New Aquascape set up on Fluval Spec V (Betta/Tetra/Shrimps)

[Ralph]

After just barely 1 wk plus of planting, I notice that while the taller plants and those moss/fissiden-like plants are looking ok, a few of the very mini plants are not doing so well. As can be seen from below attached pic, the lower part of the plant or part where they get less light seems to turn dark.

I am wondering if this is a case of weaker stock lighting which isn't strong enough to reach every corner of the tank, which might not be a bad thing for my betta though. Or could this be a problem with the substrate since I am planting these small/shorter plants onto the gravel directly. I also notice when I open up the plants from their default "black plastic bottom casing" and the cotton wood, some of these plants have very very little roots. Could this be the reason for their fragility?

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[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, as the lower portions of the plants are shaded from light, they tend to deteriorate over time. Just cut off the healthy tops, remove the melting bottoms, then re-plant the healthy tops.

With inert gravel substrate, there isn't much nutrients in it at the beginning (until accumulated waste decomposes and breaks-down inside the gravel over time), so the plants would currently have to take in most of their nutrients from the water column instead.

Btw, the stem plants that come in the black plastic netting cups are usually fresh stem cuttings (i've seen how they are harvested and packed at plant farms), so they'll naturally have less or no roots.

[Ralph]

Hi UA,

Thanks for the enlightenment. To think that I suspect this is a conspiracy, that the LFS purposely sell us plants with little/no roots so they will die out easier and then we need to continuously buy more from them again. lol

Yeah, as the lower portions of the plants are shaded from light, they tend to deteriorate over time. Just cut off the healthy tops, remove the melting bottoms, then re-plant the healthy tops.

You should remove the plastic netting cups and sponges that come with the plants, it'll allow the roots better access to the substrate without additional barriers.

With inert gravel substrate, there isn't much nutrients in it at the beginning (until waste decompose and break-down in the gravel), so the plants would currently have to take in most of its nutrients from the water column.

Btw, the stem plants that come in the black plastic netting cups are usually harvested as fresh stem cuttings at the plant farms, so they'll naturally have less or no roots.