Plants not doing so well
Kevin Matheson
advice. :)
The plants leaves are yellow, and sometimes almost clear.
It's a 29 gallon tank. I have a single strip light (20 watts) with a Chroma
50. The tank has been established (cycled) for a month. There are 8 fish
in there currently. There is not much surface agitation.
I tried adding Tetra FloraPride. I got algea, but almost no change in
plants. I just bought some Kent Marine plant fertilizer and added it a few
days ago. Still not much chage.
The substrate is purley gravel.
Potential problem #1 - Lighting: I don't believe this is adequate. I was
thinking about getting a dual-strip light, which still doesn't bring me up
to the recommended level. Metal halide is not an option, and I'm not a very
good "do it yourself"-er, so I'm probably going to have to pay though the
nose whatever I do.
Potential problems #2 - substrate fertilizer: There is no fertilizer in the
substrate. I am letting the fish poop do that for me (being established
only a month, it may not be built up yet). I really don't like having to
mess with the gravel, and I've heard (for instance) that a laterite layer in
the substrate will be used up after a year or so.
Potential problem #3 - carbon: I have vast amounts of carbon in my filter.
I do not like a smelly tank.
Potential problem #4 - CO2 levels potentially inadqute: I've considered
injecting CO2. I can't use the DIY sugar/yeast method, because the smell of
yeast makes be puke. :) However, if my lighting is inadequite, then
injecting CO2 is a waste, yes?
Can you tell me if a) my evaluation of the situation is correct and b) which
problem I need to focus on first? Thanks.
Lisasv1
Kevin Matheson <kev...@psyber.com> wrote in message
news:8agtpv$p70$1...@news.psyber.com...
Steve Lalley
keep the smell away. It simply doesn't smell anymore.
Soren 'Disky' Reinke
Kevin Matheson wrote in message <8agtpv$p70$1...@news.psyber.com>...
>I'm having trouble with my plants. I think I know what's wrong, but I want
>advice. :)
>
>The plants leaves are yellow, and sometimes almost clear.
>
>It's a 29 gallon tank. I have a single strip light (20 watts) with a
Chroma
>50. The tank has been established (cycled) for a month. There are 8 fish
>in there currently. There is not much surface agitation.
>
>I tried adding Tetra FloraPride. I got algea, but almost no change in
>plants. I just bought some Kent Marine plant fertilizer and added it a few
>days ago. Still not much chage.
>
>The substrate is purley gravel.
>
>
>Potential problem #1 - Lighting: I don't believe this is adequate. I was
>thinking about getting a dual-strip light, which still doesn't bring me up
>to the recommended level. Metal halide is not an option, and I'm not a
very
>good "do it yourself"-er, so I'm probably going to have to pay though the
>nose whatever I do.
Yep to low light.
Adding another 20 watt would make it possible for you to choose between a
huge amount of plants.
You can get help by using my Plant Search Engine.
But 40 watt for a 29 gal tank, is plenty of light for most plants.
>
>Potential problems #2 - substrate fertilizer: There is no fertilizer in the
>substrate. I am letting the fish poop do that for me (being established
>only a month, it may not be built up yet). I really don't like having to
>mess with the gravel, and I've heard (for instance) that a laterite layer
in
>the substrate will be used up after a year or so.
Would help to add fertiliser, but not really needed.
>
>Potential problem #3 - carbon: I have vast amounts of carbon in my filter.
>I do not like a smelly tank.
Remove it at once.
Carbon also remove nutrients and your plant sure need it.
By the way i have never used carbon, and my tanks does not smell.
>
>Potential problem #4 - CO2 levels potentially inadqute: I've considered
>injecting CO2. I can't use the DIY sugar/yeast method, because the smell
of
>yeast makes be puke. :) However, if my lighting is inadequite, then
>injecting CO2 is a waste, yes?
No, that is often missunderstood.
CO2 will ALWAYS help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No matter how little light you have.
But if you have a huge amount of light you absolutly MUST have CO2.
In your case it is not 100% needed, but would still help.
>
>Can you tell me if a) my evaluation of the situation is correct and b)
which
>problem I need to focus on first? Thanks.
More light.
With many Thanks
Soren ' Disky ' Reinke ICQ #1413069
Please visit my Freshwater Aquaria Webpage
http://www.disky-design.dk/fish
Now available:
The internets first PLANT SEARCH ENGINE
www.disky-design.dk/fish/PlantSearch/PlantSearch.html
If email replying to this mail, remove ' ihsyd ' from email address
as...@iwilltell.you
<kev...@psyber.com> wrote to the general assembly:
ummm how about #5 IRON
i use seachems Iron supplement, oh and you can use plant tabs of all
kinds for your gravel nutrients.
>I'm having trouble with my plants. I think I know what's wrong, but I want
>advice. :)
>
>The plants leaves are yellow, and sometimes almost clear.
>
>It's a 29 gallon tank. I have a single strip light (20 watts) with a Chroma
>50. The tank has been established (cycled) for a month. There are 8 fish
>in there currently. There is not much surface agitation.
