E. tennellus not growing well

**taz_boy** · 4th Mar 2006, 19:17

i planted my e.tennellus since CNY period...but dun seem to grow well, that is spread fast wif lush green growth...
it turn out almost like my 1st failure wif this plant...not sure wat's wrong..

condition now: some leaves turning yellow, some a bit black..not sure if that's black spot algae on it...but is black color

i've added root monster ard my foreground last week, not sure if that helps

tanks specs: 3x1.5x1.5
lights: 3X36W + 1X24W ..8hrs daily..
co2: ard 30ppm...min is 30 i gauge..

fertilsation: 1/2tsp of KNO3 twice a week, 1/4 tsp of KH2PO4 twice a week + 10ml of seachem flourish per week

not sure if there's any supplements lacking, or izzit lighting too strong or any other factors...advice needed...thanks

**Weirong** · 4th Mar 2006, 19:33

Can't be! Your lights are brighter than mine but my E.tenellus (those I passed you) have already taken over my tank! I didn't even use any roots monsters!

Something is very wrong with your tank. This plant can be left alone and it should flourish.

**PeterGwee** · 4th Mar 2006, 19:36

Add more nutrients...all 3x a week instead of 2x.
The nutrients ain't the issue here from what I can see, its your CO2. Always doubt that. What do you use to measure the CO2? Do you shut it off at night?

Regards
Peter Gwee

**taz_boy** · 4th Mar 2006, 19:50

ya weirong...I wonder what's wrong with my tank .....puzzled. confused....blurred

**taz_boy** · 4th Mar 2006, 19:51

Originally Posted by PeterGwee

Add more nutrients...all 3x a week instead of 2x.
The nutrients ain't the issue here from what I can see, its your CO2. Always doubt that. What do you use to measure the CO2? Do you shut it off at night?

Regards
Peter Gwee

hmm...i use sera kh tester and nutrafin ph tester...and yes. i do switch it off at night

**taz_boy** · 4th Mar 2006, 20:05

i was thinking if removing my 24W would help, so that it would be 2.5WPG instead of 3.1 which may invite black spot algae on my tenellus

**PeterGwee** · 4th Mar 2006, 20:09

What is your current CO2 rate? Is it stable throughout the day?

Regards
Peter Gwee

**taz_boy** · 4th Mar 2006, 20:18

it's abt 2 bps...yeap it's stable...does switching off at night have any implications??

**joe** · 4th Mar 2006, 21:47

did you get your tenellus emmersed? ... i realised submersed tenellus grows A LOT faster than emmersed ones

**taz_boy** · 4th Mar 2006, 21:52

hmm...not so sure...should be emmersed bah, got 1 lot from weirong and the other lot from greg..

**PeterGwee** · 4th Mar 2006, 22:27

Add more CO2 progressively each day (say 2.1bps for a day and then 2.2bps so on.) till the plants pearl well without the fish/critters showing any signs of stress. Make sure you have some moderate surface movement to go along with it and shut the CO2 off at night.

Regards
Peter Gwee

**|squee|** · 4th Mar 2006, 22:34

If Peter's advice doesn't work out, thrash the plants and get a new batch and see how it goes. My experience with them is they take about 2 weeks to start growing from emersed form.

The plants you have there in the picture look in real bad shape. I'd thrash them and get a new batch to try. If it fails... =/ it's time to try another foreground plant.

**taz_boy** · 4th Mar 2006, 22:41

ye.....think shall go wif peter's method tentatively...
e.ten already considered easy foreground plant. not sure any other alternative can survive in my tank.....ha..

**gregorsamsa** · 5th Mar 2006, 00:16

heya,

the ones i passed you were 2months old from the poitn i bought them emmersed.

i have about 3 stalks from that same batch under 36watt pl, 2x1x1.5, flourish excel, cocopeat/black quartz.

they aren't spreading fast, but they are growing/turning reddish. what gravel and base are you using?

**Weirong** · 5th Mar 2006, 01:21

The ones I passed you came from my initial batch of E.tenellus 3 yrs ago. Has been with me ever since so CONFIRM CHOP submersed...

Really must go to your place and see for myself when I have the time.

**taz_boy** · 5th Mar 2006, 01:54

ha.....weirong, u are welcome to do that...

**taz_boy** · 6th Mar 2006, 00:40

Thanks weirong for making the house visit

Have fixed on a rainbar to improve the water circulation in the tank...I've also ensured that CO2 is minimum 30ppm..lighting is as usual..
Guess the next step gotta take it to remove/throw those BBA infested plants

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