Im Confused!

[PrettyDiscus]

I have a 40g tank and the plants are turning brown and holey. How can i get my plants to look more green and healthy?

 

[russellbrooke]

Hi PrettyDiscus.

Can you give us some more stats?

1. WPG? (watts per gallon)
2. Are you dosing ferts
3. What substrate are you using
4. Water parameters, mainly ph and kh
5. What plants are you keeping

Russ

 

[i_ganjaman]

I have a 40g tank and the plants are turning brown and holey. How can i get my plants to look more green and healthy?

going on everything else is fine in the tank(eg lighting etc) are you changing your water regulary,25% a week will place nutrients that plants need back into the water.some plants need nutrients placed near the roots and i would get some sort of co2 deffuser in there.if the holes are like little pin pricks its defienatly nutrient shortage....hope this helps

 

[PrettyDiscus]

I only know that the ph varies from 6.8-7.0
The substrate is silver sand which i find very difficult to clean because every time i use a gravel vac i lose lots of sand. All i know is that the light is a tube shaped and its very bright. I also have lots of hard green algae that sticks to the glass and its very difficult to clean. I change water weekly 40-50%.

 

[i_ganjaman]

unless your heavily stocked with fish,your changing to much water on a weekly basis

 

[PrettyDiscus]

I am overstocked but my water quality is always perfect. I dont think 50% is too much of a water change because my tank is fairly large. Most people do around that.

 

[i_ganjaman]

ok i will say that perhaps it is a lighting problem,are your plants to close together(not enough light getting through)although you say the light is bright perhaps you need more lighting.or perhaps the tubes are old you should change them every year... are the plants sutible for your aquarium? i dont know what plants you have but some are alot easier than others....if you want i can list some plants that will grow easily and will out compete the algae i ran into loads of problems when i first started planted aquariums...you learn by your mistakes(well i had too)

 

[callie143]

This wasn't directed at me, but I'd love to read a listing of plants that will grow easily and out compete algae - if you are willing to post it. That would be helpful to me at least.

Thanks!

if you want i can list some plants that will grow easily and will out compete the algae i ran into loads of problems when i first started planted aquariums...you learn by your mistakes(well i had too)

 

[PrettyDiscus]

I have a common plant with broad thick leaves but im not sure what its called. I also have amazon swords.

 

[i_ganjaman]

hi,
heres some plants that will grow easily
1. hygrphila polysperma(it does like bright light),dont plant it to close together otherwise you will loose the leaves at the bottom of the plant when it grows to big cut it and put the cutting back into the substrate.
2.Java fern(microsorum pteropus)this is great to tie to bogwood or stones and produces its own baby plants off the leaves.(attaches to anything)
3.CABOMBA CAROLINIANANA (GREEN CAMBOMBA) only trouble is most fish love to eat it
4.EGERIA/ELODEA DENSA THICK great for OXYGENATING the water(i call it a weed it grows like hell)when its to long cut it in half and re plant it
5. LEMNA MINOR (Small Duck Weed) floating plant(this can be a pain in the neck grows like hell and if not kept under control will block out light)
6.RICCIA FLUITANS (CRYSTAL WORT)another floating plant great for small fry to hide in)