>
>I tried adding Tetra FloraPride. I got algea, but almost no change in
>plants. I just bought some Kent Marine plant fertilizer and added it a few
>days ago. Still not much chage.
>
>The substrate is purley gravel.
>
>
>Potential problem #1 - Lighting: I don't believe this is adequate. I was
>thinking about getting a dual-strip light, which still doesn't bring me up
>to the recommended level. Metal halide is not an option, and I'm not a very
>good "do it yourself"-er, so I'm probably going to have to pay though the
>nose whatever I do.
>
>Potential problems #2 - substrate fertilizer: There is no fertilizer in the
>substrate. I am letting the fish poop do that for me (being established
>only a month, it may not be built up yet). I really don't like having to
>mess with the gravel, and I've heard (for instance) that a laterite layer in
>the substrate will be used up after a year or so.
>
>Potential problem #3 - carbon: I have vast amounts of carbon in my filter.
>I do not like a smelly tank.
>
>Potential problem #4 - CO2 levels potentially inadqute: I've considered
>injecting CO2. I can't use the DIY sugar/yeast method, because the smell of
>yeast makes be puke. :) However, if my lighting is inadequite, then
>injecting CO2 is a waste, yes?
>
>
alex Shklovsky
I use to have same setup and grow some plants no problem.
The difference is carbon, i didn't have any.
Adding Flora pride give boost to grows (in my case)
I couldn't grow all the plants without adding mo light.
But low light and amazon sword grow great
Alex.
C
"Kevin Matheson" <kev...@psyber.com> wrote:
>I'm having trouble with my plants. I think I know what's wrong, but I want
>advice. :)
>
>The plants leaves are yellow, and sometimes almost clear.
>
>It's a 29 gallon tank. I have a single strip light (20 watts) with a Chroma
>50. The tank has been established (cycled) for a month. There are 8 fish
>in there currently. There is not much surface agitation.
>
>I tried adding Tetra FloraPride. I got algea, but almost no change in
>plants. I just bought some Kent Marine plant fertilizer and added it a
few
>days ago. Still not much chage.
>
>The substrate is purley gravel.
>
Not so much an issue with most aquatic plants, but if you want truly magnificent
rooted plants i.e. Amazon swords... I'd add something.
>Potential problem #1 - Lighting: I don't believe this is adequate. I was
>thinking about getting a dual-strip light, which still doesn't bring me
up
>to the recommended level. Metal halide is not an option, and I'm not a
very
>good "do it yourself"-er, so I'm probably going to have to pay though the
>nose whatever I do.
Should be fine. Get a glass top and add a second strip light. Not much DIY
there.
>Potential problems #2 - substrate fertilizer: There is no fertilizer in
the
>substrate. I am letting the fish poop do that for me (being established
>only a month, it may not be built up yet). I really don't like having to
>mess with the gravel, and I've heard (for instance) that a laterite layer
in
>the substrate will be used up after a year or so.
See above.
>
>Potential problem #3 - carbon: I have vast amounts of carbon in my filter.
>I do not like a smelly tank.
Ditch the Carbon.
>
>Potential problem #4 - CO2 levels potentially inadqute: I've considered
>injecting CO2. I can't use the DIY sugar/yeast method, because the smell
of
>yeast makes be puke. :) However, if my lighting is inadequite, then
>injecting CO2 is a waste, yes?
>
Suck it up. You can't smell it once it's mixed and set up and it's so worth
a bit of naseua once a month. It's always worth while in fact it's the most
bang for the buck.
>
>Can you tell me if a) my evaluation of the situation is correct and b) which
>problem I need to focus on first? Thanks.
>
>
A) Yes I would say you understand the problem, but have 'created' it on purpose
for various reason (aesthetics).
B) Ditch the Carbon in the filter, add CO2 and then maybe a striplight. Then
if you get ambitious look into substrate additives, and pick a good iron/mineral
suppliment.
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Kevin Matheson
My twin strip-light will be here Thursday. We'll start from there, and try
CO2 in a few weeks if there is a noticable improvment.
Kevin Matheson <kev...@psyber.com> wrote in message
news:8agtpv$p70$1...@news.psyber.com...
> I'm having trouble with my plants. I think I know what's wrong, but I
want
> advice. :)
>
> The plants leaves are yellow, and sometimes almost clear.
>
> It's a 29 gallon tank. I have a single strip light (20 watts) with a
Chroma
> 50. The tank has been established (cycled) for a month. There are 8 fish
> in there currently. There is not much surface agitation.
>
> I tried adding Tetra FloraPride. I got algea, but almost no change in
> plants. I just bought some Kent Marine plant fertilizer and added it a
few
> days ago. Still not much chage.
>
> The substrate is purley gravel.
>
>
[snipped]
Lobos
they are not too expensive. You can find them at www.thatpetplace.com or
www.petwhse.com. For good plant growth you should have between 2-4 watts/gallon.
