plants not doing well,please help..

smit3183

Purchased a Water Sprite, ancharis, jungle val and contortion val for my 55g 2 and half weeks ago. The floating Water Sprite has shown slight growth but half of it is browning and leafs starting to detach from roots, the ancharis has done absolutely nothing, looks the same as when I got it. On to the contortion val, it's losing leafs and browning and showing no growth. Jungle val not doing much either but not as much browning and leaf losing. I've dosed with flourish 5 times since they've been in. I have moderate lighting,hard water and a Ph of 8.2-8.4. The tank houses 3 platies, 6 cherry barbs and 5 zebra danios. If someone could tell me whats going on with my plants it would be appreciated. Should they be growing or do they take this long to acclimate to tank. I'm getting really frustrated.

rjwwrx

smit3183, it will help others give a better reply if we know what lighting you have over your tank, as this is probably the major determining factor on how your plants are doing. If it is the lighting that came in a package with your 55g, then you probably have 2 18" t8 tubes. If not, please let us know what you're using, as everyones definition of moderate lighting is bound to be different. Also, how long are you leaving the lights on?

You mentioned you have dosed with flourish 5 times, are you talking about flourish comprehensive? If so, this is probably a little much. You should only be dosing 1 or maybe 2 times a week at most.

smit3183

the light says 8500 day lite

Geomancer

8500K is a bit high, usually 6500K is the 'ideal' but anything between 5000-7000K is good.

However, can you give more information about the bulb and fixture itself? For example, does it have a single bulb or two?

How long is the tube? What size diameter (T5 or T8, should be printed on the bulb)? And what wattage (W)?

smit3183

sorry meant 8000 t8

beetlebz

but what length is the bulb or bulbs? that will help us determine the wattage.

Something important to consider, a 55g tank with standard lighting really isnt that bright. Not that it wont do, mind you. The plants arent going to go as crazy under that light (im assuming its a standard single width fixture) but they can still grow, and grow healthily. Some plants might need more light than others and ultimately might need to be replaced with a species that tolerates lower light levels. Conversely, some plant species thrive under low lights (i.e. Anubias sp.).

What I believe is most important, is having some patience at this stage. The 'mother leaf' that Ive always received my Water Sprite on has always browned initially, but the new growth on the leaves themselves have been unreal. The Anacharis and vals might just need some time. Every time I move a plant from tank to tank or even just to a different spot in the same tank, growth stops until it gets readjusted. It could take hours, or it could take weeks.

The vals could simply just be adjusting to your water. Most plants will grow differently and at different rates based on temperature, water hardness, available nutrients, etc.

Give it some time, and in the mean time measure that bulb for us!

smit3183

It's just a standard 48'fluorescent bulb that came with hood
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redchigh

also, how old is the bulb? Their output diminished to nearly nothing after 2 years or so.

Byron

As you can see, smit3183, we need to have all the data; a doctor can't diagnose your health problem without knowing all the relevant facts.

But I agree with what others have suggested. Flourish Comprehensive should not be used more than twice weekly, and only at the amount specified on the label. For a 55g tank, that would be no more than 1 teaspoon per dose, with one or two doses per week max, about 3 days apart. This might have to be only once, if the light is not balanced. Then there are the nutrients that occur naturally elsewhere, and vary with each aquarium and water supply. In order to properly assess this, we woudl need to know the GH of the tap water. And of course the light issue mentioned by others.

It is also true that many plants need time to adjust, and the greater the difference between your water and that the plants were raised in or kept in, the longer and more evident this can be. Ceratopteris (Water Sprite) does not like changes. I have seen it weaken just moving it from one tank to another, but it does rebound.

Byron.

debit202

I'm growing Water Sprite as well- I noticed to day that it and a grass i'm growing have like "hairs " on them. The Water Sprite that has reached the top of the tank looks like its trying to grow roots heading towards the bottom. These have been doing that for a couple days. The Hairs i noticed to day? Cause for alarm? Otherwise the plants see to be doing well
Should i cut these spots off? or trim thm and get them out of the tank?