Having no luck with plants.....

[myswtsins]

I have been keeping fish for 5 1/2 months and I have learned A LOT I must say but not nearly enough. I started off my 35 Hex as a planted tank because based on my research it definitely seemed the best route. Well it has not worked for me. I had Anacharis, Anubias Nana & Java Ferns with only 15 watts for 12 hrs a day, seachem fluorite mixed with natural gravel, no ferts or CO2. (Everyone said 15 watts was fine for my plant selection & everything was added on Day 3 including 3 cherry barbs except gravel & deco which was day 1) Here were my water parameters after cycling (when things really seemed to get bad)...

Ph - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nirites - 0
Nitrates - 10
Total Hardness - 25 ppm
Kh - 13 dKH
(BTW I have had the plants out of the tank since 5-21-08 and the parameters are still exactly the same)

Here is what was happening to each...
Anachris - old growth turned transparent brown and died off, almost looked dusty, while new growth always came in bright and beautiful until it became old growth.
Anubias - new growth would be great for a short time then become completely see through, dark green leaves and curling edges
Java Fern - brown brown brown with some transparent leaves
After the plants kept "dying" I moved them to a 10 gal (setup just for them) with 30 watts 12 hrs a day, no flourite mix & 2 zebra danios. They perked up a litle, I added my betta...still perky. Then all the sudden went back to dying and the anubias has lots of black spots & coating on it now too. I have a feeling the new growth vs. new growth should give an indication of the problem but I am unable to pin point it. Also the cycle seems almost complete on the 10 gal now, another sign maybe? Any help?

Sorry about the long post, I try to give all possible details! =)

 

[DAVIDFBT]

For the 35 hex, that is too little lighting for those plants, upgrade to at least 1 Watt per Gallon. (wpg)

If you had put the plants in the 10 gallon first, they would have continued growing. But I think the spots on the anubias are either algea from too much light or that the plant can't handle that much light.

 

[dafishydude]

The 35 hex is too tall to use only a fifteen watt bulb. Not much light can reach the plants. I have a 37 tall with a twenty watt bulb and my anubias are growing well. I would say you need to upgrade your lighting system to around one to two watts per gallon. Your plants should do great then. keep working at it!

 

[RockysDad]

I agree with all the above. You need more light. You might want to think about a single 55W CF from AHSupply. This could work out to be about 1WPG at your depth.

No lights = no plant growth...

 

[myswtsins]

After the plants kept "dying" I moved them to a 10 gal (setup just for them) with 30 watts 12 hrs a day, no flourite mix & 2 zebra danios.

I do not have the plants in the 35 Hex anymore, I am having trouble with them now in the 10 gal.

The algae does seem to be an issue in the 10 gal though. The hard green spot algae is just spreading like crazy. I cut the lights back to only 9 hrs.

I really hope someone can help me with this. =(

 

[Hurley]

30 watts over a 10 gallon is pretty high. I would try something a little less powerful and that should help with the algea problem. Also, how often are you doing water changes? If you aren't adding fertilizers or co2, your water changed are what will refresh your water of trace minerals and such for your plants to use. You might also want to think about dosing with Flourish Excel which is a liquid carbon suppliment for your plants that will help them grow. Especially if you keep the high amount of light on your tanks.

 

[Squawkbert]

What sort of test kit do you have?
8.2 is pretty high for pH...

 

[myswtsins]

Thanks for the responses. I actually have 2-15 watts strips over the tank. I had 1 15 watts strip thinking 1.5 watts per gallon is good enough for low light plants but I came to find out the wpg rule doesn't work the same on small tanks so I was advised to add the second strip. I have a 17 watt strip I could try.

I do a water change once a week, how much differs every week because with the algae lately I can only vaccum half the gravel before I am down to 70% water level. So the water changes have been about 20-30%.

Yes my Ph is high. I use a master test kit. I have well water that is very hard but is mechanical softened so yea here I am. =)

 

[Hurley]

The watts per gallon rule is kinda just a guideline but since you are having algae problems and are not adding extra ferts or co2/excel I would def. cut your wattage. Especially since the plants you have in the 10 gallon are slow growers and low light plants.