Secondly, go for the CO2 but you have to upgrade the lights if you do this, the two
complement each other. Try the injection method, I put together a system for
~$115. You can buy a 5 lb. tank online at a home beer brewing site for about $45.00
(www.4rapid1.com) or rent one from your local CO2 gas distributor for a minimal
fee. Then get the regulator from Rapids and the CO2 diffusor from pet warehouse or
from Dave Gromberg at www.wcf.com. For more plant info and how to grow them goto
the Krib (www.thekrib.com) and ditch the carbon in your filter.
C wrote:
> "Kevin Matheson" <kev...@psyber.com> wrote:
> >I'm having trouble with my plants. I think I know what's wrong, but I want
> >advice. :)
> >
> >The plants leaves are yellow, and sometimes almost clear.
> >
> >It's a 29 gallon tank. I have a single strip light (20 watts) with a Chroma
> >50. The tank has been established (cycled) for a month. There are 8 fish
> >in there currently. There is not much surface agitation.
> >
> >I tried adding Tetra FloraPride. I got algea, but almost no change in
> >plants. I just bought some Kent Marine plant fertilizer and added it a
> few
> >days ago. Still not much chage.
> >
> I recommend Seachem's Flourish http://www.seachem.com/index_english.html
>
> >The substrate is purley gravel.
> >
Randall
Funny, I have noticed my CO2 levels always go up after the tank
lights go off. You might want to check on that.
In article <8ah0lu$2iqv$1...@news.cybercity.dk>, "Soren 'Disky'
Reinke" <di...@disky-design.ihsyd.dk> wrote:
>
>Kevin Matheson wrote in message <8agtpv$p70
$1...@news.psyber.com>...
wrong, but I want
>>advice. :)
>>
>>The plants leaves are yellow, and sometimes almost clear.
>>
>>It's a 29 gallon tank. I have a single strip light (20 watts)
with a
>Chroma
>>50. The tank has been established (cycled) for a month.
There are 8 fish
>>in there currently. There is not much surface agitation.
>>
>>I tried adding Tetra FloraPride. I got algea, but almost no
change in
>>plants. I just bought some Kent Marine plant fertilizer and
added it a few
>>days ago. Still not much chage.
>>
>>
>>
adequate. I was
>>thinking about getting a dual-strip light, which still doesn't
bring me up
>>to the recommended level. Metal halide is not an option, and
I'm not a
>very
>>good "do it yourself"-er, so I'm probably going to have to pay
though the
>>nose whatever I do.
>
>
>Adding another 20 watt would make it possible for you to choose
between a
>huge amount of plants.
>You can get help by using my Plant Search Engine.
>
>But 40 watt for a 29 gal tank, is plenty of light for most
plants.
>
>>
fertilizer in the
>>substrate. I am letting the fish poop do that for me (being
established
>>only a month, it may not be built up yet). I really don't
like having to
>>mess with the gravel, and I've heard (for instance) that a
laterite layer
>in
>>the substrate will be used up after a year or so.
>
>
>>
in my filter.
>>I do not like a smelly tank.
>
>
>Carbon also remove nutrients and your plant sure need it.
>By the way i have never used carbon, and my tanks does not
smell.
>
>>
considered
>>injecting CO2. I can't use the DIY sugar/yeast method,
because the smell
>of
>>yeast makes be puke. :) However, if my lighting is
inadequite, then
>>injecting CO2 is a waste, yes?
>
>CO2 will ALWAYS help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No matter how little
light you have.
>
>But if you have a huge amount of light you absolutly MUST have
CO2.
>In your case it is not 100% needed, but would still help.
>
>>
correct and b)
>which
>>problem I need to focus on first? Thanks.
>
>
>With many Thanks
>
>Soren ' Disky ' Reinke ICQ #1413069
>
>Please visit my Freshwater Aquaria Webpage
>http://www.disky-design.dk/fish
>
>Now available:
>
> The internets first PLANT SEARCH ENGINE
>www.disky-design.dk/fish/PlantSearch/PlantSearch.html
>
>If email replying to this mail, remove ' ihsyd ' from email
address
>
>
>
>
>
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Chuck Gadd
<james_mceac...@hotmail.com.invalid> wrote:
>So are you saying that with no light, plants can still use CO2?
>Funny, I have noticed my CO2 levels always go up after the tank
>lights go off. You might want to check on that.
The always use CO2 for photosynthesis. And they can benefit from
increased CO2 levels, even with low lighting.
But once a plant has finished photosynthsis for the day, they stop
using CO2.
Chuck Gadd
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua
Soren 'Disky' Reinke
Randall wrote in message <01726362...@usw-ex0102-084.remarq.com>...
>So are you saying that with no light, plants can still use CO2?
>Funny, I have noticed my CO2 levels always go up after the tank
>lights go off. You might want to check on that.
Off course it does, because when it's night the plants starts to use O2
instead of CO2.
You might have missunderstood me, i meant that even in a low light tank CO2
helps plant growth.
Tropica experiments have shown that it actually help more in a low light
tank, than in a high light tank.
But in a high light tank you NEED co2 to make sure the plants grow.