Plants aren't growing, some plants are dying

[Emmalovesfrogs]

I switched my tank from gravel to potting soil with a sand cap about 4 weeks ago. I added a few new plants and some dwarf hair grass. Thanks to my Corys and other fish rooting through the hair grass, keeps getting uprooted. I've been able to replant most of it and have moved some of it around.. but I just expected it to spread pretty quickly. Also my plants are not growing and some of the stem plants have been dying. I did have a handful of fish deaths, maybe 10 or so after I switched my substrate but I haven't found any dead fish in about 2 weeks. It does seem like my water quality has stabilized and it is as clear as it has been since I switched to a dirted tank. I usually do a partial water change, 30-40% weekly but I did go 10 days between the last water change. I also add flourish liquid fertilizer weekly. There should be plenty of CO2 as I have around 50 fish. I only have a basic test kit that tests for ph (which seems to have stabilized around 7.0,) ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. So I have no idea what my CO2 levels are or like KH and GH. I saw in a Reddit thread that someone recommended a complete fertilizer from aquarium co-op. Do I need to change my lighting? It is a pretty basic LED light. Also my water temp is stabilized at 80 degrees. I've been thinking of adding some java moss and guppy grass too. I just really want to have a lush carpet of dwarf hair grass and healthy, growing plants so my fish and amano shrimp can reproduce successfully without all the fry getting eaten. I've attached pictures of whenever I first switched to a dirted substrate and freshly planted vs yesterday. Also it might be important to note that I'm a total beginner and my tank is only 5 months old.

 

[CassCats]

Okay so a couple things stand out to me:

Changing substrate to potting soil can crash your pH and can trigger an ammonia spike. Generally isn't ideal to switch to with fish in an established aquarium because both of these things can impact the fish--hence the losses.

It's usually better to start up with a soil substrate tank and let it stabilize before adding fish. But, you can't fix that now. But for future use, you know now.

Second, the amount of CO2 from livestock isn't high enough that would equal a CO2 kit, however, CO2 is only a boost. It's not always necessary. So I wouldn't worry too much about this factor as a beginner.

In your photos I notice you have some plants that should not be planted in the substrate--anubias and Java fern. These should be glued or tied to hardscape instead. They will slowly die when buried. I circled those plants for you, so you know.

Hairgrass won't mix well with cories and also won't do well with standard lighting--it's a bit of a finicky plant. I would suggest dwarf sagittaria instead as it is lower light and also has stronger roots to tolerate corydoras digging habits.

Some of your other plants are fussier ones also needing better lighting. The stem plants you've got both the green fluffy one (looks like either a mayaca or rotala, hard to tell from your photos) and the red one. I would instead try out something such as egeria, hydrocolotyle, hygrophila, or water sprite instead. These are less needy and more beginner friendly.

I wouldn't add any fertilizer until you test your parameters, you want your nitrates below 20ppm, even better below 10ppm


Oh, and your tank temperature is really high. Lower that down slowly to 75F. 80F is too hot for corydoras especially, but also many of the fish you've got in there. 75-76F would be more comfortable. Many plants also will not like the hot temperatures and will fare better cooler end.

 

[Colin_T]

There isn't enough light on the right side of the tank to grow plants.

Hair grass isn't an aquatic plant and normally dies when kept underwater.

There are 2 clumps of plants just to the right of the coral or tree stump? A green clump and a red clump. The individual stems should be planted separately (1-2 inches apart) so the plants have room for water to move around them. They will also get more light is you separate them.

Aquarium plant soils aren't good for fish and usually become sludge after 12 months and do nothing to help plants after that. You are better off just using sand or gravel and adding a liquid aquarium plant fertiliser each week.

More info on growing plants at the link below.

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...

www.fishforums.net

 

[emeraldking]

The chosen sand could also be too dense to feed the roots of certain plants. That may also result in dying plants.