Plant Woes...

[TheRedDarren]

Hey oop,

My new planted set up has been running for 4 weeks now. Its approx 220 litres of south american community. Although, admittedly the plants are not SA... I've got java fern, both broad and narrow leaf, crypts and some kind of low foreground plant which I believe is dwarf/pygmy chain sword. Now, I got the tank second hand and it was showing what appeared to be good growth, since I've had it and moved/replanted the chain sword and crypts (then added the ferns) I've had crypt melt and now regrowth but the chain sword is yellowing and the ferns are going brown and mottled and also got a brown algal growth on them. There are three large ferns on bogwood, 3 very large bunches of crypt wendtii and maybe 20 odd small unknown crypts (brown leaved and "crinkled") and loads of the pygmy sword (50+).

So, I've replaced the 4 year old tubes with new aqua and sun glo tubes and started to fertilise with Easylife Profita last weekend, I really don't want to lose the plants and was kind of expecting to go down the c02 road anyway, so will they pull through without c02 or should I just get it and reap the benefits? I've used it in the past so am aware of the amazing growth you can achieve, and should I maybe get a power glo to replace the sun glo? And reflectors?

Thanks dudes.

 

[minnnt]

The tubes don't really make much difference. If they're full spectrum then you're sorted!

Co2 is always beneficial, but whether or not it will stop you're problems is an unknown. It's done jack sh.. for my Vallis!

 

[coldcazzie]

It sounds like at least some of your problems are new tank problems: brown algae is a sign of slight ammonia being present and melt is almost guaranteed with crypts if you move them, but will be contributing to any ammonia issues. How often are you water changing, and how much?

 

[minnnt]

Yeah alot of plants melt when introduced to new water conditions. My Crypts have melted that many times i'm suprised i still have them.

 

[coldcazzie]

as long as the roots are intact they usually grow back fine.

 

[TheRedDarren]

Well, I'm not sure that I've got any new tank related problems as its a 4 year old set up, all I did was add a new substrate although this is Carribsea Ecocomplete which "instantly matures your tank" make of that what you will. But the filter is very mature, I also added plenty of filter aid type products to help with any die off from the move. I get a 0 reading on the ammonia test too. FYI nitrite and PH 7~ish. I change about 30~40% water every Sunday. I've got peat in the filter to help lower the PH.

 

[coldcazzie]

But you broke it down to move it to your house surely? And you've put new substrate in? There are elements that are new, and moving it disrupts things, as far as the tank is concerned you're starting from scratch.

I'm having the same issue with my tank - it's not a new setup, but I put it in a new tank (everything else was the same) and despite 0 ammonia readings I'm getting brown algae because I moved it. Moving it disrupts the balance, disrupting the balance results in ammonia, ammonia = algae. It's not meant as a dig I promise. It's just the way it works, and 4 weeks is still quite new for a tank, regardless of how mature it was before you moved it.

I would perhaps do 2 water changes next week, and make sure to do a really thorough clean of the tank and plant prune both times. Clean as much of the brown algae off with your fingers as you can and remove it with the siphon. Remove any degraded leaves. Have a read through PARC cuz I'm sure there's a link in there which will inform you about yellowing leaves.

What does the fert contain? Is it just trace or macros too?

 

[minnnt]

Gentle persuasion...

 

[coldcazzie]

Gentle persuasion...

shhhhh

 

[minnnt]

 

[TheRedDarren]

But you broke it down to move it to your house surely? And you've put new substrate in? There are elements that are new, and moving it disrupts things, as far as the tank is concerned you're starting from scratch.

I'm having the same issue with my tank - it's not a new setup, but I put it in a new tank (everything else was the same) and despite 0 ammonia readings I'm getting brown algae because I moved it. Moving it disrupts the balance, disrupting the balance results in ammonia, ammonia = algae. It's not meant as a dig I promise. It's just the way it works, and 4 weeks is still quite new for a tank, regardless of how mature it was before you moved it.

I would perhaps do 2 water changes next week, and make sure to do a really thorough clean of the tank and plant prune both times. Clean as much of the brown algae off with your fingers as you can and remove it with the siphon. Remove any degraded leaves. Have a read through PARC cuz I'm sure there's a link in there which will inform you about yellowing leaves.

What does the fert contain? Is it just trace or macros too?

Hey, not taken as a dig in anyway, I really appreciate the advice, I didn't realise that moving a tank would disrupt it so much.
Will do an extra WC this week then, and clean the leaves.
I'm not sure about the fertiliser, it states "extra complete" contains: Fe, K, Mg, Mn,B, Co, Li, Cu, I, Mo, Ni, Sn, F, Al, Zn, V, Se.
I still want a C02 unit though!

Oh and I forgot to put a 0 by Nitrite in the other post...

 

[coldcazzie]

ok, that list of elements are all trace elements as far as I can tell... a good start would be macro ferts as well as trace, and you'll definitely need additional macros if you want to add co2

What's your nitrAte reading?

 

[TheRedDarren]

Ok so what is a good macro fertiliser?
Nitrate is normally about 50ppm by the end of the week.

 

[coldcazzie]

You can buy them individually, for example Seachem do them, but for what they are they're quite expensive. Either get an all-in-one deft like TPN+ or buy some dry salts and make your own macros by mixing the powder with DI water from a petrol station (the kind you put in car batteries).