Help with 10g planted dirt tank

[fishdud]

Straight to the point the tank has been setup for about 3 weeks and my plants have been dying. I thought they would benefit a lot from the dirt which is capped with blue gravel. My lighting is two 24 watt t5ho. Is there anything im missing or what could I be doing wrong? My dwarf hair grass is dying and my s repens are too. I'm using organic potting soil mix.

 

[Scottyhorse]

You will need ferts and a carbon source wether it be co2 or liquid carbon. Thats a lot of light over such a small tank so without carbon and ferts the plants will die, as you are seeing.

 

[fishdud]

You will need ferts and a carbon source wether it be co2 or liquid carbon. Thats a lot of light over such a small tank so without carbon and ferts the plants will die, as you are seeing.

Meh. Thought the whole purpose of dirt is that you wouldn't need co2 or any liquid ferts. Anyways is the gravel size okay or is it too big?

 

[Scottyhorse]

Meh. Thought the whole purpose of dirt is that you wouldn't need co2 or any liquid ferts. Anyways is the gravel size okay or is it too big?

The gravel is fine.

 

[fishdud]

Anything else I should know?

 

[Rivercats]

You need to be using liquid carbon at 1ml per every 2 gallons to start and may in a couple weeks have to up it to 1ml liquid carbon per every 1 gallon tank water. DIY CO2 would also help.

Dirt does not replace having to use ferts. I've done dirted tanks for years and use dry ferts in all of them. Also the higher the light the greater the need for liquid carbon or CO2 along with using dry ferts.

You also need to be using dry ferts so plants get all the macro and micro nutrients they need. Here is the info on them....

As for dry fert this $15 package is all you need and will last a couple years... http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/micro-macro-fertilizers.html.



You need 3 dosing bottles found at the bottom of this page... http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html.



This is a good thread about dosing PPS-Pro. Only read the opening post not all the comments after it.... http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/pps-analysis-feedback/39491-newbie-guide-pps-pro.html.



There are two things I do different from the article. First I use 3 dosing bottles as I split the macro nutrients for better custom dosing to the needs of the tank. Nitrates in one bottle, phosphates and potassium in one bottle, and micro's in the 3rd bottle. The other thing you'll notice the recipe calls for using MgSO4, magnesium sulfate, which you don't need if you have hard tap water with a Gh and Kh of 4 or higher.