HELP!! beginner plant keeper and not going well..

bellazeus

bellazeus

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Feb 7, 2008
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I decided to try a planted 36 gallon.. but since I didnt have money for new lights got what I was told was low light plants.. I also put some plant fertilizer in. Its been just over a week and my Vals are falling apart. :( They are going brown and mushy and then just breaking off.

I have one lifeglo2 30 watt. Its on about 14 hours a day.

Is there any other possible reason why this is happening other than the light? I just wanted to make sure before I made the decision wether to go back to plastic or buy a new light. The guy from the fish shop said I wouldnt have a problem. (I know thats what they all say but this fish shop actually has a good reputation! )

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The photo is a little deceiving as it shows a bit of yellow.. but my plants are not going yellow.. straight from green to brown.

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Also does anyone know what these plants are called? The one on the right is the only one that seems to be thriving.

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One of the residents... take note of all the dead leaves... I only gravel vac yesterday :(
 
Fishy_Fun said:
alot of plants go through a process called melting where alot or almost all the leaves fall off after being put into a new/different aquarium.After about 1-2 weeks they should start improving.

Edit:did they have white roots when you bought them?Thats a good sign that there healthy
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bellazeus:

FF is "right smooth on here" with his comments.

To add to his comments:

Do have "Laterite" or equal in your substrate?

Are you dosing Flourish with the recommended or twice the recommended dosage?

As you did mention 14hrs/day but did not mention algae, IMHO, a lack of nutrients may be part of the problem.

TR
 
Thanks for the quick reply... I have nothing in the substrate.. I asked if I should... and was told that for these plants it wasnt needed.

I dont have flourish but I used flora vit, flora fe and flora pure.. with slightly more than the recommended dose...

I dont have algae.. yet my nitrates are quite high (even with 40% weekly water changes) and was told this would be enough nutrients.
 
The first two plants appear not to be aquatic plants at all and that is why they are dying. They look like Acorus and Ophiopogon to me. The first might be Vallis, in which case excessively soft water might be to blame.

The last plant appears to be Madagascar lace, which is quite a hard plant to grow. It doesn't like overly warm tanks. It may, however, pick up once it's established.
 
Not that Im doubting you.. but why would top (well as good a reputation as any around these neck of the woods) aquariums sell non aquatic plants? :angryfire: I know a few of the crap petshops do.. but they dont really give a **** about their reputations.

Unofrtunately its not soft water to blame.. mine is medium hard edging more towards hard.

p.s.... that most definately is madagascar lace.. but its plastic ;)
 
bellazeus said:
Not that Im doubting you.. but why would top (well as good a reputation as any around these neck of the woods) aquariums sell non aquatic plants? :angryfire: I know a few of the crap petshops do.. but they dont really give a **** about their reputations.

Unofrtunately its not soft water to blame.. mine is medium hard edging more towards hard.

p.s.... that most definately is madagascar lace.. but its plastic ;)
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You'd think, wouldn't you? But they do. I can't be totally sure about the top one but the middle one is definitely Ophiopogon
 
bellazeus said:
I have nothing in the substrate.. I asked if I should... and was told that for these plants it wasnt needed.
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IMHO this is true but due to the minimal cost of laterite why not use it and not worry about the disperssion of fert tabs?

bellazeus said:
I dont have flourish but I used flora vit, flora fe and flora pure.. with slightly more than the recommended dose...
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I stated Flourish because I tried another product and my plants and fishies suffered.
Having said that I do not have experience with the liquid ferts which you quoted.


bellazeus said:
I dont have algae.. yet my nitrates are quite high (even with 40% weekly water changes) and was told this would be enough nutrients.
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:headshake2::jaw-dropping::nilly::rofl:
We are talking past each other here. The high nitrates may be coming from your tap water and "nitrates alone will sustain plants".

TR
 
It wasnt the cost of the laterite.. its that i didnt even know it existed :) The guy actually told me that they get all their plants substrate off the side of the road near my house and use it on all their tanks. But that it would be a pain to put in my tank since I only just put in new gravel a month ago and I would have to pull everything back out again. In his opinion it would be more hassle than its worth. So I just let it go.

I went and got Flourish today and dosed the tank. I also got a new globe of what I already had as I have had a few people tell me that since its over 2 years ago its probably not so good anymore.

The nitrates are not coming out of my tap.. I tested it and my other tank doesnt have a problem. Thanks for your help.. Ill see how the flourish goes and the new globe. If it doesnt work Ill definitely take it all apart and put laterite in and try again (with aquatic plants this time :mad2:) Even with them dying im already hooked on planted aquariums.. it just looks soooo much better!! :)
 
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