A Complete And Utter Newbie

[turnnidge]

Hi guys,

Sorry to put a weird question in but as you can see in my footer what my tank looks like. However most of those plants have died and all I am left with is the Java Fern, and that seems like it is also dying as the base of the leaves just look like bits of thread.

Is there anything I should do to help this out?

I have read about lighting parameters but that is total jargon to me and do not understand one bit of it


Apologies for sounding think!

Thanks

 

[Colin_T]

What am I doing wrong? keeping fish

Seriously tho, you can have a light on the tank for about 10-16hours per day. If you get lots of algae growing on the glass then have it around 8-10hours per day. If you don't get much algae then you can have the light on for up to 16hours per day.
You can add some liquid iron fertiliser and that usually helps the plants grow well. Sera Florena is pretty good.

Make sure you get true aquatic plants and not marsh plants. True aquatics are unable to support their own weight when removed from water. Marsh plants will remain standing up when taken out of water.
Hygrophillas, swords and crypts are exceptions and will grow in or out of water.
Some good plants to try include Ambulia, Elodia, Hygrophilla polysperma, Ludwigia & Vallis.

 

[turnnidge]

I got two pieces of bogwood that has java fern attached to it, but like i said it seems to have gone all weird its all falling off and its thinning out a lot too!

 

[aaronnorth]

Plants need light, ferts & CO2 depending on species.

light - for low light plants 1WPG will suffice (divide total wattage by total gallons = watts per gallon)

a simple fert will need to be dosed weekly, dont use nutrafin plant gro as it does nothing.

No CO2 is needed if you follow the above unless you have above 2WPG+

if you use 1WPG with a fert every week & leave the lights on 10 - 12hrs (plants need a rest aswell as fish) then you can grow:

anubias sp.
cryptocoryne sp.
elodea/ egeria densa
hygrophillia polysperma
echindorous sp.
bolbitis sp
java fern
java moss & some other moss sp.