Plant Problems!

[Mrfish]

P.s im not a begginer when it comes to fish. My plants just don't seem to be thriving!! I have one at the side that gets some sun light that thrived from the begging. But surely the others should without a little extra sunlight! I have a 3ft tank that's about 1.5ft tall, 1000 litres, two filters and one aquaglow flouresent light blub. I don't seem to have any water problems from the tests but some of my fish seem to die randomly without warning or symtoms. I have treated for internal bacteria but no effect!! Help would be greatly appriciated!

 

[Captain Retardo]

Wow, very weird. I guess you dont have an aquatic green thumb, some people do, some people dont! Is there nitrate in the water?

 

[Mrfish]

there is an acceptable level of nitrate, but its only risen scince all my plants sudenly started to die..... temp is fine and everything!

 

[Captain Retardo]

maybe algae is competing with the plants, you give the tank sunlight you said

 

[Mrfish]

I don't have any algea problems and before my plants didn't even last 3 weeks now with a bit extra sunlight they last a little longer. whats going on???

 

[Captain Retardo]

What kind of plants are they?

 

[Mrfish]

Plants like java fern, i can't name the others but their not hard to look after the only problem i can think of is the lighting or the filters. I just don't know though!

 

[MoreCoffee]

........ I'm sure there are a number of experts in the Planted Tanks section who can help ..... however my guess is

Without knowing the wattage of your lighting, I'd have a guess that a single aquaglow tube isn't going to be providing enough light for most plants, especially towards the bottom half of the tank.
For a 3ft tank, I'd assume it is an 18W tube.

Also what type of filters do you have ?
I've heard it's much harder (but not impossible) to grow plants when using under gravel filtration. My last tank had UGF and gave up trying to grow plants.

I'm assuming that your 3ft tank is actually closer to 100 ltrs !

I have a 130Ltr tank with 2 x 18W tubes and both have reflectors fitted and this provides just about enough light (But I'd like a little more).
I've also got a DIY CO2 system (2 x Nutrafin canisters) providing extra CO2 and this has dramatically improved plant growth.

I have only been seriously looking at plant growth for a couple of months, but most of the info I've read suggests lighting levels around 2 Watts per gallon.

".....now with a bit extra sunlight they last a little longer. whats going on???" - Points towards needing extra lighting !

If you have a single 18W tube, I'd consider adding a second tube and also putting reflectors behind them.
Reflectors will help but I really dont think they provide the "100% increase" that the makers claim, still even if it was only 50% thats a worthwhile increase for a small cost.

Not sure if you add fertiliser .... but liquid fert and/or root tabs will help - although if using a UGF root tabs may not be worth trying.

Mr G