New To Planted Tanks...looking For Advice

[sampster5000]

The problem with that is I've never seen TPN sold in any fish stores anywhere I look. I don't even see it online. I'm surprised sites like fosterandsmithaquatics.com doesnt have it.

 

[RadaR]

I'm surprised sites like fosterandsmithaquatics.com doesnt have it.

They stock the regular tropica plant nutrition. just not the + version. Probably because they think N+P cause algae
I take it you are in the states then?

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Aquatic plants are different im afriad. They are just as good at absorbing nutrients through their leaves as they are through their roots. Fish don't mind the nutrients in the water column either. Tom Barr who came up with EI, has never ever known anyone to kill or harm their fish due to nutrient dosing. Neither have I. Most fish deaths in planted tanks are due to high levels of CO2.

Well that's very good information to know. It's nice to know that tabs in my low tech/low light setup will likely do fine too. They should last longer too correct? As opposed to dosing weekly...

I'm surprised sites like fosterandsmithaquatics.com doesnt have it.

They stock the regular tropica plant nutrition. just not the + version. Probably because they think N+P cause algae
I take it you are in the states then?

I am in the states and I have not found TPN+ anywhere. Although to keep it in perspective, I have very few specialty LFS near me so everything I do has to be mail order. In SoCal at that...go figure.

 

[sampster5000]

I'm surprised sites like fosterandsmithaquatics.com doesnt have it.

They stock the regular tropica plant nutrition. just not the + version. Probably because they think N+P cause algae
I take it you are in the states then?

Born and raised in Texas! What would you suggest to use then for my 10 gallon with no CO2 and 1.5wpg?

 

[RadaR]

They should last longer too correct? As opposed to dosing weekly...

That I do not know.

Born and raised in Texas! What would you suggest to use then for my 10 gallon with no CO2 and 1.5wpg?

A nutrient rich substrate and dose Excel.
Other than that, jsut dose trace elements (flourish), no water changes and lots of plants to block out light intensity.

 

[sampster5000]

Thanks! Hopefully it works out. If not I will just start dosing the macro nutrients.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Plants finally arrived today...Next Day Air. I looked at the pellets...they are the size of a pencil eraser or rabbit food. I'm sure they won't last as long as I thought since I envisioned them to be larger. That being said though, aquariumplants.com recommends not placing more than 1 in a 3X3 inch area.

I'll unpackage the plants tonight. They were packed in a heavy ziplock bag with some water but no air. The ziplock was packaged inside a UPS padded envelope and then the envelope was firmly in a letter sized box.

I can't tell what condition the plants are in until I get them out, trimmed, and in water. Some of them look like they have some brown or black spots on the leaves. I don't know if it's a deficiency or just what happens if they get stressed from shipping. Any thoughts?

I'll post pics later this evening.

 

[RadaR]

Pics will give us a better idea. I've seen some awful quality plants brought back from the brink of death. They hung on in there and with the right care, flourished.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Pics will give us a better idea. I've seen some awful quality plants brought back from the brink of death. They hung on in there and with the right care, flourished.

On closer inspection now that I'm home and I can open the bags...snail eggs? They're all over the java fern if this is the case.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Alright well here are some more photos. Please remember, I'm a noob and this is my first. What prunings do you see that I should make? Can I top cut the val leaves and should I where it's gone transparent? Have I planted everything to the proper depths?

aquariumplants.com did forget to ship my tiger lotus so I'll have to give them a call.

I'm stumped to plant my java fern. A friend was to have given me rocks by now from when she was keeping fish so I didn't buy bogwood or lava rock and am stuck with no place but mail order to get them.

Photos here

 

[RadaR]

The Java fern is normal. Some have those specs. I think it's to do with reproduction.
With regards to cuttings, you've done a good job. The yellow/brown dieing leaf from the amazon sword needs to go though. Anything yellow should be snipped off with sharp scissors. Idealy at the base of the plant.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

The Java fern is normal. Some have those specs. I think it's to do with reproduction.
With regards to cuttings, you've done a good job. The yellow/brown dieing leaf from the amazon sword needs to go though. Anything yellow should be snipped off with sharp scissors. Idealy at the base of the plant.

What about when leaves are damaged or thin? By thin I mean they don't have any green in them and are transparent. Should I always remove the whole leaf or top cut it in the case of the vals? A lot of the vals leaves are damaged in one way or another from being so long and packaged like they were.

Oh, and thanks. I just tried to do things as sensible as possible. Nothing drastic unless the more experienced folk were steering me in a educated direction. =)

 

[RadaR]

Anything you dont view as normal, cut it off. I.e. the thin, damaged leaves. It takes less energy for a plant to make a new leaf than to heal an already existing one. The plant will bounce back with proper care.

 

[JoshuaA]

Anything you dont view as normal, cut it off. I.e. the thin, damaged leaves. It takes less energy for a plant to make a new leaf than to heal an already existing one. The plant will bounce back with proper care.

^ Best way to do it.

I had some seriously damaged bulbs and floaters come through though after trimming and removing all the dead bits and with a bit of TLC they're now flourishing after a few weeks. Like RadaR said once the amazons go yellow remove the leafs asap they will not recover and it will just spread like wildfire across the leaf.

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Anything you dont view as normal, cut it off. I.e. the thin, damaged leaves. It takes less energy for a plant to make a new leaf than to heal an already existing one. The plant will bounce back with proper care.

Do I remove the entire leaf on the vals if damaged (which is most of them) or cut it off below the damage?