Plant Emergency! Should I Be Alarmed?

[Manix]

So if you don't know already I have a 40 gallon tank with very fine sand substrate. It has a AquaticLife T5HO fixture total of 78 watts. I'm using the stocked bulbs. One is 6K bulb and the other is a pink bulb 420/460.

My tank height is around 18" and my substrate is about 3".

Last night my plants arrived in the mail looking very healthy and green.
-2x Cryptocoryne, Wendtii, Bronze
-2x Cryptocoryne, Wendtii, Green
-1x Glossostigma
-2x Green Temple Narrow Leaf
-2x Java Fern, Lace (inserted in cracks of driftwood)
-2x Ludwigia Needle Leaf
-2x Ludwigia, Broad Leaf
-1x Sword, Red Rubin

After planting I dosed it with Seachem Flourish Comprehensive and API C02 as instructed on the label. I'm leaving my lights on 10 hours a day.

Now I checked on my plants and a few of them look brittle and decaying. My Glosso look like it will die the next day. I see Ludwigia leaves floating around and my Wenditii leaf is slumped on the sand instead of growing upwards.

Am I missing anything in terms of nutrients? I have 5 Zebra Danios and 5 Kuhli Loaches in the tank.

 

[ashleynicole]

maybe someone more experienced can chip in, but I know plants can die off a little with the initial transplant, but will bounce back with appropriate care. How long have they been in the tank? I had some die off in the first two weeks with my tank but I am now noticing some new growth that looks pretty good.

 

[Manix]

It's been in the tank for 24 hours. I'm concerned because I've spent $75 on them.

I'm hoping you're right. I don't want them to die off.

 

[mfdrookie516]

You'll typically have some die off when you have plants shipped in. Not always, but usually. A few weeks should tell for sure, but it's really too soon to say one way or the other. If they came in green, you're probably fine.


On a side note, 10 hours is a bit much. I'd start with 8 and see how that does.

 

[ashleynicole]

I know what you mean, I spent a pretty penny on mine as well. Although I think in your case patience is a virtue. It is going to take your plants a while to adapt and start to grow.

You don't by chance have salt in your tank do you? I know that is bad for plants. (just a random thought)

Hopefully someone else will speak up and give you more info.
EDIT* looks like someone else chimed in good, I thought the plants probably need more time to bounce back after being transplanted. That is exactly what happened to mine.

 

[Manix]

Thanks for the quick responses.

I'll continue to monitor the plants and look for new growth.

I'm sure there are no salt in my tank.

Alright I'll start with 8-hours of light and see how it goes.

 

[aqua_chem]

Some plants are grown emersed, and need to adapt to submerged life. Melt off is expected. I only barely saved some ludwigia repens from certain death.

And your probably going to loose every crypt leaf. Dont panic, they'll br back.

 

[newfound77951]

Also, you don't have a ton of light on the tank. Not sure about that pink bulb - was the fixture sold as a planted tank fixture? You're just over 2 wpg which might be a little low for the glosso.

It is common to get some dieoff after shipping, though, and the Crypts will most likely "melt" but will come back in a few weeks.

 

[Manix]

Some plants are grown emersed, and need to adapt to submerged life. Melt off is expected. I only barely saved some ludwigia repens from certain death.

And your probably going to loose every crypt leaf. Dont panic, they'll br back.

This can be nerve wrecking. But I guess this is where I start to learn patience.

Also, you don't have a ton of light on the tank. Not sure about that pink bulb - was the fixture sold as a planted tank fixture? You're just over 2 wpg which might be a little low for the glosso.

It is common to get some dieoff after shipping, though, and the Crypts will most likely "melt" but will come back in a few weeks.

Yes it was advertised for aquarium plants. I know some say stocked bulbs are not great. Can you recommend a brand or specs I should be looking for next time I am at my LFS? All I know is 6k-8k is sufficient for white bulbs and pink bulbs are for plant growth.

My LFS has Hagen Glo bulbs. Are these a good recommendation?

 

[aqua_chem]

Also, you don't have a ton of light on the tank. Not sure about that pink bulb - was the fixture sold as a planted tank fixture? You're just over 2 wpg which might be a little low for the glosso.

It is common to get some dieoff after shipping, though, and the Crypts will most likely "melt" but will come back in a few weeks.

This is simply not true. The WPG rule is outdated and only applies to older fluorescent lights (T8 or lower). 2 wpg T5HO lights is PLENTY for glosso. In a 40 breeder, it's fairly close to substrate level too. You DO have enough light for glosso.


I have 2x39 T5HO on my 40 breeder and am growing glosso. And alternanthera reineckii. And Rotala wallichii. And didiplis diandra. All of these are HIGH LIGHT plants, particularly the diandra. I actually raised my light because I had to much light. Assume that fixture isn't complete garbage w/o reflectors (unlikely), you should be fine.

At that light level, I would actually be more worried about whether I needed CO2 injection or not. Glosso loves the CO2. If you loose it, it will be because of CO2, not light.

 

[Manix]

Do you guys suggest I should change to the Hagen Power-Glo lights?

I hear stocked bulbs aren't as good.

 

[aqua_chem]

Stocked bulbs vary from bulb to bulb. They are, at the very least, inconsistant.

Power Glos are, what, 18000K? I've heard of people using those bulbs before, but I wouldn't trust it. The Flora Glos are nice though.

 

[Manix]

Alright I'll take a look around my LFS for the bulbs.

Thanks to everyone for the reassurance and the helpful info.