so I corrected it by adding a second external filter FLUVAL405.
 
This was just a few days before xmas, but no sooner had I corrected the flow issues when the gas ran out and we were due to go on holiday (vacation) straight after xmas. In other words, my tank went
3 weeks without CO2.
 
In this time, you can clearly see the water wisteria is dying and coated in algae. The amazon fern has suffered but was never that strong without the flow being right. The good old java fern and anubias are doing ok although the Anubias has a slight coating of algae, but it's not dead. Moss is taking over the tank.
 
So I have now got both the flow correct and the CO2 running. I need to get my water change regime regular again, and I only add ferts on an ad-hoc basis.
 
I have just purchased online some Brazilian Pennywort as apparently it grows quickly and provides a lot of cover. It's just a shame that I now have a full blown fire extinguisher set up and my mioost successful plants are the old Anubias and Java Fern that we recommend to non CO2 fish keepers. Drop me a line if you think I'm on track now, or if you have any further ideas?
 
 
 

 

[techen]

The sudden cut of co2 can make a real mess of the cycle. But if you can get stuff going again it will slowly recover.

In terms of the low tech plants growing quickly that's normal. In low tech tanks it would take ages to see some growth on it but they'd not die. Where is high tech they just go mad. But yea, weekly water changes, adding ferts and keeping your drop checker in the green you'll be fine. The only thing I worry about is you adding floating plants. Normally high tech don't have these as your reducing the light output your plants get which is the complete opposite to what you want.

 

[coolie]

Thanks Techen. The thing about the Brizilian Pennywort (which has now arrived) I was meant to say it grows quick and provides lots of hiding places for the fish as opposed to letting it grow on the surface - which, having said that, it would if let grow out of hand.
 
So now, my next question: the Brazilian Pennywort is a strong grower and is growing like nothing else I've ever put in the tank which must mean something is right in there. Now why the Water Wisteria only showing very slight if any growth since re-introducing the CO2?
 
There is also a wider question, the Pennywort has come out of someone else's home tank , so apart from the time it took to post it to me, it's been in ideal conditions continually. However when you buy plants from shops, where for example, they may have been grown immersed, then transported, then displayed in a non-co2 setup, then transported again to your home - is it any surprise most of them either die or take ages to get growing well?