How Do I Keep My Aquatic Plants Looking Lush?

[heatwave]

I went on a mad one yesterday @ my local fish store & spent all my money on plants. Can anyone advise me on the best way to keep them looking lush?
Ive bought some root tabs & some plantamin but im not sure if this is all i need. I should have asked at the store but i suppose i was to excited lol
What do local fish stores use to keep them looking so good?

 

[stu40]

Try the 'Plants & Planted tanks' forum for starters.The PARC section at the top of the page.

PARC

 

[pablothebetta]

Try a CO2 booster.

 

[heatwave]

Ive read the link as advised but it doesnt tell me what food to use.
Since planting them yesterday i have noticed the edges have started to crinkle & i already have Co2

 

[stu40]

Ive read the link as advised but it doesnt tell me what food to use.
Since planting them yesterday i have noticed the edges have started to crinkle & i already have Co2

firstly don't worry, plants sometimes shed existing leaves when introduced to a new tank/new water.You put them (what types are they?) in yesterday, i seriously doubt that you've killed them off in 1 day.
Remove any really bad leaves (dead leaves will up your ammonia levels).If you've read the PARC link, there was a section titled 'Back to Basics' which talked about Low tec/High tec, and the co2-light-ferts required.
Have a think about which applies to you/which you want to do.Then maybe post a topic describing what you want and your set up.
It's a little quiet over there at the moment but some one will help out.

Stu

 

[heatwave]

I dont know what they are called ... maybe you could tell me ? ive added a pic below

 

[heatwave]

Are root tabs any good? what do you guys use?
Im currently using silca sand & they are getting 6 hours of light. In the past with other plants i had it set to 8 hours, but i had loads of algae so i reduced it.

 

[stu40]

The red one i think is Egeria densa, good one as long as water temp isn't over 25°

The yellow looks live Amazon sword, not sure which type maybe Echinodorus Bleheri (mine got brown tips when first planted.Removed them, new ones regrew).Some people reckon they respond better to root tabs.

Blues ones may well not be aquatic and will die if left in.Not 100% sure, but whenever anyone posts an id pic of a plant with variegated leaves like that, they're nearly always informed that it's not aquatic.

Can't really make out any of the others.Hope this helps a little.

 

[heatwave]

Ill add better pics up a soon as my battery recharges ... watch this space

 

[stu40]

Ill add better pics up a soon as my battery recharges ... watch this space

post a new topic in the planted forum head it 'Plant ID please' or something along those lines.

 

[Geoff-]

Plants grown for sale are often grown emersed (out of the water) as the concentration of CO2 in the air is many times that under water. As a result plants will often suffer when you first bring them home as they adapt to immersed life.

Plants need three things to grow - light, CO2, and nutrients. Conventional wisdom about watts per gallon etc is not necessarily correct so take with a grain of salt - you will have to do some reading and find a strategy that works for you.

 

[GreenA]

That's a nice looking tank heatwave.

 

[kyleb2003]

I don't think your plants with the dark green leaves that are purple on the underside are aquatic. I've seen similar to this being sold as a special tropica plant and the person in the shop told me it was a houseplant and would die.

 

[Noahs ark6]

I use a liquid fertiliser called sera florena, its great, I would also consider up-ing the amount of co2 your putting in. And what stu40 said Is very true.