Are my plants okay?

[szesteve]

Hi!

I just set up my 4ft tank and it's been running for a day or so.

Just some questions. My plants don't seem to be doing fantastic. They look alittle weak. Even my riccia attached to wood is not bubbling and I don't know why.

My tank is 4 x 2 x 1.5 and runs on 8 hrs light a day with 3bps CO2. There is 6 x 36W of PL light. Water temp is 25degrees.

Anyone knows the reason? Should I add another 2 x 36 W light?

[eggz]

I think don't worry too much lah, probably need a bit of time for the plants to settle.
6 X 36W PL is enough.

You have base fert rite?
How is your CO2 delivered? Reactor etc.?
What's your PH/KH?


eggz

[szesteve]

Yup, I got base fert.
pH is 7.
CO2 is delivered via reactor.

Really sad leh.......So u think I shouldn't add another 2x36W?

If there's enuff lights & CO2 then how come my riccia never bubble?

[PeterGwee]

You don't need base fert for riccia...they don't have roots you know. Well, you need a balance of light, CO2 and nutrients for photosynthesis to take place. Lights..you have..CO2..you have but is it enough? (KH value?)..try adding some liquid fert for your riccia to see how?

[eggz]

Be careful with adding fert at the beginning. Usually if you have base fert, at the start, the water is already quite high in nurtients. (that's why I asked about base fert)

Perhaps just wait a few more days and see....


eggz

[szesteve]

peter,

i know riccia don't take roots that's why I said that should I add more lights? Will there be any problems other than the temperature.

[szesteve]

btw,

What is the actual conversion for L to US Gallons?

[tawauboy]

divide litres by 3.785 to get us gallon.

[williamng]

Relax..in fact 6 x 36W is sufficient for a 4 ft tank..My tank is 4 ft and only using 4 x 36 PL and I manage to see some bubbling. Check KH and make sure there are not too many fish in your tank

[PeterGwee]

Steve...find your KH first...then get it to the pH that will give you the CO2 level of 15-20ppm if you have sensitive fishes..if not you can go for 20-30ppm. And almost forgot..you won't see immediate bubbling lah...must be patient cause bubbling is only visible when the O2 level is saturated in your tank..riccia needs lots of CO2 though.

[loupgarou]

try looking at your tank towards teh end of the light cycle.. maybe you will see bubbling.

[szesteve]

Thanks you all!

My water is also quite cloudy. Guess it's just the beginning.

I'll check the KH & PH and see.

My tank only has 3 shrimps and 1 otto now. Will only add 100 malayan shrimps after a week and tetras 2 weeks from now.

[vinz]

This is a brand new tank without liquid fert yet... I ask ppl who had riccia... did your riccia bubble in your tank during the first few days?

[szesteve]

Eh, this is not a brand new tank vinz. It was used previously but I re-cleaned the whole thing.

[szesteve]

btw, what kH should I aim to achieve?

[vinz]

I meant new as in just setup... your tank is not mature yet.

[mrs budak]

Riccia not bubbling doesn't mean not growing well.

Bubbling is not the sign of healthy plants. It merely means the water is saturated with oxygen. Plants not bubbling doesn't mean plants going to die soon or what. Don't understand this obsession with bubbling.

[Simon]

yes, i agree with wat mrs budak said.. think alot of people associate pearling/bubbling to heathly plants.. IMO, a healthy plant would be one that stays green and evergrowing, bubbling will come second

[szesteve]

hmmm....good point, but i was actually more worried cos the plants looked weak, bubbling is secondary to me.

Eg. my red tiger lotus leaves turned slightly black

[benny]

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On 12/22/2002 9:19:07 PM

....I just set up my 4ft tank and it's been running for a day or so....
----------------

Relax. Most of our plants don't look great after 1 day. Unless you are using plastic plants.