Noob Planted Tank Owner Seeks Experienced Educator....

[jojouk]

Hi,

I have had a tank set up for about 2 months now, and my plants, whilst not dying, dont seem to have grown much.

I have 1cm of gravel, topped with about 1-3cm of sand in places.

Im wondering if I should use fertilizer? If so, what type?

I have:

Eleocharis Acicularis
Pogostemon Helferi
Pogostemon Erectus
Limnophilia Aromatica
Vesicularia Dubyana
Juncus Repens
Micromanthemum Umbrosum
Microsorum pteropus.

Right now I dont know if I should change the substrate, and put in some TetraPlant Complete Substrate under the top layer of sand, just where I want the plants to go, or to just add API Root Tabs (10 Tabs)?

I think Im going to start adding SeaChem Flourish Excel 100ml
instead of adding pressurised CO2?

Thoughts?

 

[tanksalot]

What size is your tank and what lighting do you have?

That's really the first consideration in any planted set up because it's the available light that will dictate what you need in terms of CO2 and ferts.

 

[jojouk]

What size is your tank and what lighting do you have?

That's really the first consideration in any planted set up because it's the available light that will dictate what you need in terms of CO2 and ferts.

Ah my Java Moss friend...

I have a Juwel Rio 180, with 2 t8 bulbs.

 

[tanksalot]

Ah my Java Moss friend...

I've been called a lot of things, but that's a new one...

I have a Juwel Rio 180, with 2 t8 bulbs.

What is the wattage of the bulbs?

 

[jojouk]

Both are 36w I believe?

 

[stu40]

should be 30W if standard light fitting, like me

 

[tanksalot]

Both are 36w I believe?

Okay.

If your plants are doing alright but you want more growth I would add a source of carbon and fertilisers. If you add fertilisers alone, your plants may or may not have sufficient carbon to utilise them.

My preferred method up until recently was to dose Excel and TPN+ (Tropica Plant Nutrition +). I found that this gave me a decent increase in growth without things going so bonkers they needed trimming every 5 minutes(!) Changing your substrate is not essential as your plants can take what they need from the water column. (I haven't used root tabs btw, and never found I needed them even for hungry Amazon swords in gravel).

I'd try something along those lines and see how it goes.

My approach is not very scientific I'm afraid - I do what I do and learn hard lessons along the way , but in truth, there are so many variables from tank to tank that making and adhering to hard and fast rules is difficult.

 

[jojouk]

Both are 36w I believe?

Okay.

If your plants are doing alright but you want more growth I would add a source of carbon and fertilisers. If you add fertilisers alone, your plants may or may not have sufficient carbon to utilise them.

My preferred method up until recently was to dose Excel and TPN+ (Tropica Plant Nutrition +). I found that this gave me a decent increase in growth without things going so bonkers they needed trimming every 5 minutes(!) Changing your substrate is not essential as your plants can take what they need from the water column. (I haven't used root tabs btw, and never found I needed them even for hungry Amazon swords in gravel).

I'd try something along those lines and see how it goes.

My approach is not very scientific I'm afraid - I do what I do and learn hard lessons along the way , but in truth, there are so many variables from tank to tank that making and adhering to hard and fast rules is difficult.

Thanks for that - I was not looking forward to having to change the substrate, so thats good news!

Shopping (again!) then it is for me! Oh what a shame...still, need a nice healthy tank for all that new java moss...

 

[jojouk]

Both are 36w I believe?

TPN+ (Tropica Plant Nutrition +

is this the same kinda stuff?


SeaChem Flourish 100ml

 

[tanksalot]

Both are 36w I believe?

TPN+ (Tropica Plant Nutrition +

is this the same kinda stuff?


SeaChem Flourish 100ml

Not quite.

It doesn't contain the macro elements (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus) whereas TPN+ does.

Theoretically, if your tank is heavily stocked with fish and you don't have huge plant mass, then your plants can get enough macros from fish waste and fish food, but I don't tend to have enough fish in my tanks for that to be the case, so as soon as I start adding a form of carbon supplement, I dose a fertiliser that contains the macros as well just so I know they won't go short of anything.

So this is where you have to experiment and see what works for your tank and the levels of stock that you have. Fun, eh?

 

[jojouk]

Both are 36w I believe?

TPN+ (Tropica Plant Nutrition +

is this the same kinda stuff?


SeaChem Flourish 100ml

Not quite.

It doesn't contain the macro elements (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus) whereas TPN+ does.

Theoretically, if your tank is heavily stocked with fish and you don't have huge plant mass, then your plants can get enough macros from fish waste and fish food, but I don't tend to have enough fish in my tanks for that to be the case, so as soon as I start adding a form of carbon supplement, I dose a fertiliser that contains the macros as well just so I know they won't go short of anything.

So this is where you have to experiment and see what works for your tank and the levels of stock that you have. Fun, eh?

Hello again!

Got some Flourish Excel and TPN now

what dosing would you suggest for my 180 litre?

Blimy - lots of re-quotes!

 

[JenCliBee]

Hello again!

Got some Flourish Excel and TPN now

what dosing would you suggest for my 180 litre?

Blimy - lots of re-quotes!

A good guide for the TPN+ is 1ml per 20l per day... you could half this and see how it goes but be prepared to dose more.

I use easy carbo... should be sort of the same guidelines but stick with the recommended dose daily for a lowly stocked tank (plant mass), medium stocked... double it ......very heavily planted tanks have been known to have to triple recommended dose.

Try and see would be the best option... if you think they need more, add more but be careful on the carbon.... very high quantities can be harmful to fish, shrimp and plants.