Planted 125 help

[user_name]

My 125 has been acting funky lately, where some plants do amazingly good and other plants seem to crap out on me. Plants like wisteria grow like weeds, but my crypt lutea has barely grown, as has my java fern. What are plants that would appreciate similar conditions to the wisteria? I'm going to move all my crypts and ferns into my 55, where they grow wicked fast and hopefully replace them with faster growing plants.

Also, what are some plants that are good space fillers? I have lots of empty space in the tank, and would like to fill it up more.

 

[jpappy789]

Well, to be fair, Crypts and java ferns are naturally slow growers where as wisteria does seem to grow like a weed when in good conditions. Pretty much all stem plants are like that when their needs are met.

 

[ROYWS3]

How long has your tank been set up and what kind of substrate are you using. Crypts don't usually do well in early setups / nutrient poor substrates.

Vals fill a space quickly

As Pappy said, Java Fern is just a slow grower by nature

 

[dundadundun]

My 125 has been acting funky lately, where some plants do amazingly good and other plants seem to crap out on me. Plants like wisteria grow like weeds, but my crypt lutea has barely grown, as has my java fern. What are plants that would appreciate similar conditions to the wisteria? I'm going to move all my crypts and ferns into my 55, where they grow wicked fast and hopefully replace them with faster growing plants.

Also, what are some plants that are good space fillers? I have lots of empty space in the tank, and would like to fill it up more.

i think you just told me;

the 125 has been up for a while
the plants are competing and the aggressive feeders are winning out
you don't have enough coverage for competition for light.

without knowing much more about your tank, this is pointing at poor gas exchange at the surface and co2 competition. the faster grower is more aggressive at consumption leaving the slower growers barely enough to keep "their heads above water".

if this is the case, more slower growers might afford you more coverage... but aggressive feeders and faster growers are going to consume co2 to their detriment.

best logical options if i'm even in the ball park...

slow growers... when they start looking ratty trim the mass heavily to allow room for growth again.
co2... bet you didn't see that coming
lots more surface agitation... let's try to keep that co2 at equilibrium with the atmosphere at the very least.

 

[user_name]

i think you just told me;

the 125 has been up for a while
the plants are competing and the aggressive feeders are winning out
you don't have enough coverage for competition for light.

without knowing much more about your tank, this is pointing at poor gas exchange at the surface and co2 competition. the faster grower is more aggressive at consumption leaving the slower growers barely enough to keep "their heads above water".

if this is the case, more slower growers might afford you more coverage... but aggressive feeders and faster growers are going to consume co2 to their detriment.

best logical options if i'm even in the ball park...

slow growers... when they start looking ratty trim the mass heavily to allow room for growth again.
co2... bet you didn't see that coming
lots more surface agitation... let's try to keep that co2 at equilibrium with the atmosphere at the very least.

You nailed it here, it sounds like I need more light + ferts/nutrients to compensate for the amount of plants? I get plenty of surface agitation, although I'll be adding more via a AC 110 or another canister once my next pay check comes. For now I hooked up a few airstones to add a least a little more agitation and circulation.

For substrate I have pool filter sand over a layer of red flourite, although the flourite has started to mix with the sand more.

Would an increase in water changes make a difference, or will I be removing food for the plants? I have no ammonia, nitrate or nitrite problems with my current schedule of 1-2 times a week, at 30% ish a change but am worried that it's removing plant nutrients. I'm tempted to up the stocking a bit and increase wc schedule, that way I get more out of the tank and my plants have more fertilizer to work with. Current stock is a ~6" JD and 2 giant danios

 

[dundadundun]

how are you currently fertilizing?
what's your gh/kh?
what's your lighting? got any readings?
dosing carbon? how?

without knowing your levels, equipment and routines, there's no way to suggest doing anything differently about lighting or ferts.

wisteria doing well while shorter plants are not may suggest you need a bit of help in the light area... or taller undemanding plants.

i would definitely target feed any rooted plants at the root zone in that substrate.

water changes are always a plus. plants like fresh, new water as much or more than fish IMO. dunno how you're doing w/c's now, but this is a life saver for large w/c's on bigger tanks...

hands free... drains to the garden or tub... drains and fills FAST... bucket gets carried empty... each direction... one time... gets filled and drained for media cleaning and kicked over before moving.

 

[user_name]

2 36" fixtures that came with the tank, which have 2 24" bulbs. Lights are on for about 10 hours a day, on a timer. I'm considering getting a better light fixture, what would work best for growing plants like crypt lutea, anubias, java fern, wisteria and amazon swords? I *might* be able to hang it from the ceiling, but I have to run that by my parents first. I probobly can't build a canopy for the lights either, as the garage is filled with stuff for the boat I'm working on and there's no space to get anything besides boat crap done right now.

I just have the layer of red florite underneath my pool filter sand for ferts. The crypt lutea and java fern grow fine in my 55 with just pool filter sand for substrate and no ferts, but the wisteria dies quickly in there. I think that fert wise I'm good for the wisteria in the 125, and that getting bigger/better lights might be the solution. I'm no expert, so any ideas are greatly appreciated!


I'm considering build a box like thing out of the egg crate, and then put it in the back with anubias on top and plants/moss blocking the front/sides to make it appear like the plants are higher than they really are. With such a small JD and a light stocking, the swimming space it takes out isn't that big of a deal. I might even make it into a cave, that way there's a nice hide for the JD or any bottom dwellers I get in the future.


That's an awesome set up for water changes, currently I hook up the hose outside to an aqueon water changer with extension and lock the end that goes into the tank with a suction cup. I stay in the room while it's filling/draining though, and it goes relatively quickly considering how much water I replace. (30% in a 125 and 55)


Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I'm also thinking about what fish would be good additions as far as stocking is concearned. The Jurupari have been sold, so it's just the 5-6" JD and 2 giant danios right now but I want to add more fish that won't mess with my plants. I plan to use egg crate to keep the plants from being uprooted once the JD gets really big, although he seems to ignore them now. Thanks for all the help, I'll try to get some pics of the tank soon.

 

[dundadundun]

maybe the ceiling isn't an option... but if you can attach a couple poles to your stand and hang some light from there, you'll be well on your way. check this out... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1592178

with that, you can go a little over board with your lights and use height of the fixture to dial in the right coverage and brightness the tank gets. much better than buying fixture after fixture trying to get it just perfect, or marring up your parents ceiling.

two 30" or 36" fixtures would work fine and probably cost less to start, but one 72" fixture would look a lot better. since you don't seem to want co2 on the bear of a tank, you don't have to go overboard looking for the best lights/reflectors, etc., but t5ho would be a good idea if you have the adjustability afforded by hanging the fixture.

that crypt lutea is almost definitely not getting enough light. not so sure on the ferns as they're likely attached to decor and closer to the lights.

i would skip the egg crate box idea. too much work for too little pay off and likely to be an eye sore if you can't get it completely covered/hidden.

a root tab under each crypt wouldn't be a bad idea.

if you have plants that aren't doing so good in a tank, upping your w/c's is always a good bet if for no other reason but to remove any waste they can be producing as they degrade. and yes... being able to walk away from my tank while it's siphoning is a fantastic plus. if you can build yourself one of those pvc (thingies), you'll love it. when the water reaches the intake it breaks the siphon. 90% w/c's without effort FTW!