Plant conundrum

Havard · Oct 30, 2024

Hi everyone,

I've had a Fluval Flex running for about 5 weeks now, and stocked it with a selection of live plants prior to adding fish.
The stock consists of two xl amazon swords, two java ferns, three giant vallis, one xl hygrophila siamensis (swampweed)
I've been using the Neutro fertiliser, liquid carbon and Neutro Terra tabs..and appx 8 hours of lighting...but..
the swords are yellowing and going translucent..the java ferns have black tips..and the valais are going brown. The swampweed is doing ok.
The water in my area is hard..so high pH and calcium.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Rob

Colin_T · Oct 30, 2024

Pictures of the plants?

What sort of light is above the aquarium?
How long is the light on for?

MattW · Oct 30, 2024

What sort of light is above the aquarium?
How long is the light on for?

If it's the stock Fluval light that comes with the flex it is an adjustable White + RGB LED and is 7500K

Havard · Oct 30, 2024

Standard built in Flex LED
Light on for appx 8-9 hours
Thanks

CassCats · Oct 30, 2024

Looks to be emersed plants melting as they adapt to submerged growth. Plant farms grow plants faster by growing them above water, they can sell more of them. So when you buy them from a store, they're emersed grown most often and need to adapt to being under water again.

Colin_T · Oct 30, 2024

I would also increase the lighting period a couple more hours each day. You have a lot of plants and I didn't see any algae so you could potentially increase the time a bit. You can have the lights on for up to 16 hours a day but the fish and plants need 8 hours of darkness. You probably won't need 16 hours of light per day. Most people have the lights on for about 12 hours a day.

You want enough light to maximise plant growth while minimising algal growth. You increase it by an hour and monitor over a couple of weeks.
If you get no green algae then you can increase the light a bit.
If you get a little bit of green algae on the glass that is fine and the lights are about right.
If you get lots of green algae on the glass then reduce the light.

Havard · Oct 31, 2024

CassCats said:
Looks to be emersed plants melting as they adapt to submerged growth. Plant farms grow plants faster by growing them above water, they can sell more of them. So when you buy them from a store, they're emersed grown most often and need to adapt to being under water again.

Thank you for the info

Havard · Oct 31, 2024

Colin_T said:
I would also increase the lighting period a couple more hours each day. You have a lot of plants and I didn't see any algae so you could potentially increase the time a bit. You can have the lights on for up to 16 hours a day but the fish and plants need 8 hours of darkness. You probably won't need 16 hours of light per day. Most people have the lights on for about 12 hours a day.

You want enough light to maximise plant growth while minimising algal growth. You increase it by an hour and monitor over a couple of weeks.
If you get no green algae then you can increase the light a bit.
If you get a little bit of green algae on the glass that is fine and the lights are about right.
If you get lots of green algae on the glass then reduce the light.

Thanks Colin, I'll follow your advice and let you know

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