Ground cover plants aren't growing

[Squawkbert]

Start adding modest amounts of ferts and don't let the CO2 crap out on you as this will promote lots of algae. Better alternatives would be steady light dosing of Excel instead of DIY CO2 (less likely to get algae going) or pressurized CO2.

In heavy doses (1mL/5g or more), Excel can start to melt vals and impede growth in bryophytes. At 1mL/10g, you should have no such problems.

Also - ground cover plants take time. If they look OK and arent' spreading, they're rooting. Once finished, they'll take off and you'll be trying to sell HM by the pound on here (just like me).

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Yeah, the plants are still green and healthy, its just that they aren't growing. I've wanted to do dry ferts, but they seem a little confusing to me. Should I just dose Excel to a half amount, dose some other liquid fertilizer at full strength, or should I just get dry ferts and learn about them? Is there a source for dry ferts that are already mixed? This is a 30 gallon tank BTW.

 

[Manzanitadude]

A bit more light and steady Co2 would be my guesses. Understand the more light you add (to a point) the more you will need regular Co2. 2.2 WPG is on the low light side for ground cover.

 

[Que]

I have had dwarf hair grass and glosso in my 2 watts/gal tanks grow well for a few weeks and then slowly die off. I think these plants were still cranking from the ferts they were getting from the growers and just ran themselves out looking for more light.

Q

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Okay, I looked at Excel and Flourish, and they both cost about $8 around here, so I think I will go with dry ferts. Problem is, I have no idea how to use them, mix them up, or dose them. Can somebody either tell me or show me a link that explains everything about dry ferts and a place to buy them at?

 

[Riiz]

Okay, I looked at Excel and Flourish, and they both cost about $8 around here, so I think I will go with dry ferts. Problem is, I have no idea how to use them, mix them up, or dose them. Can somebody either tell me or show me a link that explains everything about dry ferts and a place to buy them at?

You can actually do both, EI is the easiest method, imo. It doesnt get easier than this, and the measurements are dry quantities btw.

http://www.barrreport.com/estimative-index/2819-ei-light-those-less-techy-folks.html

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Thanks Riiz, that link helped a lot. I just need to find where ferts are sold, the links in the link didn't turn up any sources.

 

[Squawkbert]

Another helpful tool - the Fertilator over at APC.

Check it out.

 

[Riiz]

Thanks Riiz, that link helped a lot. I just need to find where ferts are sold, the links in the link didn't turn up any sources.

http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/Store.php (my pick)

or

http://www.bestaquariumregulator.com/ferts.html

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Would it be fine to use the PMDD premix for fertilizing instead of mixing my own fertilizers?