Tropical Fish Forums

jd7 · New Members Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Location: NSW, Australia

I am trying to achieve a lush planted tank but cannot get the plants to grow in my 40G tank. I have two 39W T5 tubes one a Sylvinnia gro-lux (8500K)and the other a hagen power-glo (18,000K). pH is around 7.0 and I dose with flourish with the weekly water change. I also recently added flourish tabs to the gravel.

I currently have an amazon sword, some wisteria, baby's tears, thin val, crypts, java fern and java moss as well as hairgrass. All of these appear to be struggling with no growth. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

susankatomerit · Advisors Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Location: Tulsa, Ok

You need to add ferts and possibly diy co2 and it will help a lot.
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unissuh

Perhaps try these fertilizers instead:

http://www.aquagreen.com.au/plant_data/Dinosaur_Dung.html
http://www.aquagreen.com.au/plant_data/Dinosaur_Pee.html
http://www.aquagreen.com.au/plant_data/Dinosaur_Spit.html

Cost you about the same as a bottle of Flourish for all 3. Dose as recommended and I think you will soon start to see growth.
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jd7 · New Members Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Location: NSW, Australia

Thanks for the help. I've ordered those ferts from aquagreen so I'll see how they go.

ant1 · Members Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: barnsley

you could do worse than visit

www.ukaps.org

all the info you could possibly want Wink

DaleJr · Regulars Joined: 16 Feb 2010 Location: Memphis, TN

I think its your lights, epecially that 18K.

6500 are good and 10K, I've actually never heard of 8500K. I would switch them out.

Gravel or Sand? I have really never seen a WHOLE lot of success for LUSH with gravel.

unissuh

Don't think the light would really hurt - the 18000k Power-Glo supposedly has very low PAR output relative to the lower kelvin bulbs by Hagen but realistically without CO2 you don't want two high PAR T5HO bulbs going at full blast anyway. The Gro-Lux tube is fairly commonly used and I think PAR output is pretty standard offhand.

Any updates on how it is going? Did Aquagreen's stuff make a difference?

PS: They are variations on PMDD, Excel and clay based substrate tabs for anyone too lazy to click the links.
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jd7 · New Members Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Location: NSW, Australia

Well it's been 2 months and what a difference. I have been using the ferts from aquagreen and have also set up a diy co2 system. My plants are growing really well. I got some common hyro and its growth is crazy. The swords and everything else has come to life. I guess there just weren't enought nutrients in the tank. I was getting abit too much algae at first so I cut down the lighting from 10 hrs to 8 1/2 hrs a day and that has helped a lot. Thankyou very much for the advice.

DaleJr · Regulars Joined: 16 Feb 2010 Location: Memphis, TN

Good job

Once your tired of paying that crazy price for liq ferts LOOK into PMDD (dry frets)

unissuh

Aquagreen ferts are pretty dirt cheap...Dino Pee *is* a PMDD mix. You can buy the PMDD crystals to make it up yourself from them too. I'd just stick with the liquid, one less step of stuffing around.

Good to hear it's been working for you, Aquagreen's mixes seem to be pretty reliable!
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