Why Don'T My Plants Grow Fast?

[FishBeast]

Hi guys,

I am running a high tech tank as follows:

400 ltr, 3+ watts of 6500k t5 lights per gallon. My lights run for 8 hrs, one for 8 hrs and the other for a 6 hr burst. Pressurised co2 running at approx 35ppm at PH of 7.4 at full co2 at 26-28 degrees celcius. I am fertilising via the EI method at the recommended rate. I have flourite red for substrate topped with river sand which is about 1.5-3 inches deep before reaching the nutrient substrate. I have placed root tabs around the place and have even used a syringe to manually fertilise substrate around the hc because the roots are not deep.

I am finding that I am stuck. A few of my plants are growing well but the HC mostly is growing painfully slow. My tank is now about 2 months along now and the HC has barely grown. It next to never pearls. Neither do any of the other plants except my local moss and the algae.

I believe that with the stats of my tank my plants should be at least growing at a very stead rate with at least a fair bit of pearling. I could use any advice you guys can come up with please.

 

[aaronnorth]

trim back all the plants, it will encourage new growth. Dont be scared to give them a good hack, but at the same time dont take all of your plant mass away!

 

[RadaR]

Pressurised co2 running at approx 35ppm at PH of 7.4

How do you know that?

 

[FishBeast]

Pressurised co2 running at approx 35ppm at PH of 7.4

How do you know that?

My drop checker is on the slight yellowish side of being green so I say approx 35ppm and I tested the PH at the same time as monitoring the drop checker.

 

[RadaR]

Pressurised co2 running at approx 35ppm at PH of 7.4

How do you know that?

My drop checker is on the slight yellowish side of being green so I say approx 35ppm and I tested the PH at the same time as monitoring the drop checker.

pH of the water in the tank or drop checker?
Did you put tank water into the drop checker?

 

[aaronnorth]

Also try moving the DC around the tank and measure the levels, distribution may not be god in all spots.

 

[baron von bubba]

what flow rates do you have?

 

[FishBeast]

My drop checker is on the slight yellowish side of being green so I say approx 35ppm and I tested the PH at the same time as monitoring the drop checker.
[/quote]

pH of the water in the tank or drop checker?
Did you put tank water into the drop checker?
[/quote]

The PH is of the tank water and the water in the drop checker is demineralised water with the hardness adjusted to whatever it is supposed to be.

 

[FishBeast]

what flow rates do you have?

Here is a pic of how my flow works. The surface flow carries my co2 from the canister filter.

 

[FishBeast]

I have great news guys. My HC is now growing well at a steady rate and appears very lush. I had been working on the time my co2 cycle starts before the lights come on but only got to watch my drop checker 2 times a week at the moment the lights started. After a few weeks I have finally got it right so that my drop checker begins to turn green after 1 hr of my lights being on. The regulator kicks in 3 hrs before the first light switches on. I am happy with this as it takes approx 2 hrs for my drop checker to register.

Thanks for the help guys and I hope that this thread will be of use to others who may be having difficulty growing this wonderful plant.