live plants

[fishwatcher]

I have a pretty heavily planted 10-gal. On one end (near the filter) and in the middle, the plants are growing great. On the other end (near a bubbler) the plants are losing leaves and some are turning yellow.
What is the problem??

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Do you know what types of plants you have by any chance? its probable that the lighting in the tank isn't stronger enough for them to grow, adding some flora boost by Interpet will also help them grow as it offers extra nutrients that plants need to grow.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

By bubbler do you mean airstone? If so, it may be taking too much of the CO2 out of the water. That would make it more difficult for the plants to grow.

 

[fishwatcher]

Yes, it is an airstone. There isn't much movement otherwise and I want to make sure the water is filtered/aerated well. I have plant light bulbs (they are incandescent) that are blue colored and supposedly they have a broad-spectrum just for plants. They are 15 watts each, so it's 30 watts total. I have wisteria, rotalla or ludwigia (not sure which it is), and hornwort that are looking bad. I also have banana plants, and some bulbs that are doing great.
I have some liquid fertilizer stuff I've used a couple of times over the last few weeks. I'm not sure how often I should use it, though.
Could the airstone really be making this happen?

 

[abstract]

as for the lighting, incadescent bulbs are pretty much useless when it comes to live plants to be honest...some people have some luck with them with very low light plants, but many don't... simply stated the QUALITY of useable light produced by incandescent vs. fluroescent is drastically reduced. 30 watts incadescent does not translate to the same amount of light as 30 watts fluroescent, just as 30 watts fluroscent does not translate to as much light as a 30 watt compact fluroescent bulb....if you want any luck you should consider getting at least a fluroscent hood, or go with very low light plants - i.e. java fern, java moss, some anubias', etc...

after re-reading the post i see that the blubs are doing great and the others are not....the bulbs will pretty much grow under ANY lighting - that is why they are doing great...all the other lights do better under better lighting...

the wisteria will probably adapt to the extremely low light and continue growing, but the rotala and ludweiga would REALLY benefit from at least 2 watts per gallon (WPG)

 

[rdd1952]

The airstone is probably driving all the CO2 out of the water and causing your problems. Unless you have a film on the surface that you're using it to break up, I would take it out. If you are getting any surface aggitation from the filter, you really don't need the airstone. Also, as mentioned, you probably need better lighting like power compacs. Even though you have 3 wpg, it's incandescent so it won't help much.

 

[fishwatcher]

I've now taken the stone out and I've changed the bulbs to flourescent ones. Hopefully this will help things. Thanks for the advice!

 

[abstract]

good, let us know how it works out for you!

 

[swampcat]

The plants you have listed are med high to high light plants. Got to www.plantgeek.net they list plants in catergories. Look at the low light and med low light list. You will find a great assortment of plants to make a beautiful planted aquarium without exspensive co2 injection and exspensive lights.

Java fern, java moss, anubias nana, various other anubias, bronze wendii, red wendii, various crypts, just to list a small example. I use nothing but low light plants in a 55 have about 20 plants or more they all do wonderful with about 1.5 WPG. Take a little time to find these plants but its worth it.