Indian Fern Problem?

[henryfg]

Hi everyone

I have a small tank, it's 35l, aquatic soil substrate covered in gravel with 15W of light over it. It has a small filter, 8 ember tetras and 4 amano shrimp. It also has 3 rocks, Luwigia repens, an anubias, dwarf chain sword, and some crypts (not sure which, maybe becketii? They're small, red petioles). Anyway, everything is growing really well, EXCEPT for some Indian fern (Ceratopsis, water sprite) I put in about 2 weeks ago. I used it in the back right corner as it has a nice look to it, and I wanted it to fill out a section in the back of the tank, however it has all gone yellow, it won't stay in the substrate and it is starting to disintergrate. I thought this was Ok in low light? If this isn't the light, what could be causing this?

And furthermore, if I can't fix it, what plant could I use to fulfil the same role in the back there? I tried wisteria but it's really too big and aggressive for such a small tank, I had to cut it back ALL the time, and the adventitious roots got a nightmare.

Also I dose with flourish micro nutrient fertalizer, but nothing else. No CO2 either.

Thanks!
Henry

 

[Jamepsss]

15 watts over a 35 litre isn't really low light and if your other plants are doing well then it's strange you're having trouble with this easy plant. Is it definately water sprite? Do you have a pic of how it's looking?

 

[henryfg]

Yeah, I'm pretty certain. I'm at work at the moment, so I don't have a picture. I'll take one when I get home, how do I upload it? Can I just put it straight to the forum?

 

[Jamepsss]

Upload it to imageshack and use the forum display code it gives you.

 

[henryfg]

OK, here's a couple of photos. It's not the best angle, but you can clearly see where it's yellowing, and further down the stems (unfortunately too obscured by a rock for a good photo) it is getting browner, rather than yellow, and it's looking pretty bad. I've also included a picture of the whole tank (which i know needs cleaning up a bit, the ludwigia at the back is a bit out of control and I plan to take that big hygro out of the foreground in the right), but you can see in the right where the indian fern has melted away and left that gap of brown/yellow behind the anubias. Well that's the space I need to fill with an alternative plant if I can't get this one fixed up.

I have some pennywort in another tank actually,. maybe that would do it, but will it stay in the substrate?

http/img27.imageshack.us/i/24012011481.jpg/

http/img15.imageshack.us/i/24012011482.jpg/

http/img213.imageshack.us/i/24012011483.jpg/

 

[Jamepsss]

Yep, that's definitely water sprite.

I'm a bit out of my depth here so can only suggest that either the photoperiod is too long or the plant is being deprived of something nutrient wise.

Hopefully one of the planted experts will chip inn with something more concrete.

 

[lljdma06]

I am also inclined to agree that the plant requires more nutrients. There is some healthy growth, so I would only prune away the yellowing leaves.

Liz