Red Plants Dying?

[Ardvark]

Not sure if three of me ten plants are dying or not.
They are a red stemmed green leave plant.
The leaves on the lower part of the plants are going black and come off if I touch them.
The leaves on the upper part of the plants are still green, or could it be they haven't died yet?
The other seven plants are doing fine, five of them are sprouting new shoots.
If they are on the way out I want to get them out before they mess the water balance up.
As always ALL help and advice WILL be gratefully received.
 
                                                                              Al

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

Do you have high wattage lights?
 
Dosing any ferts?
 
Do you have a co2 system or dose liquid carbon?

 

[Ardvark]

Do you have high wattage lights? Standard lights that came with the tank. One blue and one white.
 
Dosing any ferts?  ​Don't know what you mean.
 
Do you have a co2 system or dose liquid carbon? Don't know what you mean.

 

[catfish4ever]

Do you have high wattage lights? Standard lights that came with the tank. One blue and one white.
 
Dosing any ferts?  ​Don't know what you mean.
 
Do you have a co2 system or dose liquid carbon? Don't know what you mean.

Keeping live plants without the correct knowledge is a method for disaster, especially considering the majority of "red" aquatic plants are high tech and require a lot if maintanence, I suggest you research low tech plants and their minimals needs before plunging into the world of plants,

Hope this helps

 

[techen]

Yes, Research for plants is key.
 
You must change these lights, A blue light is for marine tanks only and provide little or no light to aquatic plants. Also a lot of red plants are missold and aren't 100% underwater plants.
 
Please see:
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/296418-planted-aquariums-resource-center/

 

[fluttermoth]

I would give them a chance. A lot of plants need time to adapt after they've been moved. Although it's true that red plants do tend to need lots of light and fertilizers ('ferts'), some will adapt to lower light tanks (although they will often turn green), so don't give up on them just yet. You would need to have a tank full of dying plants to affect your water quality; just take put any dead leaves as soon as you see them and keep up your regular maintenance.

Plants are not hard, if you pick the right species. I've always had planted tanks, and have never used fertilisers, special soils or substrates, or CO2 (carbon dioxide, added to the tank in bubbles from a canister) or special lights.

 

[Ardvark]

Catfish4ever. Thanks for your slagoff. I'm new to this game. The plants I bought were from the same shop I eventually bought the fish from. I, along with many more potential fish keepers assumed that shop owner knew what they were saying when I asked for compatible plants to go in my 2' tank that will house guppies. After I read your reply I felt like ripping the lot of them out. HOWEVER. After reading Fluttermoth's reply I shall give them a bit more time. Every Sunday I do the tank maintenance so along with the water change I shall pick off the dead leaves tidy up and hope for the best.
Techen your reply and suggestion about lighting made sense, when you think that the tank supplier is trying to cater for both marine, tropical and cold water fish.
If any other members have any comments about lighting please write and let me know.
 
                                                                                                   Al

 

[ShinySideUp]

I always stick to lo-tech plants as my clown loaches will eat anything exotic therefore my tank is full of Amazon Sword plants and Vallisnaria. I do add some TNC fertiliser and Flourish Excel once a week, no more. I would love some finer plants but it is not to be.
 
Any plant I add tends to 'melt' at first before coming back to life. This is because the roots have to get in a position to pick up nutrients again and that takes a little time—not all of them make it however, depends on the root stock I suppose.

 

[catfish4ever]

Catfish4ever. Thanks for your slagoff. I'm new to this game. The plants I bought were from the same shop I eventually bought the fish from. I, along with many more potential fish keepers assumed that shop owner knew what they were saying when I asked for compatible plants to go in my 2' tank that will house guppies. After I read your reply I felt like ripping the lot of them out. HOWEVER. After reading Fluttermoth's reply I shall give them a bit more time. Every Sunday I do the tank maintenance so along with the water change I shall pick off the dead leaves tidy up and hope for the best.
Techen your reply and suggestion about lighting made sense, when you think that the tank supplier is trying to cater for both marine, tropical and cold water fish.
If any other members have any comments about lighting please write and let me know.
 
                                                                                                   Al

I wasn't slagging you off? Researching plants is basic? I somehow offended you by insisting research is vital?