New tank ---> Dying plants.

[Elusive]

Just starting to set up a new small community tank and have got a few plants for it. I'm new to fishkeeping so am learning as I go along. Currently there are no fish in the tank, it's just running with the heater and filter on. A week ago I put five plants in the tank (gravel) In the last couple of days most them have started to fall apart and bits have come off them. One plant completely fell to bits so I removed it seeing as there wasn't much left!

I had Dracaena sanderiana (red), Dracaena sanderiana (yellow) and Fittonia White in there and I was planning to add more this week or next. Anyone got any ideas on what I could have possibly done wrong as the plants were reccomended and sold to me by my LFS

Thanks for any help or suggestions

 

[keeper-of-fish]

get a more powerful light that probly your problem

 

[gale]

I thought plants had to have fish in there to live? Seems like I read that somewhere. If not I'd like to know so I can set up my new 10g with some plants.

 

[Elusive]

Well just been told that the plants the LFS sold me weren't completely Aquatic plants Looks like I'll need to start again!

 

[smithrc]

before you do...

what type of light doe sthe tank have??

over a 10 gallon tank - 30 Watts or more would be good

and make sure its trichromatic as they are the best tubes for plants.

 

[Discomafia]

Full spectrum!

 

[maestro]

Without how power lighting there is only a certain numberof plants that will grow well, check out this link and go for the very easy or easy plants

http/www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_cat.php?category=2

 

[robgurr]

First the lighting is the most important thing is lighting, second you said something about having fish in with the plants, I think it plrobably helps with CO2 production (the plants need CO2 to thrive and go through photosynthesis, so the plants take in the CO2 and release oxygen into the tank, the fish then take in the oxygen and breath out CO2, which again the plants take in and so on...). So as you can see CO2 along with good lighting is the key. If tou want to build your own CO2 injector here are some links:
http/www.plantedtank.net/co2.html
http/www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/co2-narten.html
good luck!

 

[Elusive]

Right, well my tank should be ready for fish at the weekend so I'll replant some plants the day before I'm due to get the fish and see how they do then. I'll also check the lighting and see if I need to get a different light for the tank. Thanks for everyones comments and suggestions. Hope to get it sorted soon!

 

[clutterydrawer]

apart fromt hem not being fully aquatic plants, the ones you had probably needed a lot of light to survive, especially the red one.

unless you have a 20+ watt light, stick to low light plants like anubias, hygrophila polysperma, cryptocoryne wendtii, java fern and java moss.

 

[nino]

Right, well my tank should be ready for fish at the weekend so I'll replant some plants the day before I'm due to get the fish and see how they do then.

have you cycled your tank yet? if not, you should read up on it

INFO ABOUT CYCLING YOUR TANK

let us know what types of fish you end up getting!

 

[Lateral Line]

If those plants had been kept underwater for any length of time, they will be weak and fall apart after being moved. As you are now aware, they are not aquatic plants. Underwater if nothing touches them, they remain intact for a whaile, but even then, they'll rot eventually.

Far too many non-aquatic plants are sold as suitable. If possible, consider switching lfs!

 

[Elusive]

Okay well the new plants are on their way! Hopefully I'll get it all set up by the weekend to start with some fish. Looking at getting gourami, small ones such as chocolate, sparkling and dwarf but we'll see. Tank has been fully cycled, will definantly change LFS. Even though it's further away, it will save me the money! Once again thanks to everyone for helping out a 'newbie' to the hobby.

 

[Da_Oz]

Dracaena sanderiana AkA Lucky Bamboo is a hydroponic plant. Which means its roots can in water but not the plant part of it.

And Fittonia White is a house plant, can't even handle it's roots wet all the time.

If your LFS sold you these plants for a fish tank you need to find a different LFS.

Also I would read this story
http/groups.msn.com/AquaPlantCentral/cyc...lantedtank.msnw

 

[sundayseven]

maybe try easier plants to maintain.
from what ive seena and read, the pretty colored plants are harder to maintain...get some nice greens going, and dont forget light and fertilizer for the plants. especially if there are no fish to produce waste, which plants will eat