Im trying to start a planted tank but its not working out too well

[Jeremy4208]

Any help would be great, I'm trying to start a planted tank. I'm using flormax substraight with sand mix with gravel but only 3 onion plants come up, and I just a whole bunch of different kinds, it's only been 3 weeks but I figured I would at least c something by now...

 

[BigJim]

First things first:

1. How big is the tank?

2. What type of lighting are you using? Type and wattage please.

3. What types of plants are you trying to grow?

 

[Jeremy4208]

It's a 125g and the lights that came with it didnt work so I had to improvise I hve a big light that is a, F40PL/AQ-ECO
Wide spectrum 40w
Plant and aquarium Ecofux
And the other one is a small one that is a
Eclipse natural day light F15/T8 18" do u kno which one is better cuz the small light i only planted 1 plant over Their and it didnt grow either
As for the plants I'm not really too sure it was a virity pack for 2 dollars and, it had onion bulbs, water Lillie, and some other ones that I cant remeber, I want somethin that can carpet the tank but my LFS arnt too smart lol when it come to anything...

 

[jetajockey]

Those bulb packs usually have a couple that don't grow. I know with some brands you can actually mail the bulbs back to them and they'll send you more for free.

 

[Jeremy4208]

Oh and I kinda need some plants that r strong cuz I have 5 cichlids and they always eat the plants I buy lol

 

[Jeremy4208]

Yeah mine said that they would do that... Do u kno if it is worth buying plants online and were to get them from I heard some ppl tanking about it in different forums but I didn't c too much about it.

 

[ashleynicole]

Depending on the type of cichlids, I doubt you are going to be able to keep any live plants. They will eat them, dig them up, etc.

 

[Jeremy4208]

Yeah the main one who is always doin that is my bumblebee Cichlid is always doin that in my old tank but as for right now, the 3 plants I do hve he doesn't mess with them at all but they r onion bulbs, should I try some moss, I need some plants cuz my nitrits r threw the roof, I do PWC regulary but I can't get them down...

 

[Jeremy4208]

I'll do a water test when I get home and give exact measurements of my water

 

[BillD]

If water changes are n't bringing down your numbers (not sure which because of your spelling) your water changes aren't big enough or often enough or both.

 

[Jeremy4208]

Lol yeah I'll get the right spelling when I get home lol I'm not good at that at all lol... I'll give all the right spellig and measurements when I get home

 

[Jeremy4208]

Yeah I do about a 1/4 of the tank every month, should I do more if so how much more? And I getting ready to bulid a bio filter but it's a big tank so I'm trying to figure out how big the filter needs to be. I hve 4 bio wheels but idk if that enough. I was looking into a sump pump but that looks expensive...

 

[Jeremy4208]

GH-around 60
KH-80-120
PH-7.5
Nitrite-.5-1
Nitrate-20

What do I do about this nitrite?