Plants Just Not Right

[Themuleous]

Hi All,

Well the plants in my nano aren't doing very well, what a surprise I hear you all say! Quick tank update

Lighting - 2x18w Arcadia freshwater tubes, 2months old, 6hrs per day
Substrate - eco-complete, although its now 18months old
Schedule - 50% water change every 2/3 days at which time it was getting 2ppm PO4 and 20ppm NO3, but I upped the NO3 to 30ppm as the tank tested 10ppm NO3. It also gets 2ml tropica plant nutrition, also now upped to 4ml.

I know the plants are getting decent light as they do pearl nicely, so at least thats the light sorted over the tank! Long story for those not that familiar with my nano!

Anyho, I can't work out why the plants aren't doing very well, they do grow but the heath of the plants just isn't what it should be. My only thought is that when I stripped the tank down to re do it in its present form I filled the tank with water and added some bleach to get rid of the algae, am wondering if that had left a residue on it which is now affecting the plants, possible?

Or it could be a fert deficiency but I wouldn't think so with my schedule?

The floating plants are doing great which could be another sign of it being the substrate?

Here are some pics

Thoughts and suggestions very welcome.

Sam

 

[DevUK]

You could try banging some root tabs in around a section of plants and see if they purk up, if they do it might well be the substrate.

As for the bleach, I pressume you rinsed it out thoroughly so I wouldn't of thought it a problem. Might be worth dumping a good dose of dechlorinator in, but thats just a stab in the dark really

 

[JamesC]

Substrate won't make much difference as those plants will grow fine in plain sand if you're water column dosing. As long as you added dechorinator then the bleach shouldn't be a problem and would probably affect both submerged and floating plants equally.

The floating plants doing so well should give you a big clue to where your problems lie as they get their Carbon from the air and submerged plants don't. What are you doing regards CO2?

James

 

[nry]

Same q here, any CO2 going on? Also, is it worth considering upping lights to ~8-hours per day? 6 seems a tad short for EI dosing.

 

[Underwurlde]

Just to echo what JamesC & nry are asking, I'd go along with their observations too.

Andy

 

[nry]

To think, because of the advice and people on this forum I can now give back something useful instead of just asking questions Cheers all!

 

[SuperColey1]

***Cheeky Reply***

SAM - I think you need more light!! 55W sounds about right. lol Offer closes soon as I need to get rid

As for the real problem. Thats what happened to my tank when I was struggling with the CO2.

Andy

 

[Themuleous]

Thanks for your thoughts people, re CO2 - I keep the pH drop checker a nice green/yellow just to be on the safe side, so I known its ok, although I guess a quick pH/KH check couldn't hurt just to double check will try that later and get back.

If the CO2 checks out I'll up the lighting I had thought that might be the issue. Glad to hear its unlikely to be the substrate, I did use a good glug of de-chlor, and it should have gone by now even if there was any left.

Could 6hrs light really be to little even with 36w over a 4g?

James - Your HC carpet on sand made me think it couldn't be the substrate

Thanks people

Sam

Nry - about time!

 

[Themuleous]

Well just tested the CO2, I get 6dkH and 6.4pH so I'm pretty certain there is plenty of CO2 pumping around the tank!

So that just leaves the lighting, will up to 8hrs and see.

Sam

 

[Underwurlde]

Am I being my usual thicky-wicky-Black-Adder?

6dkH and 6.4pH

Gives: CO2 = 3 x 6 x 10^(7.0-6.4) = 18 x 4 => CO2 = 72ppm

The answer is 'yes' isn't it?

Andy
PS I'd say 8hrs was too short as well! 9-10 min IMO.

 

[George Farmer]

10hrs light.

 

[nry]

10hrs light.

Why 10 out of curiousity?

 

[Underwurlde]

I think it is because it is more in line with normal 'tropical' day light hours... i.e. what the plants would natuarally get.

Andy

 

[Themuleous]

Right add another 2hrs! Thanks again all

To be honest now I think of it, I don't know why I ever thought 6hrs would be enough, silly Sam

Sam

PS - Andy = yep 72ppm CO2!!! but its OK the drop checker is only very slightly yellow so I know its know where near 72ppm, just goes to show how inaccurate that method it.

 

[Dave Spencer]

Could 6hrs light really be to little even with 36w over a 4g?

I have 2 x 11W Arcadia Arc Pod T5s over 6USG for an eight hour photoperiod and have evrything growing, albeit slower than my two high light tanks. I dose about 1/2 normal EI, but I have plenty of CO2 bubbles blowing around.

Maybe your photoperiod is a little short, but your light levels sound OK to me. I would say try and get some more CO2 in there. Personally, I would put all the critters in another tank and whack the CO2 up beyond 30ppm for a while to see if it helps any.

Are you using the same CO2 bottle as when you had problems a while back with HC?

Dave.