Plants

[ronkey]

Hi


Can some one advise me on maintaining my plants in good condition, Some of the leaves on certain plants are becoming a bit ragged and colourless.

 

[SamUK]

well speaking as someone who doesnt use CO2 or special lighting, i jus remove any leaves that look past there sell by date with some scissors.

 

[Phantom Thief]

This should be in the Plants section.

And i don't have much luck with plants either. Not much i can do, with Buenos Aires tetras. Java fern does pretty well in my tank though, the fish leave it alone.

P.T.

 

[Bex]

I don't have special lights or CO2 and I just add some plant food every week. Can't remember the name of the stuff though as I am work at the mo. My tank is fairly new but has been planted from day 1 and everything is grwoing really well.

 

[Dubby]

The reasons for the loss of colour is a sign of lack of nutrients. What plants are these? How much light is there?

Plants such as swords need nutrients through their roots. Adding iron tabs helps.

 

[ronkey]

The reasons for the loss of colour is a sign of lack of nutrients. What plants are these? How much light is there?

Plants such as swords need nutrients through their roots. Adding iron tabs helps.

The plants i think are some kind of lily with broad leaves, A plant with red leaves growing better than the rest with what appears to be white roots shooting from the side of the plant also i think a grass like plant maybe a valis and last a small dark marbled leaved plant, Six plants in total.

When i bought them i put them into the gravel still in there pots was this ok, the tank holds ten gallons of water, The tube throws out quiet a lot of light, I have not put any plant feed in the tank, I thought that nutrients were put into the water with the weekly water changes?

 

[Dubby]

The plants i think are some kind of lily with broad leaves, A plant with red leaves growing better than the rest with what appears to be white roots shooting from the side of the plant also i think a grass like plant maybe a valis and last a small dark marbled leaved plant, Six plants in total.

When i bought them i put them into the gravel still in there pots was this ok, the tank holds ten gallons of water, The tube throws out quiet a lot of light, I have not put any plant feed in the tank, I thought that nutrients were put into the water with the weekly water changes?

It is better to take the plants out of the pots, so they can root properly.

Water changes will add a certain amount of trace nutrients back into the system but its better to add a few drops of liquid plant food (such as API Leaf zone). And with heavy root feeders, you need to add root tabs.

A thumb rule for the amount of light required is 2W/gallon. What is the rating of your lamp? I assume its a fluorescent tube.

I hope this helps.

 

[ronkey]

The plants i think are some kind of lily with broad leaves, A plant with red leaves growing better than the rest with what appears to be white roots shooting from the side of the plant also i think a grass like plant maybe a valis and last a small dark marbled leaved plant, Six plants in total.

When i bought them i put them into the gravel still in there pots was this ok, the tank holds ten gallons of water, The tube throws out quiet a lot of light, I have not put any plant feed in the tank, I thought that nutrients were put into the water with the weekly water changes?

It is better to take the plants out of the pots, so they can root properly.

Water changes will add a certain amount of trace nutrients back into the system but its better to add a few drops of liquid plant food (such as API Leaf zone). And with heavy root feeders, you need to add root tabs.

A thumb rule for the amount of light required is 2W/gallon. What is the rating of your lamp? I assume its a fluorescent tube.

I hope this helps.

Thanks dubby

Yes it is a flourescent tube, you know i have not checked the wattage yet, The Plants have been in the tank for about 4-5 weeks now, It wont harm them to move them now will it?.

Being a new fish keeper i have put only gravel in the tank, Will the roots be ok in this only?.

I have purchased a plant fertilizer and have began using it.

 

[Dubby]

Thanks dubby

Yes it is a flourescent tube, you know i have not checked the wattage yet, The Plants have been in the tank for about 4-5 weeks now, It wont harm them to move them now will it?.

Being a new fish keeper i have put only gravel in the tank, Will the roots be ok in this only?.

I have purchased a plant fertilizer and have began using it.

Should be fine to remove the plants from the pots- just take care that the roots are not harmed. Gravel is fine as long as its quite small (2-3mm). I prefer sand as its easier to clean.

Let me know how much lighting you have.

 

[ArielC]

A quick tip on removing the plants from the pots - be very gentle removing them from the cotton stuff. Usually you can tear it away from the roots vertically. ( it is cotton right? )

You can easily further harm the plants by not being careful.

I have all gravel in my tank and the plants are fine. : /

 

[ronkey]

A quick tip on removing the plants from the pots - be very gentle removing them from the cotton stuff. Usually you can tear it away from the roots vertically. ( it is cotton right? )

You can easily further harm the plants by not being careful.

I have all gravel in my tank and the plants are fine. : /

Thanks for your advice guy's, I am going to be careful taking the cotton wool from the plants, Also Dubby i have looked at tube, can't see any wattage but it says Arcadia the plant growth lamp?.

One more thing, how deep should the they be planted, Is it how i have them now with the base of the plant's level with the gravel?.

 

[Dubby]

Thanks for your advice guy's, I am going to be careful taking the cotton wool from the plants, Also Dubby i have looked at tube, can't see any wattage but it says Arcadia the plant growth lamp?.

One more thing, how deep should the they be planted, Is it how i have them now with the base of the plant's level with the gravel?.

Arcadia have several bulbs for different purposes. So would be useful to know which one you have got. What is the length of the tube? The wattage is generally a proportion of its length. A 18inch tube gives 15W.

You have them correctly planted. The crown should be just above the gravel level.