browning plants

  • Get the NEW AquariaCentral iOS app --> http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1227181058 // Android version will be out soon!
juancruz05

juancruz05

AC Members
Jul 29, 2013
17
0
0
San Diego, CA
Real Name
Juan
hey everyone, i have a 55g planted tank and recently my ferns have started to turn brown. i have bought and added potassium to see if that helps. Also i have two filters going and keep it lighted about 10 hours per day. aquarium has been planted for over a month now with 9 fish

20130816_124719.jpg

20130816_124719.jpg
 
Last edited:
Slappy*McFish

Slappy*McFish

Global Moderator
Staff member
Feb 18, 2002
7,835
48
75
Raleigh, NC
Are you carbon dosing? (CO2/Excel, etc)
 
juancruz05

juancruz05

AC Members
Jul 29, 2013
17
0
0
San Diego, CA
Real Name
Juan
i am currently not using CO2. i was thinking of either going the DIY yeast and sugar over the liquid carbon. any suggestions?
 
juancruz05

juancruz05

AC Members
Jul 29, 2013
17
0
0
San Diego, CA
Real Name
Juan
i have a 55g with gravel
fish stock - 10 phantom tetras, 4 lamp eye tetras, 1 clown pleco.
plant stock - java fern, amazon swords, anubis and some java moss
lighting - 2- 18"/15W fluorescent bulbs

 
Slappy*McFish

Slappy*McFish

Global Moderator
Staff member
Feb 18, 2002
7,835
48
75
Raleigh, NC
Your lighting is extremely low and almost ineffective on a 55g for even 'low-light' plants for the long-term. I'd consider upgrading to at least a 2X40W T12 fixture. A Single T5HO with good reflector or a pair of PC or T5NO bulbs would be better, as well. DIY CO2 on a 55g is barely manageable, but better than nothing when the plants show symptoms of needing it. You'd just need to keep an eye on it and replace the mixture every week to keep the CO2 pumping out at a decent level. Dosing Excel would be helpful, too.
 
ROYWS3

ROYWS3

AC Members
Aug 29, 2000
1,104
1
38
59
North-Central PA
Real Name
Roy
API's CO2Booster is a great product -- better that Seachem's Flourish Excel IMHO. NOw that you have so much light you need to add a lot of fast growing plants so algae doesn't over run the place. Get some stem plants -- rotala, ludwigia, hygrophilia difformis, etc and some Vals. You want your plants using the nutrients and the light, not the algae.

BTW, what size and what brand of T5HO did you get??
 
G

goneRogue

AC Members
Aug 2, 2013
50
0
0
I would supplement phosphate. No need to add co2 or excel as that will only exacerbate the problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store
Top Bottom