Starting Plant Tank

threejjj

threejjj

4EVER
Mar 12, 2005
269
0
0
I got some plants about 4 weeks ago and most seem to be growing OK. I have Cabomba ,red ludwigia,green hedge and a plant that i cant identify. I think it is either an amozan sword or a Java Fern. They all seem to be doing fine (the Cabomba is growing the best).The Green Hedge I read is not a true aquatic plant, but it is one of the healthier plants in the tank. However the red ludwigia is not really growing. I thought it was supposed to be a fast growing plant. Just about every plant is as tall as when i bought it. I have about 2 watts per gallon in my 55 gallon aquarium. Would do it yourself CO2 help? I have been using FloraPride for ferilizer? Has anyone else used florapride? Is it any good?
Thanks!
 
Well, I think the red plants require higher lighting in general. Reading up on it briefly it IS stated that it is a fast growing plant and I haven't seen that the lighting affects the rate of growing so much as it affects the color. However, it may be that the lighting is a little low, or maybe the roots aren't established? I am a newbie to plants also so I am not sure.

"Separate each stem and plant individually. This will result in better growth and the lower leaves will still receive some light as the this aquarium plant grows taller."

http://www.freshwateraquariumplants.com/plantprofiles/ludwigiarepensbroad.html

beautiful plant. My only red is the red temple.
 
I cant get any more lighting but i dont understand what lighting has to do with CO2. Could you please explain?
Thanks
 
I think the more lighting you have, the faster the plant can photosynthesize or whatever/grow, and it speeds up its use of nutrients and carbon dioxide, so the more it needs.
 
co2 and lighting are proportional. As you know, plants use co2 during the day to photosynthesize. If you increase your lighting, you need to add a carbon source, in some form (pressurized or liquid co2 as In flourish excel)
The more light, the higher the growth, the more co2 required. At this point fertilization plays another important role.

With 2 watt per gallon you are just above the minimum for lowlight plants.
Red plants need higher light. As a rule, bright green, red, and white plants require 3.5 watts and preferably more.

I add co2 when I had 2 watt per gallon and it did spur the plants to grow a tad faster. I grew hydrophilia polysperma "sunset' Rosanverig. which is a pinkish plant with succes under 2 watts per gallon and added co2.

Red temple, however didn't do well. Here is a pic before I took the tank down.

planted.JPG
 
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