Plant Fertiliser

[mhancock]

Need some advice please!

My tank is 6 months old and the plants are really struggling, adding liquid ferts makes the water really dark but does not seem to be helping the plants. Other than replacing sand with soil, any ideas? Should I consider CO2?

Thanks,


M

 

[stu40]

adding liquid ferts makes the water really dark but does not seem to be helping the plants.

What liquid ferts?
How much are you dosing,and how often?
What size tank & what lighting?
That should just about cover it

edit: oh yeah, any idea what the plants are?

 

[tomtomtom1230]

Have you considered trying liquid based CO2 formula like Seachem Excel? I find it easier to control than gaseous carbon dioxide methods - each to his/her own I suppose!

I believe the only mineral that stains the water is Iron (it should appear a rusty brown colour or red). The other minerals like Phosphorous and Potassium appear clear in liquid form. Even my bottle of trace elements and minerals is a clear liquid. Do you have any wood that's a recent addition to the tank? Not sure how much more experienced at fish husbandry and aquatics you are than me but sometimes the most obvious answers elude us.

Wood like Mopani wood can leach tannins for up to a year before beginning to clear up (I know this from experience), depending on the size and density of the particular piece of wood.Decaying vegetation might stain the water a little - are all of your plants pruned regularly and 'dead headed'?

 

[mhancock]

Have you considered trying liquid based CO2 formula like Seachem Excel? I find it easier to control than gaseous carbon dioxide methods - each to his/her own I suppose!

I believe the only mineral that stains the water is Iron (it should appear a rusty brown colour or red). The other minerals like Phosphorous and Potassium appear clear in liquid form. Even my bottle of trace elements and minerals is a clear liquid. Do you have any wood that's a recent addition to the tank? Not sure how much more experienced at fish husbandry and aquatics you are than me but sometimes the most obvious answers elude us.

Wood like Mopani wood can leach tannins for up to a year before beginning to clear up (I know this from experience), depending on the size and density of the particular piece of wood.Decaying vegetation might stain the water a little - are all of your plants pruned regularly and 'dead headed'?

Thanks, will try that.

It was an irony colour so probably was that. No recent wood added.

 

[hensonc4098]

What liquid ferts?
How much are you dosing,and how often?
What size tank & what lighting?
That should just about cover it

edit: oh yeah, any idea what the plants are?

These questions would help us properly understand what's going on and what fertilisers to add. If the plants are just doing badly then adding liquid CO2 won't necessarily help them, as it is more likely to be a lack of macro nutrients. A lack of CO2 just causes slower growth, not bad growth.

 

[tomtomtom1230]

I concur with Hensonc that the answers to those questions would allow us to address the situation in more detail. I purely addressed one or two of many of the possible causes of water staining and the CO2 part of the question

 

[mhancock]

Hi,

Lots of different plants, all of them showing brown lower down, sword has some transparent leaves, some plants have holes in leaves. No idea what type - can give a pic tho?

Sand substrate with course sand on top.

Liquid ferts was from p@h, dark blood red colour, followed instructions which meant adding quite a lot for a 225l tank.

Could it be that the external filter needs cleaning out? It is probably due a clean.

Two strip bulbs came in the hood with reflectors to increase light going into the water.

I am considering redoing the tank with soil and black sand, would the soil help short/long term?

Thanks,



Mark

 

[Le0n]

I used that p@h fert, it turned my water a dark colour and i thought it looked ok!

I use easycarbo & profito now but having problems with algae now which i never had with the p@h stuff

 

[SO19Firearms]

Lots of different plants, all of them showing brown lower down, sword has some transparent leaves, some plants have holes in leaves.

Transparent leaves and holes is a lack of Carbon for the amount of light you're using. Consider lowering the light or dosing liquid carbon/injecting CO[sub]2[/sub] - If you go with the latter you'll prolly want to bin the p@h stuff and add a fert with Nitrate and Phosphate.

EDIT: Newly planted swords can lose leaves as the plant changes from emmersed to submerged in the new tank....again, a CO[sub]2[/sub] thing, but just pull them off.

I use easycarbo & profito now but having problems with algae now which i never had with the p@h stuff

If you're using Easycarbo you're in high tech territory, you'll probably want Nitro, Fosfo and Kalium to complete the line up.

 

[mhancock]

Thank you - what's the best liquid carbon to add (am in the UK)?

 

[hensonc4098]

Either flourish or easycarbo. I prefer easycarbo, but each to their own.

 

[mhancock]

Either flourish or easycarbo. I prefer easycarbo, but each to their own.

Thank you, I have decided to use a fire extinguisher powered CO2 system - should be much cheaper and easier long term and give steady supply too!