Help With My Plants

[brian2708]

Hi, being Relatively new to fish, I would like to know where I'm going wrong with my plants as once my fishless cycle has completed in tank no. 2 I shall be ripping everything out of my main tank and starting fresh.

I have a Fluval Roma 200 (52 US Gallon) with 2 x T8 30w strips (2nd user) in so I am giving approximately 1.15wpg.

My previous tank was a Juwel Rekord 600 63l (16 US Gallon) with a T5 15w Strip in.

My plants were doing quite well in the smaller tank, however now they don't seem to be doing so well. They are falling to bits, or just looking a bit tired.

I do not have any CO2 injection, nor do I wish to go down this route, and I do not add any fertilisers. If you recommend this, then I will.

Anyway, I shall post some pictures of what I have and if anyone could tell me if they're suitable for my setup then I'd greatly appreciate it. If you have any other suggestions, again, I'd appreciate it as I will be gutting this tank and starting again soon.

1: Unknown species. Really like this tank as it's the only red in the tank (The LFS said it was the only red plant I could have without CO2). Was doing ok in old tank, seems a bit beaten in main tank.



2: I think this is cacomba. Seems to be thining at the bottom. I had a lot of this and now I don't seem to have much.



3: No Idea what this is, but it is Dieing!



4: Believed to be amazon sword. Love it, but having to continually remove dead leaves.



5: Not sure what this is, but when I bought it it was a lovely vibrant green (now it's turned a bit yellowy)



6: Love this plant. Don't know what it is, but it's just not doing so well in this tank.



7: God knows what this is. It's ugly, I was told to put it near my bogwood and it'd attach itself to it. It hasn't.



I intend on replacing my T8 bulbs as the ones that the tank came with (it was second user) are a bit manky in places. Any other suggestions as to where i'm going wrong would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[hensonc4098]

The fact that some of the plants are looking a bit thin at the bottom makes me wonder if they're maybe not getting quite enough light. Although you have more watts per gallon in this tank, the tank will be deeper so less light will get down. However the other plants not growing so much and looking yellowish suggests a lack of nutrients in the water. If you were looking down the route of ferts then one of the best is Tropica Plant Nutrition Plus (TPN+) as it contains everything the plants need. Most "off the shelf" ferts don't.
The last plant there looks like java fern, in which case it should be actually tied to the wood with some thread or fishing line and it will attach itself with it's roots.

 

[L_Plates]

Hello im no expert but i will try to help as much as possible.

You have a mixture of Stem plants and root feeders. From what i have read stem plants take much of there nutrition from the water where as root feeders will take nutrition from the substrate and water.

As you said you are not adding any ferts but i would recommend that you start to do so. What i use for my root feeders is Flourish Tabs that can be placed in the gravel/sand around the plant or plants. The plant will then use the goodness released from the tablets. They last upto 3 months. Then for stem plants i add Flourish Liquid twice a week into the water which will be taken in via the leaves.

Now as for Co2 you can add liquid carbon such as Flourish Excel to help out with the plants needs but i dont think it is anywhere as effective as running a co2 setup.

There are other types of ferts out there such as TPN+ but i have never used this.

Ok quick look at your plants.

Plant 2, Cacomba - The yellowing could be down to nutrition ie not enough of it.

Plants 4, It looks like Echinodorus bleheri - Very hardy plant but needs good nutrition through the roots.

Plant 6, Bobiltis - I have some of this and from what i have seen it likes co2 and regular ferts added to the water.

Plant 7, Java Fern - You need to attach this to wood by using fishing line of something similar. It will not attach itself as you was told. By planting in the sand the roots will rot and the plant will die. Lovely plant when they get going.

As i said i am no expert on plants and i am currently learning myself. But i would definately suggest adding ferts into the tank for both stem and root plants.

I hope this will be of some help.

All the best, LP

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

I have exaclty the same tank and 1.15wpg means idealy not bright enough, think it should be around 2wpg. I have just upgraded the tubes to JBL full spectrum from e.bay if you start dosing with ferts you should see improvment.

 

[brian2708]

Hi. I will look into ferts and try some of the brands mentioned above.

Have you got a link to those tubes on ebay? I can't seem to find them.

Thanks

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

Hi. I will look into ferts and try some of the brands mentioned above.

Have you got a link to those tubes on ebay? I can't seem to find them.

Thanks

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/JBL-SOLAR-LIGHT-BULB-FISH-AQUARIUM-LIGHTING-T5-T8-TUBE-/270692733653

 

[brian2708]

Hi sorry to bother you again. What wattage did you go for? Thanks.

Brian

 

[Plecostomos Fan]

Hi sorry to bother you again. What wattage did you go for? Thanks.

Brian

30Watt lenth 90cms, these are full spectrum tubes.
Use the link then scroll down the page.