Newbie planted tank questions

[cerhob]

Well my 55g planted is up and running (thanks Mgamer). I've had the tank planted for about 2 weeks now. Here is my questions. :help:

1) a lot of my plants are looking brown. My Hornwort (least I think its Hornwort. It floats on the top, is really long and was at one time green) is turning brown, and a lot of the leaves have fallen off. I wish I had pictures but.. yeah. No camera. I'm using flourish twice a week and flourish excell three times a week.

2) How long should my lights be on? Currently they are on from 7am to 9pm. I fear this is too long. Could this be why my plants are brown?

Ok, thank you for all the help. You guys have always helped me out before

[Damodred]

I have virtually no aquatic plant knowledge, but I'm sure the experts will ask you exactly what lighting you have on the tank.

[Kashta]

Hornwort always does that.. it sheds needles real easy whenever you move it around from tank to tank. Lighting time varies a little depending on the conditions.. usually between 6-10 hours... not any longer than that.

[cerhob]

lighting is the 2x55watt kit from AH supply. 2wpg

[petluvr]

Hornwort always seems to do better in cooler tanks but some shedding should be expected when introducing into a new tank. 8-10 hours per day is long enough for lighting 14 hours is only asking for an algae outbreak. What other plants do you have that are turning brown other than the hornwort?

[cerhob]

well If I knew the names of them... I'd tell ya. My mosses arn't looking to good (Java and fire). I got some anubs nana that a lot of the leafs went away... Some of my Anacharis looks brownish. (the new growths look fine.)

[petluvr]

The anacharis will brown while acclimating. Your plants may just be getting used to your tank.

[debaric]

some say the anacharis might die with the addition of flourish excel.

[cerhob]

the anacharis in my 10g is growing like crazy!! (2wpg on that tank as well) I'm using excel in there as well so I don't think it's killing it.

[Squeakfish]

Flourish excel is known to melt floating stem nutrient hogs like anacharis and hornwort. Mosses will brown in high light as they attempt to adjust. It may be that your plants are just trying to acclimate themselves. Give them a week or so, things should improve.

[Kashta]

So far, everything you've described sounds normal for the first 2 weeks after buying plants. I wouldn't worry too much about it yet, cerhob. Just don't make any drastic changes for a while yet as they get settled in... other than cutting back on your photoperiod.

I'm not well versed on dosing enough to comment about that part.. but the others will when they get to this thread.

[cerhob]

alright thank you all!

I just didn't want to be failing in the planted tank hobby. I really love the look of things. I'm waiting to see how things grow so see where they all need to be planted.

Again, many thanks.