Nothings Growing

[Philip99]

I have a 55g planted tank
Nothing seems to be growing even through the use of root tabs etc

Nitrates 0ppm
Nitrites 0ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
Ph 7.6

Some tank specs
55g
2x t5 6700k HO
Fluval c4 HOB filter
Fluorite substrate

Some of the plants that aren't growing at all
Val's
Dwarf sag
Hair grass
Anubis
Rotitlia
Java moss

If anyone has any ideas on the cause of this problem please let me know

 

[adammorrill]

When did you add them to the tank? Are you dosing any ferts to the water column?

 

[Philip99]

When did you add them to the tank? Are you dosing any ferts to the water column?

The plants have been in the tank for over 4 months now, they are not dying or growing.
I have been dosing flourish excel and flourish iron on a weekly basis

 

[CorallineAlgae]

The plants have been in the tank for over 4 months now, they are not dying or growing.
I have been dosing flourish excel and flourish iron on a weekly basis

You may want to use regular Flourish comprehensive and nitrogen. Some of your plants are column feeders which root tabs won't help. Did you plant the anubias and ferns in the sand or tie them to wood or rocks?

I see you have zero nitrates. You want to have at least some. Having none would suggest that your plants are likely using them, but you cant see any growth.. hum. The Excel and iron you're adding don't often help plant growth without the comprehensive Flourish (or lots of tap water changes). That may be all you need. How often do you do water changes and how many fish are in your tank?

 

[Philip99]

You may want to use regular Flourish comprehensive and nitrogen. Some of your plants are column feeders which root tabs won't help. Did you plant the anubias and ferns in the sand or tie them to wood or rocks?

I see you have zero nitrates. You want to have at least some. Having none would suggest that your plants are likely using them, but you cant see any growth.. hum. The Excel and iron you're adding don't often help plant growth without the comprehensive Flourish (or lots of tap water changes). That may be all you need. How often do you do water changes and how many fish are in your tank?

The anubias is tied to rock as well as my fern
I change the water in my tank every week and I have 8 rainbows and 5 tetras

 

[rkilling1]

Pick up some dry ferts. All of them, NPK and micros.

 

[Philip99]

Pick up some dry ferts. All of them, NPK and micros.

Where about would I get dry frets I live in Ontario

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Where about would I get dry frets I live in Ontario

I ordered my dry ferts from Green Leaf Aquariums but I don't think they ship to Canada. You can call or email them to check. Lots of online options to choose from if you search.

 

[aqua_chem]

I ordered my dry ferts from Green Leaf Aquariums but I don't think they ship to Canada. You can call or email them to check. Lots of online options to choose from if you search.

They won't ship nitrates to Canada, but they might the others.

 

[Philip99]

They won't ship nitrates to Canada, but they might the others.

Are there any other methods of obtaining nitrates in Canada

 

[aqua_chem]

Aquarium Fertilizers might.

 

[Philip99]

Since getting kn03 is so difficult to get would calcium nitrate also serve the same purpose?

 

[Laser]

It doesn't look like you are dosing any potassium. Comprehensive may not contain enough and that is an important macro nutrient.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Since getting kn03 is so difficult to get would calcium nitrate also serve the same purpose?

I can't say, haven't tried it, but if all else fails you could get the liquid nitrogen supplement from Seachem. That ships to Canada.

 

[Philip99]

I can't say, haven't tried it, but if all else fails you could get the liquid nitrogen supplement from Seachem. That ships to Canada.

Ya ill call my LFS today to see if they can order me some seachem nitrogen in.

 

[BillD]

Are there any other methods of obtaining nitrates in Canada

Check with a hydroponics store. That is where most hobbyists get their dry ferts. Lots of them around Ontario.

 

[Philip99]

Check with a hydroponics store. That is where most hobbyists get their dry ferts. Lots of them around Ontario.

Thanks! They have some KN03 500g for 4.99$ CAN
Is there a formula for the amount of KN03 I would have to add to achieve 5ppm Nitrate?

 

[rkilling1]

Thanks! They have some KN03 500g for 4.99$ CAN
Is there a formula for the amount of KN03 I would have to add to achieve 5ppm Nitrate?

There are numerous calculators on the net.

Here are a couple that I use:

Aquatic Plant Central

Yet Another Nutrient Calculator

 

[Philip99]

Alright so I picked up some KNO3 today and mixed 67.2g of it with 250ml of water to achieve 4.08ppm per every 10gallons. After about 2 hrs I went to test the nitrate levels and nothing happened...

I am using the API master test kit by the way and have redone the test 7 times.

Does anyone have any ideas of what might be happening?

 

[rkilling1]

Your test kit is not sensitive enough to show that low of levels. You need to rely on your nutrient calculations at low levels. It not uncommon for those cheap test kits to be off by 10 or more ppm.