Plants Don't Pearl...

[toxik]

Ok here's the deal.
When I first set up my girlfriends 36g bow, I built a custom light with 4 20w tubes. I had java ferns and other easy plants. I also had the nutrifin co2 thing on a custom mix. They pearled a little.
Months went by and I replaced the tubes after 12 months with tubes made for plants. They never did pearl again.

Just recently I purchased a Current 65w x 2 PC fixture to replace the hideous light I had made and in hopes to be able to increase plant growth and be able to grow more difficult species. It came with a 6500/10000 and an actinic 50/50, I replaced the actinic with a 6500K bulb. The overall light output increased by at least 100%. But the plants don't seem to be doing any better. I'm running co2 and ferts, no carbon, plenty of flow. Nothing has pearled, leaves seem like they have stopped dieing though, but that could be because I changed fert brands. It's been roughly 3 weeks with the new light.

I don't test the tank, so I'll try testing it this week.

 

[Themuleous]

A few suggestions really,

Plants pearl due to the water in the tank becoming saturated with O2, and so anything more the plants produce forms little bubbles on the leaves rather than diffusing into the water. Have you increased the surface agitation recently? That could increase the O2 being driven off and thus prevent the water from being saturated with O2.

Also, plants need time to adapt to new lighting, simply adding more doesn't necessarily mean the plants will pearl, although granted I would expect signs after threes weeks under the new lights.

Lastly, I take it the ferts you are using are adequate? I.e. provide a complete range of nutrients? A lack of just one essential nutrient could be preventing the plants from reaching their full potential.

Just a few suggestions, hope they help

Sam

 

[toxik]

well that would explain why they stopped pearling. They pearled when I had only a few fish. Now it's heavily stocked to i guess the plants produce just enough to replenish what the fish have used....solves my question. just as long as they don't die on me.

thanks.