Hornwort

[Fish_mouth]

Hi i got some hornwort from the pet shop and it was healthy, Now after a day or to all its leave is disappearing and there is a big of fluffy green stuff on all the hornwort. Is this what is killing my plants?

Thank, Daniel

 

[DevUK]

That sounds like hair algae. Did you give the plant a good wash before putting it into your tank? Hair algae can be removed with something like a toothbrush (preferably a new one, as you don't want your fish minty fresh )

Sadly, its a bugger to remove completely. I had a big problem with it when I neglected my tank for a month or so (the plants, not the fish I mean!) I've been dosing Seachem Flourish Excel as part of my new fertiliser routine to provide carbon for the plants. It has the added side effect of killing of hair algae (and some others, though not reliably).

If the plant didn't cost too much, and its really not looking good, it might be worth binning it now before it spreads. That being said, it might already be too late

Anyway, whats your tank like (size/volume)? What sort of lighting does it have, any ideas? (Wattage of the tube(s) etc) Do you have any other plants in it?

 

[Fish_mouth]

hi the tank is a 18.5 litre tank and just has hornwort in it. I already binned the plants and my dad said we were to use fake ones for a couple of weeks. It was a built in light and all it says its a 8 watts light the water level is 29cm high and about 5cm from the light. hope any of this info helps

 

[Matty P]

0 to 1 WPG - Very Low
1 to 2 WPG - Low to Medium
2 to 3 WPG - Medium to Medium High
3 to 4 WPG or above - Medium High to High
Over 4 WPG - High to Very High

(George Farmer posted this in the pinned lighting section)

18.5 liters is roughly 5 gallons so your lighting (if my maths serves me right ) is 1.6 WPG. SO your lighting is Low - Medium.

 

[Fish_mouth]

Ok thanks that will help when I get my plants