Can't Keep Plants Alive

[ufo 550]

I've seen a couple other threads on specific plants dying, but my problem is more general, none of my plants seem to last more than a few months. I have an Aqua One UFO 550 (88 litres), 2 x PL11W mix Triphosphor 7.1k & Biolux 8k Tubes. Fish; 5 x neon’s, 1 x red spotted guppie, 1 x zebra dino, 2 x Harlequins & 3 x Corydoras. Plants are planted in aquarium gravel, I can't name the current plants I have, and there's not much left of them to photo. They basically go brown and wither away and get covered in green algae. I do a 50% water change weekly, and have started to dose with API 'Leaf Zone'. The fish don't appear to be eating the plants. I've use plants with and without root ball. What am I doing wrong?

 

[mike455555]

can you try to name the plants this is key as some plants are easier to keep than others. if your using java fern and you'v planted it in the substrate then it will rot as the rhizome has to be above the gravel level. other plants like high light.

try to get a picture / describe what they looked like

 

[coolie]

Some plants that have been grown dipped in water die back and will re grow from the base after a few weeks, so you need to be really patient with them. Also, how old is your setup? I'm worried your changing
all that water because of poor water conditions without having a properly cycled tank with bacteria colony to deal with the nasties.

 

[ufo 550]

Okay I'll try and get some photos up in a few days’ time. Set up is pretty good; it's been cycled nearly two years now. I do my chemical/ph/ammonia checks regularly and all okay. Do suffer with algae and green water though? Only have my lights on for 7-8 hours a day & tank not near a window.

 

[ufo 550]

Here are some pictures of my sorry plants.

http/s1294.photobucket.com/albums/b620/milllerr/

 

[coolie]

No. 1 , you need to get that massive airator out, it's taking all the carbon dioxide out the water that the plants need (I learnt that from this site )

No.2 , I would start choosing plants that are a little less specialised, some of those you have I've never seen before. Just get some easy plants.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

A lot of your plants are non aquatic, that's why they are dying, have a look on tropica website, they have a long list of aquatic plants, if you can't locate them on there from the pic's I'd take them out as they will slowly die anyway, there is a thread of non aquatic plants here too which might help.

 

[coolie]

omg ps3steveo, no wonder I don't recognise his plants, 2 or 3 different species that ufo has, are in that thread labelled as non-aquatic.

ufo : No. 3 Find a new LFS and buy aquatic plants!

 

[ufo 550]

Crikey, bought them from a national aquatic centre. They look fine and healthy in the sale aqaurium

 

[coolie]

I think you've gone for more exotic looking plants so have been particularly stung by this, but I was thinking back over the years and checking that thread and I think I may have had one or two of thm before. There's a bit of a conspiracy there; shops sell plants that only last 3 months - you keep going back for more. You'll still need to get rid of the airator bythe way.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

In fact other than the Java Fern, everything looks non aquatic.

 

[ufo 550]

Thanks for the advice chaps. Are there any online retailers anyone can recommend. I'll remove the aerator, I have two! Should I leave one running, at a reduce volume?

 

[mike455555]

i use plant's alive this forum and ebay

 

[Ps3Steveo]

aquarium-gardening.com, very good.

 

[ufo 550]

I've bought some new plants (tropica) and put them in my aquarium. I've put the names of each plant in this photo, any comments?

http/s1294.photobucket.com/albums/b620/milllerr/New%20Plants/