Plant experiment.

ron v · 03-27-2006, 10:08 AM

Well, my experiment with plants is turning out about like it has in the past. Not very good. Most everything is either already dead or fading fast. Water parameters are as follows.
55 gal. tank
PH 6.8
Kh 1
Gh 3
Ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate about 10
120 watts lighting
no ferts

What am I doing wrong, or what else should I do?

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[/IMG]

ron v · 03-27-2006, 10:10 AM

Another photo.

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ron v · 03-27-2006, 10:12 AM

[IMG]

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ron v · 03-27-2006, 10:13 AM

[IMG]

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hike · 03-27-2006, 11:10 AM

Just curious Ron, but how come no ferts? My fisrt guess would be not enough nutrients and maybe not quite enough light but I'll leave that to the real experts.

ron v · 03-27-2006, 02:44 PM

I have Flourish Iron, Phosphorus and Nitrogen. Should I add some??? Lighting is what was recommended. I could easily add another 40w, but I don't want to do the CO2 thing.

KiltyONeal · 03-27-2006, 09:47 PM

Ron,

What type of bulbs are you using?

I use T12 full/wide spectrum bulbs with a temperature of 5K and below. They seem to work best for me and I can get them cheap at the hardware stores.

RockabillyChick · 03-27-2006, 10:15 PM

i have 2.75 wpg on my 20g long tank. no ferts, but my nitrates are usually above 20, and i have a sand substrait, and hard water with lots of minerals out of an aquifer, with 7.8pH my plants are going crazy.......except the hornwort and cabomba. those two are turning brown and dying after about a month and a half. but everything else is doing great.

i think you probably need ferts. i have a lot of nutrients already in my water, so i haven't bothered dosing ferts, but you may have to.

**Damon** · 03-28-2006, 08:00 AM

Its a potassium defficiency.

ron v · 03-28-2006, 09:17 AM

I have Phosphorus supplement. Will that do? They both start with a "p"???
Does potassium come as a supplement also?

**SueM** · 03-28-2006, 10:06 AM

Swords get most their nutrients from the roots. You might consider sticking some plant tabs right down into the substrate.
BTW, whats your temp? most plants like cooler temps.

ron v · 03-28-2006, 10:36 AM

Substrate is Flourite. Do I still need plant tabs? Temp is about 72F.

KiltyONeal · 03-28-2006, 10:43 AM

If you're not sure if it's the substrate and you want to experiment a little, you could always put one of the plants in a small container with some top soil and substrate. You don't have to bury the container, just place it on top of your existing substrate. The top soil will have all the nutrients your plants need.

I usually have extra plants and I grow them out this way in a 20g long. Here's a banana plant that I was experimenting with. It's growing very fast and I was surprised to see roots pop out from the little "bananas"!

**Damon** · 03-28-2006, 11:19 AM

Substrate is fine. PO4 (Phosphate) is good to have as it is 1 of 3 key elements. Nitrate readings are good also. Thats the second. Potassium (K) is the one missing and without it, your plants would live long. You can get a suppliment of K from many sources. Stump remover is one option. KNO3 from http://www.gregwatson.com will add potassium and nitrate. Seachem and many others make a potassium suppliment also.

ron v · 03-29-2006, 02:25 PM

OK, I have added a dose of Tetra, FloraPride. Say's it supplies iron and potassium. So tomorrow my tank will look like Simpte's, Right??? BTW, could ya'll help me ID the plants in the photos?

03-27-2006, 10:08 AM	#1
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	Plant experiment. Well, my experiment with plants is turning out about like it has in the past. Not very good. Most everything is either already dead or fading fast. Water parameters are as follows. 55 gal. tank PH 6.8 Kh 1 Gh 3 Ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate about 10 120 watts lighting no ferts What am I doing wrong, or what else should I do? [IMG][/IMG]

03-27-2006, 10:10 AM	#2
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	Another photo. [IMG][/IMG]

03-27-2006, 10:12 AM	#3
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	[IMG][/IMG]

03-27-2006, 10:13 AM	#4
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	[IMG][/IMG]

03-27-2006, 11:10 AM	#5
hike Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 32 Posts: 5	Just curious Ron, but how come no ferts? My fisrt guess would be not enough nutrients and maybe not quite enough light but I'll leave that to the real experts. __________________ But maybe the two of us, working together at full capacity, could do the job of one normal man.

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03-27-2006, 02:44 PM	#6
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	I have Flourish Iron, Phosphorus and Nitrogen. Should I add some??? Lighting is what was recommended. I could easily add another 40w, but I don't want to do the CO2 thing.

03-27-2006, 09:47 PM	#7
KiltyONeal Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 61	Ron, What type of bulbs are you using? I use T12 full/wide spectrum bulbs with a temperature of 5K and below. They seem to work best for me and I can get them cheap at the hardware stores.

03-27-2006, 10:15 PM	#8
RockabillyChick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 298	i have 2.75 wpg on my 20g long tank. no ferts, but my nitrates are usually above 20, and i have a sand substrait, and hard water with lots of minerals out of an aquifer, with 7.8pH my plants are going crazy.......except the hornwort and cabomba. those two are turning brown and dying after about a month and a half. but everything else is doing great. i think you probably need ferts. i have a lot of nutrients already in my water, so i haven't bothered dosing ferts, but you may have to. __________________ She does nothing to deserve it He only wants to observe it We sit back like they taught us We keep quiet like they taught us He just wants, he wants to prove it She does nothing to remove it We don't want anyone to mind us So we play the roles that they assigned us She does nothing to conceal it He touches her 'cause he wants to feel it We blame her for being there But we are all guilty http://rockabillychick.deviantart.com/

03-28-2006, 08:00 AM	#9
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Its a potassium defficiency. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

03-28-2006, 09:17 AM	#10
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	I have Phosphorus supplement. Will that do? They both start with a "p"??? Does potassium come as a supplement also?

03-28-2006, 10:06 AM	#11
SueM Administrator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kennewick, WA. Age: 50 Posts: 1,056	Swords get most their nutrients from the roots. You might consider sticking some plant tabs right down into the substrate. BTW, whats your temp? most plants like cooler temps. __________________ Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled

03-28-2006, 10:36 AM	#12
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	Substrate is Flourite. Do I still need plant tabs? Temp is about 72F.

03-28-2006, 10:43 AM	#13
KiltyONeal Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 61	If you're not sure if it's the substrate and you want to experiment a little, you could always put one of the plants in a small container with some top soil and substrate. You don't have to bury the container, just place it on top of your existing substrate. The top soil will have all the nutrients your plants need. I usually have extra plants and I grow them out this way in a 20g long. Here's a banana plant that I was experimenting with. It's growing very fast and I was surprised to see roots pop out from the little "bananas"! Last edited by KiltyONeal; 03-28-2006 at 10:46 AM.

03-28-2006, 11:19 AM	#14
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Substrate is fine. PO4 (Phosphate) is good to have as it is 1 of 3 key elements. Nitrate readings are good also. Thats the second. Potassium (K) is the one missing and without it, your plants would live long. You can get a suppliment of K from many sources. Stump remover is one option. KNO3 from http://www.gregwatson.com will add potassium and nitrate. Seachem and many others make a potassium suppliment also. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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03-29-2006, 02:25 PM	#15
ron v Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alabama Age: 61 Posts: 1,123	OK, I have added a dose of Tetra, FloraPride. Say's it supplies iron and potassium. So tomorrow my tank will look like Simpte's, Right??? BTW, could ya'll help me ID the plants in the photos?

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