Why aren't my plants growing?
Why aren't my plants growing?
I switched to Tropica soil from gravel, and I've got my Aquasky light on for 6 hours a day in my 125l tank. It's well planted but all my plants, even my 53b, have stopped growing. I'm using liquid CO2 daily, so how much of TNC Complete should I dose daily?
Re: Why aren't my plants growing?
Use my reply as a checklist for your aquarium, bayside.
Does your aquarium have adequate light - in your case, you mentioned the aquasky light's on for 6 hours, that's a good start.
How often do you clean the water - I'm assuming you do it regularly, but just to confirm.
Are there natural flakes or LED lights - again, you mentioned the aquasky light, so that's covered.
If you have all these in place, I recommend using a fertilizer like TNC Complete daily, as you asked. However, I'd like to suggest an alternative to help your plants grow quicker and healthier - have you considered using a product like Flourish? Also, make sure you don't have large cleaner fish, as they might unbury or eat your plants.
Re: Why aren't my plants growing?
There's no liquid CO2 in normal conditions. I'm guessing it's likely a different product you're using.
To better understand what's going on, can you post a picture of your tank and the plants that aren't doing well? Also, please answer the questions I had for bayside: does your aquarium have light, how often do you clean the water, and are there natuflake LED lights?
To better understand what's going on, can you post a picture of your tank and the plants that aren't doing well? Also, please answer the questions I had for bayside: does your aquarium have light, how often do you clean the water, and are there natuflake LED lights?
-
shakinStevens - Posts: 71
- Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2022 4:15 pm
Re: Why aren't my plants growing?
When plants stop growing, it's often because they're lacking a necessary nutrient. The soil you're using will have some nutrients, but these will eventually deplete. A complete liquid fertilizer can help resolve this issue. I'm not clear if you're currently using a liquid fertilizer or not.
I'd like to know, is your tap water soft? Soft water typically has low levels of calcium, which plants need to grow. If you're using TNC Complete and your water is soft, that might be the problem. It would be a good idea to get a GH test kit to check the GH of your tank water. If your water is soft, you can increase the water GH with an aquarium GH booster.
TNC Complete contains: 0.5% nitrogen, 0.2% phosphorus, 5% potassium, 0.8% magnesium, and other essential micronutrients.
I'd like to know, is your tap water soft? Soft water typically has low levels of calcium, which plants need to grow. If you're using TNC Complete and your water is soft, that might be the problem. It would be a good idea to get a GH test kit to check the GH of your tank water. If your water is soft, you can increase the water GH with an aquarium GH booster.
TNC Complete contains: 0.5% nitrogen, 0.2% phosphorus, 5% potassium, 0.8% magnesium, and other essential micronutrients.
Re: Why aren't my plants growing?
I switched to Tropica soil from gravel, just thought it would be better for my plants, that's all.
Re: Why aren't my plants growing?
It's likely the plants are struggling due to insufficient light and fertiliser. Most plants need a decent amount of light to thrive, and with the lights on for only a couple of hours, they're probably not getting enough. If the light's wattage is too low, that's another issue.
Try increasing the lighting period to 10-12 hours a day and see how that goes. If you start getting a lot of green algae, reduce the light by an hour and monitor the situation over the next couple of weeks. If there's no algae on the glass, increase the lighting period by an hour and keep an eye on it. If you get a small amount of algae, the lighting time is probably about right.
Some plants will close their leaves when they've had enough light. For example, Ambulia, Hygrophilas, and a few others will close their top set of leaves first, then the next set, and so on down the stem. When you notice this happening, wait an hour after the leaves have closed up against the stem, then turn the lights off.
If you're looking for some good plants to try, consider Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, H. ruba/rubra, Elodia (but only in summer, as it falls apart in winter), Hydrilla, common Zorchzon sword plant, narrow Vallis, or Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/cornuta). Water Sprite can float on the surface or be planted in the substrate, while the others should be planted in the gravel.
Adding an iron-based aquarium plant fertiliser can really help your plants do well. I've found that liquid iron-based fertilisers tend to work better than tablets, although you can push the tablets under the roots of plants and that works too. I use Sera Florena liquid plant fertiliser, but there are other brands available.
One thing to avoid is adding carbon fertiliser to the tank – it's just not necessary. Also, be mindful of the stress that tank lights can cause when they come on in a dark room. Fish don't have eyelids, so they can't tolerate going from complete dark to bright light instantly.
To reduce stress on your fish, try opening the curtains or turning the room light on at least 30 minutes before turning the tank light on in the morning. At night, turn the room light on and then turn the tank light off. Wait at least 30 minutes before turning the room light out, allowing your fish to settle down for the night.
Try increasing the lighting period to 10-12 hours a day and see how that goes. If you start getting a lot of green algae, reduce the light by an hour and monitor the situation over the next couple of weeks. If there's no algae on the glass, increase the lighting period by an hour and keep an eye on it. If you get a small amount of algae, the lighting time is probably about right.
Some plants will close their leaves when they've had enough light. For example, Ambulia, Hygrophilas, and a few others will close their top set of leaves first, then the next set, and so on down the stem. When you notice this happening, wait an hour after the leaves have closed up against the stem, then turn the lights off.
If you're looking for some good plants to try, consider Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, H. ruba/rubra, Elodia (but only in summer, as it falls apart in winter), Hydrilla, common Zorchzon sword plant, narrow Vallis, or Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/cornuta). Water Sprite can float on the surface or be planted in the substrate, while the others should be planted in the gravel.
Adding an iron-based aquarium plant fertiliser can really help your plants do well. I've found that liquid iron-based fertilisers tend to work better than tablets, although you can push the tablets under the roots of plants and that works too. I use Sera Florena liquid plant fertiliser, but there are other brands available.
One thing to avoid is adding carbon fertiliser to the tank – it's just not necessary. Also, be mindful of the stress that tank lights can cause when they come on in a dark room. Fish don't have eyelids, so they can't tolerate going from complete dark to bright light instantly.
To reduce stress on your fish, try opening the curtains or turning the room light on at least 30 minutes before turning the tank light on in the morning. At night, turn the room light on and then turn the tank light off. Wait at least 30 minutes before turning the room light out, allowing your fish to settle down for the night.
PHPBB-BG.INFO