Super_Blueberry
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Long read, but I want to try to be as detailed as I can.
So I have had this tank set up for almost a year and a half, and just about a year ago I started using live plants in it. I've gotten it pretty heavily planted now, and for the most part everything has been going good. My swords have always done great, my crypts are solid, my Anubias is currently sending up 2 flower buds, my Sprite is nice and full, my dwarf sag is a nice full carpet, lily pads constantly having to be trimmed as they reach the surface....I could keep going. However, there are a few plants that are giving me some trouble and I'm trying to determine what it is so I can correct it.
The biggest problem has my stem plants. I'm always losing the lower leaves while the upper growth does great. My Red Ludwigia is by far the worst. As it grows taller, the new growth looks awesome, but as you go down the stem, it gets worse and worse. The leaves start with these random 'transparent' lines, then they seem to fold over on themselves, then they fall off. I just clip the good growth from up high, re-plant, and start the whole process over again. The same thing happens with my Limnophila aromatica which I got a picture of below. Its a slower growing plant, but the same thing happens. I just recently replanted my wisteria as well. Much faster growth, but the lower portion looks pretty ratty while the upper portion looks good. Catch is, almost all of these plants routinely sprout a new stems somewhere in that lower portion of the main stem, so I'm stumped at what the problem could be. I figured if it was lights, new stems wouldn't show up down lower. Not enough nutrients, no new stems and new growth wouldn't look so lush.
Also, I recently noticed that portions of my Echinodorus vesuvius seem to be losing its roots, and the leaf groups end up floating around. One that is 'stuck' in the main grouping seems to be re-growing its root system, but what caused it to lose it in the first place.
As far as my set-up goes, its a standard 55g, 96 watts of t5ho right above the surface, split photo period: 4 on -6 off - 4on - off for the night. The bulbs are about 11 months old now. I know I should replace them soon, but this has been going on for awhile now so I'm not convinced its them. Gravel substrate with flourish root tabs that I tend to stay on top of replacing. Tried to solve this around Thanksgiving and started PPS Pro scheduled ferts, haven't really noticed any change though. Pressurized CO2 on and hour before lights go on, and off and hours before lights go off. Occasional 10ml doses of Excel as a spot treatment for Staghorn. Weekly 50% pwc's with softened well water, but has always been the case. Fluval 406 filter, no carbon or other 'additives' in it. Fish are typical cheap community fish, nothing that I would think would be making a salad, and I've never witnessed any destruction by them.
Its not so much having to trim and replant, its the floating leaves that make such a mess that annoys me most. Any, here are some pictures and a link to my tank so you can maybe see what I'm describing.
My 55g Planted Freshwater Community Tank - YouTube
Thanks as always!
So I have had this tank set up for almost a year and a half, and just about a year ago I started using live plants in it. I've gotten it pretty heavily planted now, and for the most part everything has been going good. My swords have always done great, my crypts are solid, my Anubias is currently sending up 2 flower buds, my Sprite is nice and full, my dwarf sag is a nice full carpet, lily pads constantly having to be trimmed as they reach the surface....I could keep going. However, there are a few plants that are giving me some trouble and I'm trying to determine what it is so I can correct it.
The biggest problem has my stem plants. I'm always losing the lower leaves while the upper growth does great. My Red Ludwigia is by far the worst. As it grows taller, the new growth looks awesome, but as you go down the stem, it gets worse and worse. The leaves start with these random 'transparent' lines, then they seem to fold over on themselves, then they fall off. I just clip the good growth from up high, re-plant, and start the whole process over again. The same thing happens with my Limnophila aromatica which I got a picture of below. Its a slower growing plant, but the same thing happens. I just recently replanted my wisteria as well. Much faster growth, but the lower portion looks pretty ratty while the upper portion looks good. Catch is, almost all of these plants routinely sprout a new stems somewhere in that lower portion of the main stem, so I'm stumped at what the problem could be. I figured if it was lights, new stems wouldn't show up down lower. Not enough nutrients, no new stems and new growth wouldn't look so lush.
Also, I recently noticed that portions of my Echinodorus vesuvius seem to be losing its roots, and the leaf groups end up floating around. One that is 'stuck' in the main grouping seems to be re-growing its root system, but what caused it to lose it in the first place.
As far as my set-up goes, its a standard 55g, 96 watts of t5ho right above the surface, split photo period: 4 on -6 off - 4on - off for the night. The bulbs are about 11 months old now. I know I should replace them soon, but this has been going on for awhile now so I'm not convinced its them. Gravel substrate with flourish root tabs that I tend to stay on top of replacing. Tried to solve this around Thanksgiving and started PPS Pro scheduled ferts, haven't really noticed any change though. Pressurized CO2 on and hour before lights go on, and off and hours before lights go off. Occasional 10ml doses of Excel as a spot treatment for Staghorn. Weekly 50% pwc's with softened well water, but has always been the case. Fluval 406 filter, no carbon or other 'additives' in it. Fish are typical cheap community fish, nothing that I would think would be making a salad, and I've never witnessed any destruction by them.
Its not so much having to trim and replant, its the floating leaves that make such a mess that annoys me most. Any, here are some pictures and a link to my tank so you can maybe see what I'm describing.
My 55g Planted Freshwater Community Tank - YouTube
Thanks as always!