Keeping plants alive.

[Rachealmax]

Can someone help? I’ve got a 240 liter tropical tank. I’ve been keeping fish for about 4 years but over the last year and a bit no matter what I seem to do I can’t keep the plants alive! They seem to grow well but then die after a few weeks. I’ve tried different soils and feeds but it seems like I don’t have a green thumb at all! Any help would be much appreciated

 

[Magnum Man]

do you have enough light of the right kind???

and what are you trying to keep???

 

[GaryE]

When I get plants, I should put on a hockey goalie's mask and pick up a chainsaw at the same time. I don't have a green thumb. But no one does...

First, you need to analyze your water. Is it hard, soft or in between? I moved from a region with 140 ppm (on the test kits) water to one with 60-80ppm,, and the plants I can successfully keep changed radically. Things that grew like weeds at the old house die in 3 weeks here, but the plants I had no chance with there are thriving here. So you have to learn how to choose.

Knowledge is power.

So is power. What strength lighting do you have? A good LED is going to matter a lot. A lot of the ones that come with kits aren't strong enough for good growth.

Those are the starting questions, and how you handle the plants that survive those first few weeks is going to matter. I would work slowly with easier choices. Cryptocorynne wendtii, Anubias and Java ferns are worth an explore. Stem plant cuttings may not be. The latter are cheaper, but a lot of people buy them over and over again, and it becomes a false economy.

Ah, Inverness. You live in a wonderfully beautiful region, even if your aquarium plants are a problem. I saw so many peaty coloured lakes and streams around there I suspect we may have the same general water conditions, as I'm in coastal Canada with quite soft peat stained water. The only stem plant that grows easily in my water is Rotala, although Vallisneria americana thrives here.

 

[Rachealmax]

The light I have is a Fluval- Aquasky LED 30w. Not a hundred percent sure on the water tbh. But the plants I’ve got are Cryptocorynne wendtii, Anubias and rotala as that’s what the guy at the shop recommended. Planted new ones today so shall wait and see how these ones do as I’ve previously had them and they have died within a month or two after planting them

 

[seangee]

I have that light in my 200L and only run it at 50%. My tank height is 40cm.
Crypts are prone to melting when moved so it takes some time before they look good. Give it time and if you haven't already feed them a root tab - the Seachem Flourish are good and only need replacing every 3-4 months.
Anubias grow very slowly and will grow in almost any conditions. The biggest problem is if they get too much light they are inclined to collect algae on the leaves.
If you want to see results quickly try something like hygrophila (almost any variant will do) or ambulia (limnophila sessiliflora). If you have fish in the tank you don't actually need ferts for them but if you choose you could use Seachem Flourish Comprehensive or TNC lite at half the recommended dosage. You don't need many because they grow quickly and once they are growing you can just cut off the tops and plant these to get more.
For floating plants I like Amazon frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) - avoid European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) which is a temperate plant and will almost certainly die in a tropical tank. Make sure binomial name is specified. Most of what you will find on Amazon (the website) is the European variety. I have always found the tissue cultured plants work better - even if a bit more expensive. Tropica and Dennerle are good quality.

All 3 of the plants I mentioned are in my signature pic
Edit: forgot to say anubias should not have their rhizomes buried. These should be tied or glued to wood or rocks, you can use superglue, but be aware that it is white underwater.

 

[Colin_T]

Picture of the tank with the light on and pictures of the plants if they aren't clearly visible in the other picture?

How long is the light on for?
What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?
Does the light unit cover the entire length of the tank?
What is the plant fertiliser you use and how often do you use it?
What substrate is in the tank now?
What media/ materials are in the filter?

The following link has some info on plants that might interest you.

Aquarium Plants 1.01

AQUARIUM PLANTS 1.01 TURNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF Stress from tank lights coming on when the room is dark can be an issue. Fish don't have eyelids and don't tolerate going from complete dark to bright light (or vice versa) instantly. In the morning open the curtains or turn the room light on at...

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