Need Some Plant Help Please

[backtotropical]

I wonder if anyone can help?I have recently setup a new tropical community tank. It's been running for about 6 weeks now.I bought some plants and they aren't doing too well. They're going all brown and dying. What am i doing wrong? Fish i can do, plants i'm a bit useless i'm afraid. Any help appreciated.

Also, someone said this 'fern-like' plant is not aquatic. Can anyone confirm?

 

[garuf]

post up full specs of your tank, any dosing if any and if your using co2 or not then we can help better

 

[backtotropical]

OK, here goes.

Ammonia: Nil
Nitrite: 0.1 (this is ok as i just added 4 gouramis yesterday)
Nitrate: Out of test kit i'm afraid.
PH: 8

Tank: Juwel Vision 260
Lighting: Arcadia Overhead Luminaire 4 x T5 (2xTriplus, 2xBluemoon)

No CO2 used

The only chemicals i use is dechlorinator.

 

[backtotropical]

Anyone? Dont want to lose my plants.

 

[garuf]

Anyone? Dont want to lose my plants.

hello, sorry for the delay i went to bed, looking at your plants i would say that theyre not aquatic, im sure someone will probably give you a second opinion at some point, also the java ferns are greedy root feeders, id suggest adding a root tab into your sand near to its base, also youll find that sometimes theyre grown out of water and will brown when you add them into your tank, this is just acclimatisation, the dead leaves will come off leaving "water leaves" behind to grow afresh
i'd recommend getting the plantsalive catalouge, then getting your plants from greenline who are better quality.
also you seem to have alot of light if your running t5's so it might be an idea to consider CO2 and dosing to some limited extent if you feel abit more ambitious
hope this helps
gareth

 

[backtotropical]

Hi, thanks so much for your reply. Bearing in mind i'm a complete novice with plants, please bear with me.

Please comfirm which plants you believe to be non-aquatic.

I believe this to be Java Fern (aquatic). Is that right?

 

[backtotropical]

I believe this to be Amazon Sword (Left) (Aquatic), and please ID the plant on the right (Aquatic???).



I think this is the 'fern-like' plant which is already identified as non-aquatic. Is that right?



Also please ID this one for me. (I know this one is aquatic as i had it before and it overtook my tank!)



I will add root tabs to near the base of the Java Fern. Thanks.

I have ordered the plants alive catalogue and will get plants from Green Line from now on.

Cheers.

 

[backtotropical]

Also, can anyone recommend a good book about aquatic plants??

 

[three-fingers]

I really don't think that plant is java fern. To me it looks like cuttings of an aquatic Hygrophila species, where I work gets similar stuff in and I've never been 100% sure about it. I should really give it a try one day and see what it look slike after some real growth for a proper ID.

The 'amazon sword' isnt an amazon sword, but it is another Echinodorusspecies.

The plant to the right of it is an aquatic Bacopa species, probably Bacopa caroliniana but I'm not 100% sure since I've seen them with varied leaves.

The fern like plant definitely isn't aquatic, and wont last long in your tank.

The last plant is Cabomba caroliniana .

The tropica book on plants is excellent, as is there website and plants .

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks Three Fingers. Much Appreciated.

 

[ICEEGRL]

The thing that I am really surprised by is that no one told you to remove the weights and seperate the individual plants. Also java ferns (plants with rhiozomes) should not be planted in the subsrate. It can make them rot. They should be attached to wood or rocks.

 

[SuperColey1]

The first plant you show looks more like a few bunches of Giant Hygro. Once you have seperated each stem it will grow and grow fast. This plant eventually takes over which why in my early stages I binned it but for now it is a good fast grower which is what you need. Whatever it is it definately isn't Java Fern to me.
Seperate the stems and replant 2 inches apart

The second plant is an echinodorus but not amazon sword. It is aquatic though. The plant to it's right looks like baby tears to me, but maybe not.
Leave this as it is. Seperate the Bacopa and plant each stem 1 inch apart.

The third is Aqua Fern which despite the name is non-aquatic and eventually will start to rot
Take it out and bin it

The fourth is Cabomba which is another fast grower.
Seperate the stems and plant them 1 inch apart

Hope this helps you a little

andy

 

[backtotropical]

Thanks again. Just one question, if i seperate the stems and remove the weigts, how do i replant without the plants floating away? Re-attach the weights to each stem?

 

[reggieschuey]

I think the problem is the rocks you have ? are they coral rocks ? . The rocks slowly release calcium. Plants are not good with any amounts of calcium.

It will be good idea to added 'traces' seachem Flourish or something like Hagen plant glo,

 

[backtotropical]

I think the problem is the rocks you have ? are they coral rocks ? . The rocks slowly release calcium. Plants are not good with any amounts of calcium.

Thanks Reggieschuey. The rock has been removed.