Fake to Real.

[logan89]

I started off with 6-7 small-large fake plants, which i used when I first setup my tank. They're still in my tank, but my mom just randomly brings home 3 plants (Anacharis). I was just wondering if live plants can thrive in ~2" of fine sand (Tahitian Moon Sand)? I got them 2 days ago.

So far I see white roots sprouting in 2 of them, but on all three plants some of their leaves are turning brown, and other are turning white.

As far as lighting goes....its a single 40w flourescent on a 48" tank (55gal) . I know this is VERY VERY low light for plants, or anything for that matter, but I haven't had money to upgrade lighting yet (thus the fake plants for now), but my mom just brought these home. I do keep the tank in close to direct sunlight throughout the day...so maybe that helps?

I was trying to figure out if there was any chance of these plants surviving for a little while?



Thanks.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

Egeria densa ? im not sure if thats the plant in your tank but if that is the one tropica says it needs light on a bit higher side of the spectrum


if it starting to show massive signs of decay (e.g. it looks dead) i would suggest removing it from the tank and sticking with the plastic plants but hey maybe we could tweak it around a little to make it survive ??


sunlight hitting your tank will help but how much light is the plant getting ? another factor about plants is it needs nutrients and that is another case

since you only got your substrate 2 days ago i will assume that it is still quite biologically inactive and nutrient free (if moon sand is the same as gravel... this is just an assumption)

how old is your tank btw ? how big ? inhabitants ?

 

[logan89]

Lol, I meant the plants were 2 days old, sorry for the bad wording. The tank has been fishlessly cycled, and has been up and running for ~45days, and ~5days WITH fish. and ofcourse, lol, 2 days with the plants.

Anyways, its a 55g, currently it just has 6 Juvenile Giant Danios (2.5-3.5"). The window is directly across from my tank, I keep the shades drawn open all day, and the window is facing west.

My nitrates are around 40, nitrites and ammonia 0, dunno gH & kH.

The plants I have look VERY, VERY similar to this, but MAY be a diffrent species: http/www.kinneynursery.com/images/anacharis-hornwort.jpg


The plants dont look completly dead, and there sin't a MASSIVE amount of brown/white leaves. Maybe 15-20% of each plant has brown/white patches on it.

Hope that info helps,

Thanks.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

EGERIA DENSA

IT DOES LOOK LIKE EGERIA DENSA...... HMMMM IT MIGHT BE A HEAVY WATER COLUMN FEEDER (BUT IM NOT REALLY SURE) NITRATES ARE NOT THE ONLY NUTRIENT THAT PLANTS NEED

YOU SHOULD READ A BIT ON THE NUTRIENTS PINNED BY GF UP THERE THEY WILL HELP YOU IN UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF PLANTS INSIDE A PLANTED TANK
ESTIMATATIVE INDEX

*sorry for the caps lock i was coding and didn't notice

anyways making the tank environment suited for the plant is what makes it thrive actually its hard to narrow down the problem of a plant like this so maybe a peek at the link would prove mighty helpfull!

ps! dont forget to remove the plant if its dead! dont want it to rot inside the tank hope this helps! feel free to ask more if you want im posting this during my lunch break and dont have much time *sorry*