View Full Version : Can it be saved?
mldncx
02-22-2009, 6:44 AM
What's wrong with my plant?
It was all bushy and green when I put it in the tank. Over time it has started to turn brown from the bottom up and the "leaves" are falling off. The top is still bright green and growing slowly but I think the rest is in distress.
Any ideas?
tjg2007
02-22-2009, 7:20 AM
How long has it been in the tank? I put an Amazon Sword in my tank when I first set it up and over the first few weeks I thought it was a goner but then it resprouted and grew fine after that, until the tank blew a seal that is.
mldncx
02-22-2009, 9:40 AM
It's been in the tank for a month and has gradually deteriorated during that time. My java moss looks great although it's not growing much.
mldncx
02-22-2009, 11:30 AM
I feel like an idiot. I forgot to attach the pic of the plant.
Here it is.
Ozymandias
02-22-2009, 11:46 AM
what are the specs of the tank (lighting, dosing and such)?
mldncx
02-22-2009, 2:35 PM
what are the specs of the tank (lighting, dosing and such)?
The lighting is a 15 watt flourescent in a 20 gallon tank. As far as dosing, I don't. I got the plant with a batch of red cherry shrimp. I just anchored it in the gravel and hoped for the best. Guess that's not happening.
That looks like Cabomba, which is a relatively high-light requirement plant. Seems like you simply don't have enough light for it to thrive.
At less than 1wpg, you'll need to stick to Java Fern, Java Moss, and Anubias to see plant success.
Fish-Addict
02-22-2009, 2:51 PM
For future plant purchase: With low lighting, avoid plants with thin or light green leaves, or red leaves. As a rule, they are high light pants. Stich to broad leaved dark green plants.
bluekrissyspike
02-22-2009, 2:57 PM
i would upgrade the lighting, if possible to a min of 30 watts
mldncx
02-23-2009, 6:30 AM
Thanks for all the replies.
I was told that the plant was ambulia if that makes a difference in your advice.
Also, I'm not sure how I'm going to add more light. The hood has only one receptacle for a fluorescent bulb. Maybe I can find a higher wattage bulb the same length as the one that's in there.
Kashta
02-23-2009, 6:41 AM
That is an ambulia, not cabomba. And that requires medium to very high lighting. Without an upgrade on your lights, it's going to do what it's already doing.
bluekrissyspike
02-23-2009, 8:39 AM
you could move the tank closer to a window so it could get some natural light(but not directly in the sun)
fishorama
02-23-2009, 1:38 PM
My ambulia grows well in a 10g with 30w of cfls. It looked bad in my 75g with 2 w/g after a few months.
bettabrat
02-23-2009, 4:25 PM
Yup that is ambulia. I got some with my yellow shrimp. As for lighting I have 2 CFL 40 watt plant bulbs that hang over all my planted tanks. My plant has not only doubled in size since I got it but is now shooting out new shoots. Maybe look into a "plant" light that works with your aquarium? I got mine at home depot and if they sell 48" I am pretty sure you should be able to find one that fits yours, they had smaller ones there as well. I do think it can be saved with better lighting. How long are your lights on? (sorry if I missed the answer) when I got my plants I was told 10 hrs, I leave mine on about that amount of time. I turn them on at 7am and off around 5:30.
mldncx
02-23-2009, 5:57 PM
Yup that is ambulia. I got some with my yellow shrimp. As for lighting I have 2 CFL 40 watt plant bulbs that hang over all my planted tanks. My plant has not only doubled in size since I got it but is now shooting out new shoots. Maybe look into a "plant" light that works with your aquarium? I got mine at home depot and if they sell 48" I am pretty sure you should be able to find one that fits yours, they had smaller ones there as well. I do think it can be saved with better lighting. How long are your lights on? (sorry if I missed the answer) when I got my plants I was told 10 hrs, I leave mine on about that amount of time. I turn them on at 7am and off around 5:30.
I could try a "plant" light but I am restricted to one 18" bulb by my hood. That's all it will accomodate. It's worth a try if I can find one that size.
I have the tank light on for at least 10 hours every day. In addition to that, I get some indirect sunlight from the picture window on the opposite wall. That's why I didn't suspect a lighting problem.