Plants Dying

[sic0198]

I have a tank with a couple convicts in there with fry. I have problems with keeping plants in there. And no, it's not the cons, they don't mess with the plants. But the fry stays there but I couldn't imagine the tiny things being a threat to plants, however there are maybe 100 of them. Anyway, I use a canister filter with acticated carbon. I've heard activated carbon can remove minerals from the water. This would have a negative effect on plants. What can I do to counter this.

 

[Tag2008]

I used to keep a pair of convicts a couple of years ago and they were like bulldozers.. they dug up everything in my tank with their digging pits.

Absolutly amazing fish to watch and breed like rabbits but destroyed every tank layout with sand or plants I had them in...

 

[Colin_T]

Remove the carbon from the filter so it doesn't absorb any plant fertilisers from the water.
Make sure you get true aquatic plants and not marsh plants. Try Ambulia, Elodia, Hygrophilla sp, Swordplants and Vallis.
Make sure you have a light on the tank and it is run for 10-16hours per day. Start with 10hours per day and if you don't get much algae then you can increase the photoperiod. If you get lots of algae then decrease the lighting period.
Ambulia and the Hygrophillas will actually close up their leaves when they have had enough light.
Use a liquid iron fertiliser to help the plants grow. Sera Florena is pretty good.