Why Are My Plants Going Brown?

[Rorie]

In the articles which are linked, it says to make up one part i need v Normal Hydrochloric Acid. What is this? Where can i get it from? It does not seem to be on the website which it gives as an example as a place to get all the stuff needed.

It gives instructions for how to make up a solution. I guess this means i can just make up a liquid solution and then add that daily? Sounds perfect

 

[RadaR]

In the articles which are linked, it says to make up one part i need v Normal Hydrochloric Acid. What is this? Where can i get it from? It does not seem to be on the website which it gives as an example as a place to get all the stuff needed.

It's just there to act as a preservative. I wouldnt worry about it unless you plan to make litres of the stuff.

It gives instructions for how to make up a solution. I guess this means i can just make up a liquid solution and then add that daily? Sounds perfect

Yep, and it's cheaper.

 

[Rorie]

ok. I found something on their website - Ascorbic Acid. Is that the same thing?

Well, with my rough calculations, for a tank my size, £30 of ADA will last me 27 days.....£32 of dry chemicals from this place will last me 255 days with plenty of some stuff left over! Amazing

 

[RadaR]

ok. I found something on their website - Ascorbic Acid. Is that the same thing?

No.
Ascorbic acid
Hydrochloric acid

The Ascorbic acid is added to all in one solutions (a solution with macro and micro nutrients in, like Tropica Plant Nutrition+) to combat the issue of Fe (iron) and PO4 (phosphate) interaction. This interaction could form a precipitate if ascorbic acid wasnt also present.

 

[Rorie]

ok. I found something on their website - Ascorbic Acid. Is that the same thing?

No.
Ascorbic acid
Hydrochloric acid

The Ascorbic acid is added to all in one solutions (a solution with macro and micro nutrients in, like Tropica Plant Nutrition+) to combat the issue of Fe (iron) and PO4 (phosphate) interaction. This interaction could form a precipitate if ascorbic acid wasnt also present.

Ah, ok. So what where do I get the stuff I need?

 

[RadaR]

The All in One Solution guide
Links at the bottom of page which will show you sites that sell ingrediants.

 

[Rorie]

haha, now i am confused!!!

In the artical you linked to initially, EI explained, it gives information for "Using solutions", which i assumed was information for making up a liquid solution which was then simple to use each day, rather than mixing the dry chemicals every day?

Just above that part, it gives the measurements for mixing them - and there it mentions the acid.

The new link you have shown me is obviously for making up a solution too, but it uses a few more things...... so i am confused as to what to do

 

[RadaR]

The first link explains EI and how to dose from dry salts. It also describes how you can make up a solution for macro nutrients and how you can also make up a solution for trace elements (micro nutrients). Both a separate solutions.
You seemed keen on making an "all in one solution" though

I guess this means i can just make up a liquid solution and then add that daily?

Which is just one solution that contains everything, so you dose this everyday. Therefore I posted the second link which contains intructions for an "all in one solution"

 

[Rorie]

ah ok, i get you!

Well, that was bad wording on my part. I am happy with the 2 solutions and running that weekly cycle. So i gather everything i have got (as listed on the website) is fine for that. The second link is for a concoction which allows me to add the same thing every day, rather than one of two every other day?

I think i will stick with the two solutions - seem simpler and cheaper as there are less things to add haha

 

[Rorie]

time to bring this back up

i have now got the materials, and made up the solutions. I can't believe how little i need.... just 36ml per day for one of them....and that is not much powder for each!! I am surprised such little amounts of solution can distribute its self around the 360L of aquarium!!

Anyway, i have a question.... i bought magnesium sulphate, as one site that was referenced in this thread suggested to add it each day. But now i am reading James' planted tank and he suggests

"Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts) – added if you tap water is low in magnesium".

So do i only need it if its low in my tap water? how would i know? And if its good to add it anyway, how much should i add to the 250ml solution make up on James's website?

 

[RadaR]

You cant really tell how much magnesium your water has without a proper test kits from a lab. Even if you check the GH from the water board, the GH is the measure of calcium and magneisum. Your GH could be high, however it doesnt tell you whether its high in both or whether its jsut high in just calcium, but low magnesium.
Dose it and see if you get better growth/better greens. You should be able to tell whether you think it's making a difference within 2-3weeks.
You cant dissolve more than 63g of Magnesium sulphate in 250ml of water.

60g of magnesium sulphate in 250ml. Then if you dose 1ml of this solution into your tank (360l), then it will raise the magnesium by 0.07ppm.
So dose 25ml of this (1.75ppm), twice a week. See how things go.

 

[Rorie]

thats great, thank you

 

[Rorie]

Hi again,

I have now been running this system for about a week....but my plants are going even more brown!

The strange thing is that they are growing! My tall grass must have nearly doubled in hight and so i cut it back a couple days ago. But it only appears to be the upper most part which is green - below that is brown!

I have checked my CO2 and its getting distributed really well, so its not that....

The dwarf grass which i have does not look to be growing, but i can see some roots forming through the glass in the substrate, so i think it is...but slowly! Some bits of that have gone brown too!

My moss totally died off, but i think that because it was too close to my lights

Any other ideas I dont want to loose all my plants!

 

[RadaR]

It's common for the tops of hairgrass plants to die off initially. It's usually reccomended that when you by them, you cut off all but 2cm above the roots. Throw away the rest. So now you have the root structure with a bit of growth ontop. Plants these and you should see new growth soon. The reason for the die off is that most aquatics plants are grown emersed in the nurserys. The leafs have to shed to adapt back to underwater conditions.
Maybe try turn the CO2 up a little bit more. Watch the fish though and resort back to normal if you see them gasping of acting drunk.
Water changes should be 50% per week.
Skip to 7mins and 35 seconds in this video. It will show how to plant hairgrass.

 

[Rorie]

It's common for the tops of hairgrass plants to die off initially. It's usually reccomended that when you by them, you cut off all but 2cm above the roots. Throw away the rest. So now you have the root structure with a bit of growth ontop. Plants these and you should see new growth soon. The reason for the die off is that most aquatics plants are grown emersed in the nurserys. The leafs have to shed to adapt back to underwater conditions.
Maybe try turn the CO2 up a little bit more. Watch the fish though and resort back to normal if you see them gasping of acting drunk.
Water changes should be 50% per week.
Skip to 7mins and 35 seconds in this video. It will show how to plant hairgrass.

Yeh i did that with the grass. Its not the top thats gone brown with them, but the odd 'plug' of grass has gone brown....as in the whole plug!

The tall grass is brown lower down, where it is thicker clumped together.

My CO2 is already making my drop checkers light green....i have heard i can go up to just before they turn yellow?