struggling plants

C

cawaltons

AC Members
Jan 8, 2005
70
0
0
I added plants mid January and they aren't doing so well.

My Anacharis doesn't look good. For one thing, it's got a lot of clear/white algea globs on it that the ghost shrimp and pleco seem to ignore. Also, the ends are getting brown and it's drooping. I'm thinking it needs more light. All I have is a 18 inch/ 15 watt nuti grow plant lamp for my 20" deep tank. How can I up the watts? Can I replace the bulb or do I need a new hood?

Equally bad is what I think is a sword plant (but the LFS had no idea).
1rojrd

At first, it had a lot of reddish-brown algae on it, but the bushy nose pleco cleaned that off. Now, the older leaves are still looking yellow but they are also looking a bit holey. Is the pleco eating them or are they just suffering from light/nutrient deficiency?

Also, I wonder about that little new group of leaves with the trailing roots. Should I cut that off and plant it?

I've been adding Tetra Plant FloraPride 0-0-3, but one week I added way too much because I used the wrong end of the cap to measure *duh*.

Thanks for your help!
 
watts per gallon

I have a 15 watt bulb (18 inches long) and a 24 gallon tank that is about 20 inches deep and 24 inches wide.

Last weekend, everything looked good when we tested water quality except the pH levels were pretty low, which is typical for our water.
 
Actual water param numbers might be good. But you have no where near enough light to grow a sword. That is less than 1 wpg and generally 2wpg is minimum., epsecially on a deep tank.

Getting higher lighting levels are the thing that is needed here IMO. Either ordering a kit through AH Supply or else if you are handy heading down to Home Depot (or somewhere similar) and building your own lighting system.
 
lighting needs of plants v. fish

TKOS said:
...generally 2wpg is minimum., epsecially on a deep tank./QUOTE]

So, I need a minimum of 48 watts? WOuld that mean I have low or medium light?

How will the fish cope with those lighting levels? I have neon tetras, a betta, a bushy nose pleco and African Dwarf Frogs.
Click to expand...
 
My suggestion is to look at PC (power compact flourescent) lighting rather than NO (normal output) since it is a better penetrating and somehow, better quality of light. Also with PC lighting the bulbs last longer and do not diminish in effectiveness like NO lights do, as NO light needs to be changed about every 6 months as their output decreases rather dramtically. Your animals should cope fine with the light increase. Mine went from a 17W NO light to a 65W PC light within a one minute period and never flinched, acted stressed or anything. Personally, I think you should go for at least a 55W light. I run a 65W PC over a 29 gallon (a deep tank) and my plants are booming. Also, with increased light, sometimes it becomes prudent to add CO2 either with a DIY CO2 reactor, a pressurized system or with Flourish Excel (which is also good for certain algae control). Plants like the combinations of fertilizers, CO2 and good, quality light.
 
At 48 watts or 2 wpg you would have a medium light tank. I have that on a 20 gallon tank without any added suppliments and my crypts and java fern grow like weeds as does my riccia. If you want to add CO2 to your tank then higher light levels are a must or you will end up with massive amounts of algae.
 
too much algae for a pleco?

So, if I put in a 65 watt bulb, then I would have high light? I have a very efficient bushy nose pleco. Do you think he would have a hard time keeping up with the algae?

I'm also wondering about my neon tetras. I hope 65 watts wouldn't be too bright for them.

The tank is about 20 inches high x 24 inches wide x 13 deep. I'm thinking it's 22.5 gallons. That would be almost 3 watts per gallon?
 
With 3 WPG of light, especially PC light, you could grow a lot of things. Your options would be very open. I wouldn't call 3WPG high, but I bet you could grow medium high light plants pretty darn well in it. If you've never checked out the plant guide from Plant Geek.Net, I really suggest it. It lists plants by difficulty in keeping, light requirements, where they go in the tank (front, middle, back or floating) and has pictures to boot. Very well done site that I use a lot.
 
do I replace the bulb or the hood?

So, I'm looking at the sites on line and I guess I need a whole new top. My hood fits right in the opening in the top of my aquarium, so I'd like to use it, but it doesn't look like I can just replace the bulb.

(And I'll make a note of the plant site! Thanks!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom