bad plants

**RMX** · 24th Sep 2002, 18:45

its been ten days since i planted the vallisneria spirallis and its nearing total melt down. the eusteralis stellata are not shedding their leaves and grow emersed leaves, but growing some kind of roots on the stems sections. the didiplis diandra looks so soft and cant stand straight. and the hair grass are not really spreading out. what can be the cause?? only the APP are growing very well

**RMX** · 24th Sep 2002, 18:45

its been ten days since i planted the vallisneria spirallis and its nearing total melt down. the eusteralis stellata are not shedding their leaves and grow emersed leaves, but growing some kind of roots on the stems sections. the didiplis diandra looks so soft and cant stand straight. and the hair grass are not really spreading out. what can be the cause?? only the APP are growing very well

**RMX** · 24th Sep 2002, 18:45

its been ten days since i planted the vallisneria spirallis and its nearing total melt down. the eusteralis stellata are not shedding their leaves and grow emersed leaves, but growing some kind of roots on the stems sections. the didiplis diandra looks so soft and cant stand straight. and the hair grass are not really spreading out. what can be the cause?? only the APP are growing very well

**RMX** · 24th Sep 2002, 18:45

its been ten days since i planted the vallisneria spirallis and its nearing total melt down. the eusteralis stellata are not shedding their leaves and grow emersed leaves, but growing some kind of roots on the stems sections. the didiplis diandra looks so soft and cant stand straight. and the hair grass are not really spreading out. what can be the cause?? only the APP are growing very well

**Simon** · 24th Sep 2002, 18:48

how abt some tank details? sounds like not enuff light or a lack of something else.. oso stated how old is the tank

**RMX** · 24th Sep 2002, 19:14

its a ten day old 48x18x18 tank. 6x36w fl daylight tubes, eheim 2217, 4bps with internal reactor, jbl with lonestar. temp 30-31. water chemistry not tested(no test kits)

current tenants 4 otos, 5 sae, 3 flying fox, 14 rummynose, 6 mollies, abt 50 malayan/yamato shrimps

**vinz** · 24th Sep 2002, 19:24

Roots from the stem is not unusual.

Let us know, tank size, amt/duration of light, any base fert, liquid fert, fishes.

**vinz** · 24th Sep 2002, 19:31

So much fishes/shrimp by the 10th day? You're might lose some of the fishes to ammonia/nitrite poisoning, as your tank probably has not cycled properly yet.

Everything else seems normal. How thick is your JBL and your gravel? Test your pH too.

**budak** · 24th Sep 2002, 19:57

there are no bad plants, only bad environments.

your technical setup sounds fine. Let's start with the plants. Is the val planted too deeply? That could cause the root crown to rot off. Eustralis and other stem plants commonly grow roots from the side, that's normal. Submersed growth will come forth from the top, leaving the emmersed leaves below to fall at their own pace. Be patient. Give the DD and hairgrass more time. Ten days is barely the beginning. That the APP is growing is a good sign. but like vinz said, too many animal for a start. An ammonium build-up is inevitable, and newly transplanted plants which haven't adapted will suffer just as much as the fish.

**RMX** · 24th Sep 2002, 22:31

the lights are on from 1200-2400, no liquid fert, just mn and k. lookin at the state of the vallis, i believe they're beyond hope. the otos and saes are feeding on the rotting leaves also. they were planted jus enough to hold them down.

**patliew** · 25th Sep 2002, 09:42

I think your tank temperature is a bit to high also.
Try using a fan.It can bring down the temperature 1 degree or two.

**Simon** · 25th Sep 2002, 09:49

12hrs is kinda long.. since its jus starting off, dun really need that long period.. valis sometimes melt to adapt to your water condition.. let the tank go thru the cycling process, remove any dead/dying plants.. u got 2 many fishes in that short time...

**juggler** · 25th Sep 2002, 10:03

Vallisneria spirallis in my experience tends to melt down after planting in a new tank. But they will recover after quite some time. Needs adjustment in new environment.

**ryan** · 25th Sep 2002, 11:14

you really should test your kh ph values ya know... they are pretty important... have you done water changes?

**bclee** · 25th Sep 2002, 13:11

ONLY TEN DAYS!

I think you just need to wait.

Vals take some time to establish and so do hairgrass. After some time, you would wish your vals spread a little slower.

IME, it took about 1 month for the vals to establish. Most of the old leaves will shed and be replaced by new ones. Root tabs like Monster roots &amp; Flourish tabs will help. It also took me 3~4 weeks for the HG to start spreading.

BC

**bclee** · 25th Sep 2002, 13:14

Oh yah... at the meantime, remove the dying leaves and add some liquid fertilisers.

BC

**RMX** · 25th Sep 2002, 17:49

thanks for all your replies. i will remove some fish and dead stuff and wait out on the vallis. in the mean time, will drop some gold7 and dr malick lushgro.

**wks** · 25th Sep 2002, 21:58

RMX, don't throw in any fertilizer yet. Your plants need time to establish themselves. The fertilizer will be food to algae if the plants are not ready for your tank environment. Wait until the 4th week of your tank, check for plant growth, then add the fertilizer (50% diluted to play safe)as instructed by manufacturer. The name of the game is patience. U cannot expect nature to give u miracle in such a short time.

**PeterGwee** · 26th Sep 2002, 20:44

Yup, don't add trace fertilizer first as the plants are still adjusting to the new environment and won't absorb the nutrients that fast which will be good chance for algae to strike~! Only add once you see new shoots or plants growing or the demand for CO2 increase as that means they are growing well..then should you add.