Planted tank advice please

Hi all.....Can't get out on my bike this morning as the weather is pretty unpleasant, so i'm lounging around on the computer with time on my hands.
Ok, I have a bit of a noobie question about planted tanks, and any advice will be really appreciated.

I've had my tank for 9 months or so now, and i'm really enjoying it, but one thing that i've noticed is that the plants don't seem to be doing quite so well recently. (they aren't looking bad, just not thriving i guess)
When i planted the tank, i used a good fertilizer substrate (can't remember the name unfortunately). Then a few months ago, i buried some fertilizer capsules at the recommeded dosage on the packaging.
I also add a small amount of liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks ( i try not to overdo this, as i had an outbreak of blue/green algae, which is cleared up completely after treating with ultralife slime remover).

Now my question........Is it normal, as it is in nature generally, that the condition of the plants would vary depending on the time of year?.
The room where the tank is situated, gets alot of light, although the tank never gets any direct sunlight.
Obviously as the days get shorter the amount of sunlight reduces. Will this also have an effect?.
I do have a day / night controller for the lights, and have increased the light duration. It is on at about 50% for approx 14 hrs / day at the moment.
Thanks for any help.
All the best.
Dave.

ps first pic few months ago, second pic today.

I haven't noticed seasonal changes in my tanks. Your light is on for the maximum duration. You could try about 4 hours higher intensity to see if it boosts them?
Young tanks do tend to run out of nutrients so continue with liquid fertilizer. I recommend Flourish Comprehensive supplement. A half dose each week will be more beneficial than bi-weekly. Root tabs should be replaced every 2-3 months, again Flourish are good. For the types of plants you have the tabs are more crucial.
Frequent large water changes also maintain nutrient levels.

JennySolano said:

What‘s that red plant?

Click to expand...

tiger lotus

Djhep's tiger lotus (and other plants) has shrunk somewhat in the current photo (they are 'before' and 'after'). Hopefully someone ( @StevenF ?) more experienced with planted tank solutions will offer advice soon.

I don't see what I would consider problems in the photos. It would help to know the intensity and spectrum of the light. Fourteen hours of "daylight" is a lot, but there doesn't seem to be algae issues so it may work. But this alone makes me wonder about the intensity/spectrum; my tanks have 7 hours daily and any more causes problem algae so I like most of us use that as a guide to duration. If you do increase the intensity, make sure you lessen the duration significantly, as the sudden change could create a real algae problem rapidly.

Use the Flourish Tabs for the sword plant and the red tiger lotus. I had this lotus plant thrive in my 90g tank when I used the tabs. It can develop floating leaves, and if you leave them (don't cut them off) they will increase and it is a lovely effect.

To the general issue of plant response to the annual cycle. All plants have periods of more intense growth and periods of much less (if any) growth during the year. In the norther hemisphere we see this easily in deciduous trees/plants that "die" during winter. In the tropics the plants remain "alive" all year, but they still need a period (one or sometimes more during the year) of rest to replenish themselves. I notice this easily with larger sword plants; they will establish themselves, then send out one, two, three and sometimes even four inflorescences that develop adventitious plants (not flowers when grown submersed). Then they will go through a period of 2-3 months or so with no appreciable growth of new leaves. Then they rapidly spurt into new growth again. If I kept closer track, I am sure I would see this with other plants too that are slower growing naturally so less obvious.

Great looking tank. You should enter your tank in our Tank of the Month contest.

coming up
January - Tanks sized at 17 to 30 gallons
February - Tanks sized at 31 gallons and larger
March - Tanks sized at 16 gallons and smaller

Also, be sure to vote in our Tank of the Year Tournament

djhep6 said:

When i planted the tank, i used a good fertilizer substrate (can't remember the name unfortunately). Then a few months ago, i buried some fertilizer capsules at the recommeded dosage on the packaging.
I also add a small amount of liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks ( i try not to overdo this, as i had an outbreak of blue/green algae, which is cleared up completely after treating with ultralife slime remover).

Now my question........Is it normal, as it is in nature generally, that the condition of the plants would vary depending on the time of year?.

Click to expand...

Generally temperature has the biggest evffect on plate plant growth. But for an indoor aquarium there you temperature should be very stable. Light levels can trigger flowering plants to flower. But flowers on submerged plants are rare. Light spectrum can cause plant to grow taller than normal if there is excessive blue light.

So I don't think the seasons are affecting your plants. Its possible but I don't think it is likely.

You stated you used a fertilizer substrate. These can help get the plants established quikly but over time they slowly loose nutrients. If just one nutrient runs out plant growth will stop and that could trigger algae issues. Depending on the nutrient levels in the new substrate it is very possible that your substrate is starting to run low on nutrients. If that is the case you have two choices, replace the substrate (your tank or replace the nutrients.

Now you tried root fertilizer and liquid fertilizer. But didn't state which ones you used. It would be helpful to know. We generally assume fertilizers have all 14 nutrients plants need. But in reality most don't. Many fertilizers manufactures assume your tap water will supply these nutrients. But but the nutrients levels in tap water can very greatly from town to town. Or fertilizer manufactures assume you have enough fish in the tank to supply the missing nutrients through fish waste.

Overall i think you might need to try lightly fertilize your tank. I would suggest trying TNC lite fertilizer. This would provide the trace nutrients (iron manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum). These are the ones most likely run out. So I think you have enough fish so I don't think you need a nitrogen, potassium , phosphate containing fertilizer. I am thinking too much nitrogen or phosphate may have caused your previous algae problem.

From what i have seen most people runtheir tank lights for 7 hours per day. Running the light brighter / longer can accelerate nutrient depletion in the. tank.

Also you don't mention it but be sure you do weekly water changes. over time the chemistry your tap water changes as plants consume nutrients and excess nutrients from your fish build up. So replacing some of the water in your tank with new water should help keep your waternutrient levels stable. I personally do 50% water change a week. Be sure to pretreat the new water with a water conditioner to neutralize any chlorine in your tap water. I fertilize my tank right after a water change.