plants not doing well...

[Mommaof4boys]

I have tried for a year to maintain live plants in my tank. It is not working. I have root tabs, dose ferts, no co2 tho, and good lights. What do I need to do to fix this problem, can someone help? If things don't start looking healthy, im giving up and going back to fake plants!

Thanks in advance

 

[vance1013]

A pic would definitely help also what kindve substrate are you using what exactly is wrong with your plants what kindve plants do you have what lights and for how long what fertilizers are you using besides root tabs

 

[Mebbid]

A pic would definitely help also what kindve substrate are you using what exactly is wrong with your plants what kindve plants do you have what lights and for how long what fertilizers are you using besides root tabs

+1
We need all of this information to be able to help you out.

Some pictures of plants could help as well.

 

[Mommaof4boys]

I tried to post pics it kept throwing an error. Here is one I managed to load.

 

[Mommaof4boys]

Some more

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

That's an amazon sword it needs root tabs, looks like a nutrient deficiency

 

[Mommaof4boys]

It has root tabs

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Yea those are all amazon swords, you need to cut the roots to 3 inches and add a root tab below each of them

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

It's a sort if nutrient deficiency, do you have a gh kit and all that good stuff?

 

[Mommaof4boys]

My anubias is doing ok. Just not growing. The java ferns almost completely died but ive had 2 little leaves pop out so I was hoping to save it. I have sand substrate, use flourish root tabs, some liquid fert cant remember the name right now, I have a solarmax HE t5 light. I dose liquid fert twice a week and have used root tabs for a month. Going to get in there this afternoon and clean the dead out a bit. Probably put new tabs in there also.

 

[Mommaof4boys]

Yes, I have a master test kit

 

[Rivercats]

You don't need to cut the roots. Depending on the type of root tabs your using you may need to add more of them or add them more frequently. It appears to be a macro deficiency. Do you know your nitrate and phosphate levels. Right now cut off all the bad leaves so the plant doesn't waste energy on them. Add new root tabs and add more than one to larger swords. Then with the bad leaves gone and new root tabs you should see improvement pretty quick.

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Oh there you go river cats that's what I was looking for, a macro deficiency
Also, java ferns have a rhizome, your not burying that are you?

 

[Rivercats]

Anubia's can get away without too much in the way of nutrients but java ferns actually use more ferts than people think.

 

[Mommaof4boys]

I don't know what my levels are, haven't tested for a week. I'm doing a water change today and cleaning up my plants. I will add more root tabs also. I have flourish root tabs and api leaf zone liquid plant food. How often should I dose the liquid and how much? 55 gal tank. Also, how often should I replenish the tabs? It said lasts for 3 months?

 

[Mommaof4boys]

No the anubias and ferns on tied on driftwood. I also have a couple other plants. Ill post pics

 

[Mommaof4boys]

The other 2

 

[Rivercats]

I don't know what my levels are, haven't tested for a week. I'm doing a water change today and cleaning up my plants. I will add more root tabs also. I have flourish root tabs and api leaf zone liquid plant food. How often should I dose the liquid and how much? 55 gal tank. Also, how often should I replenish the tabs? It said lasts for 3 months?

If it says they last for 3 months then with swords being such heavy root feeders figure you will need to add them about every 45 days then.

Leaf Zone is basically iron and potassium so it's not a good overall fert. But if you use it plus something like Seachems Flouish Comprehensive you'd get a lot more of different nutrients, micro's mostly, that plants need.

 

[Rivercats]

Have you considered using dry ferts? They will cost about $15 for what you need and you can spend more and buy their dosing bottles or use something you already have at home. With the dry ferts you'd get all the macro and micro nutrients your plants would need.

Plus you could also get a gallon of Metricide 14 Day Solution for around $27 shipped, mix it as needed at a 1:1 ratio with RO or Distilled water and get 2 gallons for that amount. The liquid carbon will help plants with photosynthesis and growth and it combined with dry ferts would really help your plants to flourish.

 

[Mommaof4boys]

Rivercats, you're awesome! Lol thank you. What do I need to fix my plants? Dry ferts, different substrate, liquid co2? Im down. I really want a successful planted tank!