white leaves

[isaac newton]

The leaves of one of my plants (dont know the name, petco just puts down, Stem plants 1.25) is becoming pale and white.. I use flora pride and apply it every water change. (which is once a month :p ) It says apply 5 ml every change..

Question, should i get new fertilizer (i.e. root tabs)?? Or am i applying too little?

P.S. I hear their are home made fertilzers :D Could somone pass me a link or explane how make it? Ill try to get a picture up here..

[djlen]

What size tank? How much lighting? How many fish? How many plants? Substrate type? These are questions that will help us advise you when we know the answers.
Why do you only do a monthly water change? Even if you don't dose trace elements a weekly water change would replenish your traces to some degree.
Len

[TomFromStLouis]

Plus, you have read this one right?

http://aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12585

[isaac newton]

I have a 10 gallon tank. 3 watts per gallon. about 13 fish... Onyx sand substrate.. How would regular water changes add trace elements????

P.S. ON the last post i checked that.. Im a bit confused a..w I am not a chemist so really dont know where to get those...

[TomFromStLouis]

I think Len is suggesting that tap water contains some trace elements. As to the chemistry, join the club pal. I got a "C" and that was nearly 30 years ago.

Just know that each alpha symbol (like K, P or whatever) comes from a product like Fleet enema, stump remover or whatever. A close reading of the referenced thread should connect most of the dots for you. Study it as if the test were tomorrow.

[djlen]

Issac, let's keep it simple. I don't know what's in flora pride so I can't comment on it. You do have 3watts of light per gallon. You will have algae issues with that much light unless you balance the light with plants and feed them properly so they can grow.
They need N = nitrates, P = phosphates, K = potassium, Trace elements, and carbon in addition to the light you are already supplying to grow well. These are all easy to obtain and ensure happy plants.
You can get them in SeaChem products. They will have directions as to dosages on them, and you won't need do dose a lot with a 10gal. tank. You can get the "generic" versions of some of them more cheaply at your pharmacy and your supermarket than buying them at your LFS.
How many, and what kind of plants do you have?
Len

[isaac newton]

I really dont know the name of the plants (in petco they just call them stem plants :)).... I have a picture.. Give me some time to post it.. thx for your help..


p.s. Where can K and P from?? if i go to the pharmacy, what products give those out in pure forms???

[Tempest]

K is potassium and you can get that at the grocery store in salt substitute.. Potassium chloride.. Or you can buy potassium sulfate through a hydroponics store.

P is phosphate and it is in Fleet's enema.

I get my fertilizer chemicals online from Plant Guild:

http://www.plantguild.com/index.html

[isaac newton]

Since these nutrients are found in many fruits and cerals.. Couldnt you just grind them up to a find dust and put them in ur tank???