Plants Keep Dying

[blueflash]

I don't know why, but my plants keep dying!

These are my water parameters:
Ph: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0

I use the API master test kit.
I have two 10 watt flourescent lights and gravel.
Also, I use the flourish excel plant food.

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong and how to fix it?

 

[ez_101]

I'm no expert but I think you will need to list your lighting set up and times, tank size and stock

 

[coldcazzie]

Also a picture of any plants would help with a description of what happens before they die

 

[SLIM]

0 Nitrate? Are you using the nitrate test kit properly? Give the test bottle 2 a good few hard bangs on a hard surface and shake really really well before using or you wont get the true ppm colour. This is a pain with the api nitrate test kit but this must be done to get an accurate result.

If your nitrates are indeed 0, maybe thats the problem.
Plants need nitrates and phosphates even in simple set ups.
If the plants are absorbing more nitrates and phosphates than your bio filter is producing, you may want to think about dosing nitrates and phosphates as seperate fertilizers.

Anybody feel free to correct me if im wrong

 

[blueflash]

Sorry... I can't post any pics because my plants all died and I can;t get more until I figure out the problem.
What would be a good brand for Nitrate and Phosphate fertilizer?

 

[SLIM]

I use Easylife Ferro (phosphates) and Nitro (nitrates) which are very good but not the cheapest.
They can be found on thegreenmachine website.
Im sure there are other brands out there that contain both in one bottle. Im sure seachem also do them.
For good plant growth, nitrates need to be around 20-30ppm and phosphates need to be around 1-2ppm. Only dose when levels are low unless your planning on having a heavily planted tank. Api do a phosphate test kit which is handy to have in low tech setups. Too much phosphate and your get algae problems.

Out of interest what is your tank size, what fish do you have and what lighting? T5s? T8s? And total wattage?

 

[SO19Firearms]

Sorry... I can't post any pics because my plants all died and I can;t get more until I figure out the problem.
What would be a good brand for Nitrate and Phosphate fertilizer?

Easy-life & Seachem do good single nutrient bottles. Tropica, The Nutrient Company and TMC do good All-in-One's.
At the risk of saving yourself a bucket load of money you could look into making your own All-in-One using James' recipes or The Estimative Index.....
The flourish Excel you have is an alternative to CO2.

 

[SLIM]

Thats what I thought. Florish excel isnt enough on it own. It doesnt contain key nutrients like iron and potassium. Excel is like a liquid co2 additive.
I still think its strange having 0 nitrates. Assuming your tank is cycled you should have at least some traces of nitrates.