Sword Problems

[flyhawk]

i have 2 angels
6 neons
1 pleco

 

[RadaR]

Few more Plecs could help out.
I'd test to see if it was carbon deficiency first though, by increasing the DIY CO2 or dosing EasyCarbo.

 

[MHunt]

What's your substrate? I have a soil layer below my gravel or sand, my swords go crazy for it, and if you have to take them out their roots are right along the soil layer.

 

[flyhawk]

sorry i havent posted for awhile!
i think my problem is a lack of macro nutrients
i have a small fish population
is this probable???

 

[RadaR]

Yes especially if you aren't dosing anything that would provide macro nutrients.
Tis why I recommended a Plec or two.

 

[flyhawk]

so really your telling me to go out and buy more fish!!!!!!!!!
thats awsome!!
i did want to get some bleeding heart tetras
could i also find an npk fertilizer and dose that
i went to Aqua botanic site and found out that i
think my plants are suffering from a nitroggen defecincy
they have small plants but big root systems
and are yellow

 

[RadaR]

Depends how big the tank is but yes more fish could help if you didn't want to dose. This sort of thing only works in a low light tank. In high light tanks you wouldn't want to have a large biomass of fish.
Personally I would dose an NPK fertiliser because you have more control over it. The best one is Tropica Plant Nutrition +.
The Green Machine and Aquaessentials sell it.

 

[Littlemonkey]

View attachment 56753

I don't know if this picture help's but mine are growing just from the gravel, I cut out damaged and discoloured leaves and it's amazing how quickly they re grow, I've got baby plants on the go aswell. It could well be the amount of fish you have, most of mine are hiding in this shot, also I have apple snails and Otto's which help keep the leaves clean, which helps with light absorbsion. As with Gardening sometimes it's just trial and error, I've tried many different types of aquatic plants but would never go back to fake now. Keep trying, if you want when the baby plants get bigger I could post you some.

 

[flyhawk]

whats the light on your tank?
i was planning on getting more fish anyways
my light is 2.4 or 2.6, i cant remember
i am not from anyware in europe so i dont think i can get
tpn+
i like your tank littlemonkey, i just wish my plants grew like
that!
is that anachris? does it grow good
in low tech tanks with light like mine?

 

[Littlemonkey]

Thanks Flyhawk,

They are standard tubes that came with the lid, I had to give the one in the middle a dam good chopping back recently and already it's gone bananas if it is called anachris, as you will see it reaches for the light source. Where are you based by the way.

 

[flyhawk]

i live in northern illinois rockford metro area

 

[Littlemonkey]

I don't think my plants would survive the trip, AH Bless

 

[flyhawk]

yeah i just saw that your in warwickshire

 

[aaronnorth]

You should not raise your lighting when you are having problems, this just increases growth rate and causes more problems. What signs of defficiency are your plants showing?

do not over feed plants as you will get algie - best thing before adding fluid food for plants is to iron test your water and see weather it leaks iron in the first place

over feeding dowsnt cause algae, read up on estimative index, that is all about supplying nutrients in excess o the plants do not run out. When you feed to little is when yo start to get algae problems.
Dont waste your money on a iron test kit either, your plants do this job for you

you might have too much phosphate in your water.

plants NEED phosphate

 

[flyhawk]

well on aqua botanic.com like i said, its ounded like a nitrogen
deficincy. it has yellow leaves, curling of older leaves
and a very large root system but the plant itself is very small
compared to what its supposed to be.