Peyton
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Hello, new guy to this forum. I've been raising fish now for 20 some years now. I have been trying somewhat unsucessfully to grow plants now for 5 years or more. I have a 20 gal long planted tank that has been going now for about 2 years. Here's a current pic
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/peglegburnout/tank6282006001.jpg
here's one from 2 years ago
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/peglegburnout/picturescd258.jpg
The specs on the tank are as follows, Laterite substrate bottom with thin layer of gravel, 1 55w compact florescent, 1 20w florescent plant bulb, ph at least 7.8, penguin 170 biowheel, and whisper 10-20 filter. Currently I do 2 40-50% water changes weekly and dose with flourish, flourish trace, flourish potassium, and flourish iron at the recommended amounts plus use DIY co2. After all that my plants seem to be just surviving for most of the time with brief periods of growth spurts. I know I'm running low of something but I can't figure out what. I have read the sites that tell what plant deficientcies look like but I still can never figure it out. For instance my anubias nana just went through a growth spurt. sent out two new leaves then just stopped. the leaves are now brown around the edges and are pale green with darker veins. The rotala grows very quick for a few days then the leaves stop coming in red and grow smaller. The crypts grow like mad though no matter what. Anyone have any ideas. Also this is the first time i've posted pics of my tank on a fish site. I would appreciate any feedback overall on the tank as well.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/peglegburnout/tank6282006001.jpg
here's one from 2 years ago
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b207/peglegburnout/picturescd258.jpg
The specs on the tank are as follows, Laterite substrate bottom with thin layer of gravel, 1 55w compact florescent, 1 20w florescent plant bulb, ph at least 7.8, penguin 170 biowheel, and whisper 10-20 filter. Currently I do 2 40-50% water changes weekly and dose with flourish, flourish trace, flourish potassium, and flourish iron at the recommended amounts plus use DIY co2. After all that my plants seem to be just surviving for most of the time with brief periods of growth spurts. I know I'm running low of something but I can't figure out what. I have read the sites that tell what plant deficientcies look like but I still can never figure it out. For instance my anubias nana just went through a growth spurt. sent out two new leaves then just stopped. the leaves are now brown around the edges and are pale green with darker veins. The rotala grows very quick for a few days then the leaves stop coming in red and grow smaller. The crypts grow like mad though no matter what. Anyone have any ideas. Also this is the first time i've posted pics of my tank on a fish site. I would appreciate any feedback overall on the tank as well.