Ok, I have medium grained gravel at the bottom of my 27 gallon tank. I keep planting live plants, but they always wither after about 7 months or so. The water is balanced, my fish aren't eating them, and the plants get plenty of light. I know that the nutrients for the plants usually come from the fish themselves, from their droppings. Now I only have a few small fish in my tank...do you think the plants just aren't getting enough fish crap to feed them?
Fish tank experts needed
- Thread starter Accipiter22
- Start date
you need more then fish crap. how often do you change the water, and how much plants are there and how large of a tank, and what kind of plants.
SagaLore
Elite Member
- Dec 18, 2001
- 24,036
- 21
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Your plants need CO2. Reduce your air bubbler to a minimum needed for your fish if not already. Then get yourself one of these:
Hagen CO2 generator
Also, the "fish crap" isn't useful to plants until its broken down. Otherwise you are actually hurting the plants. You need a natural biological cycle going:
Cycle liquid bacteria
Last but not least, there are nutrients the plants need that they won't necessarily get from the fish. You can supplement it with:
Jungle Labs Plant Food Tabs
Hagen CO2 generator
Also, the "fish crap" isn't useful to plants until its broken down. Otherwise you are actually hurting the plants. You need a natural biological cycle going:
Cycle liquid bacteria
Last but not least, there are nutrients the plants need that they won't necessarily get from the fish. You can supplement it with:
Jungle Labs Plant Food Tabs
that wont necessarily fix your problem, and if you implement it wrong you could end up killing all your fish.
first find out exactly why your plants died. there should have been a change in thier growth just before, did you notice anything? gonna need more info, dont just throw in co2 and expect things to be fine.
To clarify, adding co2 into your tank softens your water. depending on your fish, water quality, and amount of co2 you add, you could cause too large of a change and kill/weaken your fish.
Are you sure you're getting enough light? You should be at 1.5 watts per gallon as a bare minimum. This varies on the plus side with plant type of course.
I dont' change the water ever, I use a whisper filter. there's a couple of plants...I can't think of the name, looks almost like a snake plant as far as leaf shape goes..I have a strong flourescent light, yes.
I'll have to try that plant food, and maybe the co2 idea too
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
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1. Take pics of the plants, find out what they are and what others have found when growing them
2. How many watts does the bulb put out? What is the photoperiod?
3. What temp is the water?
4. Change water on a weekly basis, maybe 15-20%?
5. If you do go the route of CO2, consider DIY CO2 in a 2L bottle, on a budget of less than a pressurized setup, it's the best choice and works very well.
6. Don't jump into this before fixing the other problems, but you should also dose micro and macro ferts, that'll make a difference. http://www.gregwatson.com/ and Seachem's Excel among others might be good choices, look around and read on the aquatic plant forums.
If it matters, I've been reading books on aquatic plants and have grown maybe 10-15 types of plants so far. I'm not as far into it as others, but I'm going into it at a good pace. Getting water changes going, DIY CO2, and a proper photoperiod will make a big improvement. Tell us what size the tank is and how many watts the bulb puts out and I can tell you what I'd reccomend.
2. How many watts does the bulb put out? What is the photoperiod?
3. What temp is the water?
4. Change water on a weekly basis, maybe 15-20%?
5. If you do go the route of CO2, consider DIY CO2 in a 2L bottle, on a budget of less than a pressurized setup, it's the best choice and works very well.
6. Don't jump into this before fixing the other problems, but you should also dose micro and macro ferts, that'll make a difference. http://www.gregwatson.com/ and Seachem's Excel among others might be good choices, look around and read on the aquatic plant forums.
If it matters, I've been reading books on aquatic plants and have grown maybe 10-15 types of plants so far. I'm not as far into it as others, but I'm going into it at a good pace. Getting water changes going, DIY CO2, and a proper photoperiod will make a big improvement. Tell us what size the tank is and how many watts the bulb puts out and I can tell you what I'd reccomend.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
CO2 will drop the pH, unless he's got a pressurized setup running on steroids without any configuration at all, he'll be fine.
You should change your water. A buildup of nitrates would occur and will kill your fishes. Also, new water contains new minerals which are good for your plants.
Adding CO2 produces carbonic acid which will reduce the water's alkalinity; the ability for it to buffer at a higher pH. GH should always be monitored whenever a CO2 reactor is used.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
Right, however with these types of setups, it usually isn't necessary. Buffering the pH isn't too much of a concern because it will experience some swings in any case, especially at night causing the pH to be lowest in the morning.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
If the GH drops below 1 meq/l it can be detrimental if the bioload is sufficient to cause the pH to drop low enough to drop the nitrosomonas population. Of course the subsequent spike in NH3 levels are not as toxic at lower pH levels. 
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
Of course the subsequent spike in NH3 levels are not as toxic at lower pH levels.
I was ready to call you out on that if you didn't point it out
I was ready to call you out on that if you didn't point it out
as has already been pointed out by the little chat between minerva and agaboogabaobgabobgoaboo, you do not want to jump straight into a co2 setup without first knowing whats wrong with your setup that causes your plants to die.
taking some pics and posting it for us would be a good start!
taking some pics and posting it for us would be a good start!
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
- Feb 16, 2003
- 26,108
- 5
- 81
I'll assume you're talking freshwater. If you have wood in there make sure you boil out the tannins first, probably not bad for plants, but for fish its not great. If it is salt water, well I guess it would be kelp and I have no idea, I'll ask my buddy.
Pics or BAN. No seriously, we need to see the setup, with your Ph balance, temps, and more details on your management.
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Hey the bottle is supposed to be CO2 not N2O and either way you should not be huffing the contents!
best base for live plants - about 1/2 inch 100% clay kitty litter with about 1/4 inch layer of play sand on top.
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