Want Some Live Plants But Not Sure How To Go About It

[mattlee]

today i planted about 20 tall thin vallis (sorry dont know proper name) at 1 end of my tank and about 10 vallis rubry (i think) at the other. until i can get the liquid ferts that truck recommended i have placed some JBL ball things in the substrate, will these be sufficient until i can get the ferts...?
the tank looks so much better for having real plants all be it a few for now

 

[Truck]

Those little balls should he fine, along with he nutrients that the fish produce, keep lighting to 4 hours a day fr the moment

 

[mattlee]

Those little balls should he fine, along with he nutrients that the fish produce, keep lighting to 4 hours a day fr the moment

cheers truck. why should i cut the lighting down?

 

[Truck]

Just to avoid any risk of algae until you can get the fertilisers.

 

[mattlee]

Just to avoid any risk of algae until you can get the fertilisers.

ok mate thanks for the advice

 

[mattlee]

the plants i added seem to be ok but every day when i get home from work there are several leaves of the vallis floating at the top! the plants are still in the substrate its almost as if something is eating through them. could it be my apple and spixi snails....?

 

[Truck]

It could be the apple snails depending on the species, you're better off asking in the invert section, the vallis melting is its way of adapting to a new environment.

Give it a week or so and the health of the plants will pick up.

 

[mattlee]

It could be the apple snails depending on the species, you're better off asking in the invert section, the vallis melting is its way of adapting to a new environment.

Give it a week or so and the health of the plants will pick up.

thanks truck the ferts arrived yesterday and ive added 2.5 ml of each today. also im 100& sure it was the spixi apple snails eating the plants as i caught then at it so they have been removed into another tank as they have pretty much ruined all of the vallis rubry.....

 

[Truck]

Ideally you should be dosing, 8ml's of the easy carbo and 4ml for the TPN+

 

[mattlee]

Ideally you should be dosing, 8ml's of the easy carbo and 4ml for the TPN+

all the rubry has been removed or whats left of it..... so i have 1 java fern, 1 anubius and about 15 vallis nana is this dose ok for these? should i still be on a short lighting time?

 

[Truck]

up the lighting to 6 hours a day and dose half of the ferts I recommended, if you see any deficiencies, then go to full dosing.

 

[mattlee]

up the lighting to 6 hours a day and dose half of the ferts I recommended, if you see any deficiencies, then go to full dosing.

i seem to be getting alot of algae growth on the glass..... should i reduce the doses?

 

[Truck]

how long are the lights on for? and are you cycling this tank? what is circulation like?

Is it brown algae?

 

[mattlee]

how long are the lights on for? and are you cycling this tank? what is circulation like?

Is it brown algae?

lights are on for about 6 hours a day and it gets a lot of daylight s its in the conservatory, the filters are fully cycled and been running for about 6/7 months now at least, circulation is pretty good as i run 2x externals....
no not brown algae, there is some really dark green spots that are really hard to remove and patches that look like slime.....

 

[Truck]

dose a little more TPN+ the green spot algae is normally related to a phosphate shortage, decrease light to 4 hours for a few weeks and manually remove as much as possible.