Whats Best For Plant Growth?

[gex18]

I have a fully functioning discus setup that has been running for 2 years, however due to high discus temps, plants normally turn to mush. Have reordered a lot of plants that are meant to be ideal for discus temps;

Hygro Polysperma
Java fern
Amazon swords
Cyrpt becketti / wendetti
Salvinia
Giant Vallis

I dint want to remove gravel to put laterite / soil down so was wondering if i could 'pot' the plants using laterite as their substrate with a layer of gravel to prevent contamination of water? If any links could you please post them? What substrate is best for plant growth?

Setup / equipment is as follows

Juwel Rio 400 (60" x 18" x 24"high) - 400 litres
Eheim 2329 wet / dry external filter
Ehiem 2018 external filter
Arcadia I-Bar T5 lighting - 2 x 54w bulbs
JBL profi 3 CO2 setup inc ph controller, pressurized bottle. solenoid etc

W/C 2 x 100 litres per week.

Stock
8 x 6" discus
3 x cory julii
2 x Ram cichlids
4 x apisto cacatuoides
2 x golden nugget plecs (L177)
30 cardinal tetras

Cheers guys!

 

[karlp]

Hi

I think your problem with plants is the lighting not the high temperatures. I've had some of the most prolific plant growth when treating ich and having the temperatures at 30.5C.

Doing rough maths you've got about 1 watt of lightnig per gallon. For a CO2 setup, you need at least 2.5 Watts per gallon.

If you can get the lighting up your plants should stop fading away.

As far as planting pots goes, that should be fine putting some fertilized substrate in the pots, although you may need to replace the material in the pots periodically and the pots that the plants come in (the small plastic ones) will soon be outgrown.

If you don't want to have to worry about planted substrates, then just go for stem plants, but be warned you will need to fertilize the water with stem plants and you'll have to be very careful not to upset the discus by adding too much nitrates to the water.

Cheers

Karl.

 

[gex18]

I am thinking of getting two power compact t5 light kits, but dint know where to place them as i have heard they produce a LOT of heat - also dont want to modify the hood! Otherwise will put original ballast back on asweel as kpp the !-bar on si will be 2 x t5 tubes (54w each) and 2 x T8 tubes (39w each). Will have to find some think black perspex and make so new hood 'flaps'

cheers for the prompt reply

anthony

 

[AMS]

You may have some trouble with your wet/dry canister (from the reviews Ive read its an excellent canister) because your c02 will be useless if it keeps being diffused.

 

[karlp]

That is right. The wet dry set up will diffuse a lot of CO2.

It is possible by blocking off the air pipe on the external filter to run it in wet mode all the time. That would be better if you're trying to maintain a planted tank.

 

[gex18]

Cheers guys - will do that! Do you think adding the original t8 lights will imprve plant growth? Otherwise what other options do i have for increasing the lighting in there? Also do you guys know where i can get the end cap for the 2329 external filters air pipe? As i cant find it anywhere?!

Regards

Anthony

 

[gex18]

I have now added the T8 ballast that was originally on the juwel tank so have 4 bulbs on (2 x 54w + 2 x29w), do you think this will improve my chances of keeping plants? As they are arriving next week. Also what ferts do you reccomend? Is there any i can add to the substrate without clouding the tank / affecting the fish?