I'm a newbe at live plants and it seems they are not growing. I have a Amazon sword and two others I don't know. One is floating strands held down by lead wieght. Hornwort? Anyway they seem to look fine but no growth to speak of. I have had them for a couple of months(not the "hornwort" 3 weeks). My PH is 7.6 - 7.8. Maybe too hard? Need plant food? If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks
Plants not growing?
- Thread starter Bugman
- Start date
Before food -- Light
Your plants will need good lighting before they need much food.
1.5 watts per gallon is probably near the minimum, 10 to 12 hours a day. 2.0 watts per gallon is better, and this is typically more than the standard light fixture provides. So, unless you get some filtered sun on the tank, the plants are probably just hanging in there waiting to see if there will be enough light to actually fuel growth. If not, they will begin to die.
Your plants will need good lighting before they need much food.
1.5 watts per gallon is probably near the minimum, 10 to 12 hours a day. 2.0 watts per gallon is better, and this is typically more than the standard light fixture provides. So, unless you get some filtered sun on the tank, the plants are probably just hanging in there waiting to see if there will be enough light to actually fuel growth. If not, they will begin to die.
I made my own light. I used to install lighting so I hooked a 4 ft 2 lamp fixture(a 4 lamp idea just came to me 
) with a hi output ballast and a reflector so it should be putting out 1.5 watts per or better. It's a 55 gl tank. The lamps are 5000K and should put out enough. Maybe I should leave them on longer. Should I let the "hornwort" float at the top and see if that helps?
) with a hi output ballast and a reflector so it should be putting out 1.5 watts per or better. It's a 55 gl tank. The lamps are 5000K and should put out enough. Maybe I should leave them on longer. Should I let the "hornwort" float at the top and see if that helps?
well that IS a low light tank, so don't expect rampant growth.
Maybe try DIY CO2(check your KH first) and dosing a little flourish.
Your lights should be on, as anona noted, 10-12 hours daily. tropical plants need tropical light cycles. If you don't have one, invest in a timer, they're fairly inexpensive. $5-10
HTH
Maybe try DIY CO2(check your KH first) and dosing a little flourish.
Your lights should be on, as anona noted, 10-12 hours daily. tropical plants need tropical light cycles. If you don't have one, invest in a timer, they're fairly inexpensive. $5-10
HTH
Are you currently using any fertilizers in your tank? Perhaps the sword could benefit from tabs in the substrate? I guess it depends on the maturity of the tank, no?
Sam
Sam