Plants Unhappy.

[Si_B]

Hi, I am currently fishless cycling my tank, and have a few plants in there.

They were all doing well, but unfortunately my cabomba have started to go very pale, thin, and fragile at the growing tips.

I have a sand substrate with a plant base under that, 2 (new) T5 tubes on 10 hours a day, no co2 or plant food added as yet.

Any suggestions? Is it a nutrient deficiency? Do I need to start adding a liquid fertiliser?

 

[KittyKat]

Plants don't do well in fish-less cycle tanks because ammonia would basically be poisoning them. I suggest just replace them when you are done or take them out for now and keep them in another container.

 

[Si_B]

Ta, I didnt think a few ppm of ammonia would hurt them, the snails seen to love it, 3 hitchiker species so far

If all else fails I'll completely empty and clean the tank when cycled, and replace anything I have to.

 

[Amunet]

Honestly, not sure what could be going wrong, but I fishless cycled w/ plants in the tank and had absolutely no problem.
I have had trouble with cabomba before though. It would grow like crazy and then all of a sudden start to die off. Not sure why, maybe b/c it uses up all of the nutrients in the water?
Hopefully someone will be able to give you some insight as to what may be going on.

 

[RadaR]

Yes, plants can use ammonia to utilise the nitrogen. So ammonia burning even at 4ppm shouldnt be the problem.
It's best to not do a fishless cycle with plants or the lights on because you get algae. Also, the plants will use up most of the ammonia, therefore delaying the cycle.
2xt5 bulbs with no CO2 isnt the best. Undoubtly they're going to need extra CO2 if you've got that much light. They're probably starving for carbon and because they're not getting that, they're dieing.

 

[Si_B]

Yeah, could be C02 lack I guess.

I will just remove the unhealthy plants as required.

I might look into a C02 solution for the lng term, if I need to, although I was hoping to avoid the hassle if I could

Thanks.

 

[JoshuaA]

Yes, plants can use ammonia to utilise the nitrogen. So ammonia burning even at 4ppm shouldnt be the problem.
It's best to not do a fishless cycle with plants or the lights on because you get algae. Also, the plants will use up most of the ammonia, therefore delaying the cycle.
2xt5 bulbs with no CO2 isnt the best. Undoubtly they're going to need extra CO2 if you've got that much light. They're probably starving for carbon and because they're not getting that, they're dieing.

I agree completely with Radar, I imagine the Co2 is the contributing factor to their failure.

I had the same plants do really well in my fishless cycle and I left my lights on, I only did this once the cycle was nearing the end (i.e ammonia was clearing up fast) in a hope to avoid algae, which it did. Plopped the plants in and set the light on a timer. Though my light was merely 11w over a 40l tank so I don't think they were having a problem with CO2.

I also had many hitch hiking snails which lived throughout the entire cycle (came on a filter sponge from another tank I imagine). Then when I added plants more micro life appeared small planaria etc. Once the tank was cycled drained and refilled and stocked.... All that micro life went haha hungry hungry fish.

 

[RadaR]

although I was hoping to avoid the hassle if I could

Decrease your lighting then.

 

[Si_B]

After spending 40 quid on new bulbs?

Although do you mean reduce the on-time? I'll try 8 hours.

I have a little bit of algae and some snails, but like Joshua says, the fish will do a better job than I can of clearing that up.

I love the look of fully planted tanks, but whether the long-term maintenance and management agrees with me, we'll have to see.