What to plant into?

[The-Wolf]

ok, I'm getting into this planting thing. (Before I just added plants and when they died added more). I recently added a nutrafin CO2 unit and my tiger lillies
have grown humungus. My dwarf chain swords, vallis and java fern are all doing well too. However I am still having trouble, with my amazon swords. they are going yellow and well the best I can describe it is, they are laddering.

So I was thinking of redoing the substrate (currently just 2" pool filter sand) and here is the plan...

1/2 to 1" of fullers earth, then a layer of Sera floradepot(tm)
then my current substrate (pool filter sand). I regularly add a plant food, Sera florena(tm), and a blackwater extract, Sera morena(tm), and the tank is peat filtered.
The lights are 1x 30W sun-glow (200lux, 4,200K) and
1x 30W power-glow (135 lux, 18,000K)

My other idea was instead of the fullers earth I'd use aquatic soil, as in the type sold for pond plants.
So what do you think? Am I over/under doing it or what

 

[Angry_Platy]

Amazon swords definitely benefit grom a nutrient rich substrate. Mine were going all lacy as well when I had them growing in sand and I had to add root tabs all the time to keep them in an acceptable condition. Now I am using laterite and regular gravel the leaves are beautiful and the swords I have are growing like weeds.

In terms of nutrients I don't think you can overdo it when it comes to aquatic plants. Have you considered using the E.I. method of dosing?

 

[The-Wolf]

Thanks for the tip about Iron and root tabs.
I shall do this during the re-plant.

As for EI. I've read some of the topics and well lets just say I have a headache, so I'll not go down that road.

so as there is no negative remarks about the fullers earth I shall go ahead and do it.

To be honest I expected a lot of answers from the plant experts here, but at least no-one said you can't do that

 

[George Farmer]

Neat idea about fuller's earth. I would choose in preference over aquatic compost personally. Just ensure it gets covered well to prevent excess nutrients leeching into the water column. You don't have any digging fish do you?

http/fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/mont...6/msg00234.html

I've not heard of how successful Sera Floradepot is but I would imagine it is good stuff. From what I understand it is good for providing an initial boost of nutrients that the plant roots need (for approx 4 weeks apparently although each set-up will be different obviously). When these nutrients are used up then your fuller's earth should help provide the necessary iron etc. Your roots tabs and liquid ferts will help too.

 

[The-Wolf]

Neat idea about fuller's earth. I would choose in preference over aquatic compost personally. Just ensure it gets covered well to prevent excess nutrients leeching into the water column.

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good tip, thanks

You don't have any digging fish do you?

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only cories but it will be well out of their reach.

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> 1x 30W power-glow (135 lux, 18,000K)

That isn't doing you any favours. The output from that lamp is too high end to be useful to the vast majority of plants. Algae, on the other hand, will like it. I'd swap that out for a decent plant friendly lamp, maybe a 6700K to compliment your lower energy lamp. Which tank are we looking at BTW, that is not a lot of light.

As for the substrate, I'd say avoid the trap of getting a neatly layered substrate, it never stays neatly layered for long. A nutritious base is a good thing with rooted plants however. Something you can do is put your Fullers Earth or laterite, (etc. etc.), in and cover it with a little sand, then spread a fairly fine plastic mesh over it before adding the main depth of the sand. That allows roots to penetrate the sub stratum, but prevents fish, snails and a heavy hand with a chopstick from disturbing the fine material.

They sell substrate dividers in the LFS but they seem outrageously expensive compared to picking something simple and suitable from a DIY place or similar.

A couple of my friends have done this and recommend it totally, I've never really had burrowing fish so have not tried. I would imagine that replanting a long rooted plant which had grown through the mesh might be challenging, but then, uprooting a big plant without a mesh pulls a load of stuff up into the tank anytway...

 

[George Farmer]

>>> 1x 30W power-glow (135 lux, 18,000K)

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I've commented on this before but Wolf appears to have ok results with his current lighting.

my tiger lillies have grown humungus. My dwarf chain swords, vallis and java fern are all doing well too.

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I also find it hard to beleive that it is actually 18000K, from what I remember the output is similar to the Triton - approx 8000K, good tubes IME.

 

[Lateral Line]

I used to use those Interpet Triton lamps a lot. Less so now because they are very expensive here for some reason. I agree, good lamps, don't fade.

 

[The-Wolf]

I also find it hard to beleive that it is actually 18000K, from what I remember the output is similar to the Triton - approx 8000K, good tubes IME.

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One can only go by what is on the packging
if you want the tech specs then click the links.
Power-glo
sun-glo

maybe in a few weeks I'll change the lighting
so tell me the best ones, as they are cheap you know
(even with staff discount ).

 

[George Farmer]

I would be very tempted to try these out http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=107609
Cheaper than any "planted" tube you'll find in your shop I imagine - probably more effective too.

 

[The-Wolf]

In the words of Ned Flanders
okerly dokerly

 

[Angry_Platy]

I have used both powerglo and sunglo on my tanks before I started using power compacts and they were great at growing slimy green nuisance plants....>AKA....algae