Problems meet with new scape

[plantz]

Hi guys,

Just done a major rescape and now most plants are planted just for a week and accounting some problems. The plants are intended to grow relatively large so the tank is quite sparse for the plants to grow. Fishes all healthy and very minimum trace of algae.

Please advice. Thanks.

Problems I accounted are:-

1. The water was cloudy for the past 2 weeks, many particules too after the rescape caused many particles to emerge. Added bio-bact liquid. Now milky cloudiness cleared but the particles seem to be unaffected still like 2 weeks ago. The amount remains even after addition of an extra cotton layer in the Rena XP3 or the canister is spoilt? Circulation should be just nice as the particles are drifting gently around the tank.

2. 1 week old small Lace plant with seed has 2 of its matured leaves rotting. The holes just begin to turn brown but every slowly. Monster root place at its bottom.

3. 1 week old small barclaya with seed, the small very reddish leaves became very dull green. Afraid they may in the end turn green. Would like it to be red. Should I get iron salt? Monster root at root.

4. Ozelot red has small red leaves but when it grow big it turns green with spots. Hope to get it to remain red.

Would like to ask how does the liquid fert reaches the roots? Could it be possible that the fert nv reach the roots dur to the flow of water or something?

Parameters:-

Tank Dimensions (LxWxH, specify units):4x2x2ft

Lighting Intensity(No of Watts) :2x55+2x36w placed above barclaya and lace. Another 2x55 placed at the front. Lightings without stand.
Number and type of Lighting (FL/PL/MH) :PL
Age of light bulbs : 2 55W 5 mths and the rest 12mths.
No. of hours your lights are on :8hrs (4hrs on, 2hrs break, 4hrs on)

CO2 Injection Rate (bps) :4
Type of CO2 (DIY/Cylinder) :cylinder
Method of Injection (e.g. Diffusor/Reactor) :external reactor

Liquid fertilisers Used (Product name. E.g. Seachem Flourish) :
Dr Mallick's Entire Package

Fertilization regime (Frequency and amount per dose) :
Once a Week
Dr Mallick's ferts
KNO3 1 tbsp
KH2PO4 0.5 tsp
MgSO4 1 tbsp
Macro 40ml
Micro 30ml

Other fertilisers (Product name. E.g. Root Monster) :
Root monster, Aquatic Compost, JBL base fert

Other additives (Product name. E.g. Seachem Prime) :

Type of Filter (overhead/internal/canister, Product name/model if possible) :
Rena XP3 canister

When was the filter last washed : 3-4 weeks

Filter media used : Biohome/rings mostly, sponge and cotton medium

When was the media last changed : the biohome unchanged since 5 mths, the cotton changed.

What was changed :

Age of setup (i.e. since initial setup or last major re-do ) : 2weeks

Water change frequency : Once a week

Amount changed : 50%

Water surface movement (None/gentle/turbulent) : Gentle

Circulation (None/gentle/turbulent) :Gentle

Tank Temperature : 27deg

Chemical Properties (Fill what you can)
-------------------------------------
KH (dKH): 3
GH (dGH):
pH : 6.6
NH4 (ppm):
NO2 (ppm):
NO3 (ppm):
PO4 (ppm):
Fe (ppm):

Bioload (Number and type of fish and plants)
50 tetras, a diftwood with moss, a large ozelot red, and newly planted lace plant, barclaya longifolia red, hairgrass, crypts and vallisneria.
------------------------------------------

Describe your problem : As mention above. Thanks very much.

[bclee]

Here is what I can help.

1. The water was cloudy for the past 2 weeks, many particules too after the rescape caused many particles to emerge. Added bio-bact liquid. Now milky cloudiness cleared but the particles seem to be unaffected still like 2 weeks ago. The amount remains even after addition of an extra cotton layer in the Rena XP3 or the canister is spoilt? Circulation should be just nice as the particles are drifting gently around the tank.

They should clear after your filter mature. Give it a few more weeks. At the mean time, don't clean or disturb the filter media.


3. 1 week old small barclaya with seed, the small very reddish leaves became very dull green. Afraid they may in the end turn green. Would like it to be red. Should I get iron salt? Monster root at root.

It is normal. Unless your tank is very low on N, mature leaves are usually dull red in colour and slightly greenish.

They will not turn green. Just FYI, Barclaya longifolia "green" are rarer and sought after. The red ones are very common.


4. Ozelot red has small red leaves but when it grow big it turns green with spots. Hope to get it to remain red.

Unfortunately, they will not remain red. They will definitely turn green.

BC

[ranmasatome]

For your lace plant if the temperature is not constantly below 27 degrees there is little hope.. it is one of the plants that does really grow dependant on temperature.. they do well and flourish beautifully at 24-25degrees.

You tank is extremely low on NO3 for a co2 tank...but your lights are low as well so perhaps thats why its sustainging itself... i suspect that if you increase one without the other.. you're gonna get into problems..

[plantz]

Thanks for all the advices. Now I just realised that my temp is constantly at 28 degrees. Will get another fan and see if it can bring the temp down a little more.

[|squee|]

The plants are intended to grow relatively large so the tank is quite sparse for the plants to grow.

You might have algae problems if the tank is too sparse in the setup stage.

[plantz]

Thanks for all the advices.

I would like to update a little on my progress and seek more advice from bros with regards to other concerns.

Currently I have tune the output slightly towards the wall of the tank as to reduce the flow and turbulence caused by it. (Rena XP3 can't be tuned). This greatly reduce the particles and now the water is evidently clearer. (Obtained this idea from past articles)

Bought the typical single 12V AC large cooling fan, therefore I have this and another similar size DIP DC 12V adapter fan which is slightly weaker. Only managed to keep the temperature at 28 degrees. I think only if I get a chiller which I can't afford to reduce further the temp (Student). The lace plant however do not show any further signs of rotting or turning brown. However, the growth is every slow. Like a new small leave in 2-3 weeks. And the leaves grows very slowly in size. Any suggestions?

I have bought a bunch of Vallisneria from Teo, there were 2 types of spiral v. The uncle gave me the shorter one that he took from the left side of the farm near a few tanks (beside the arowana ponds). They are around 1 feet in height. I wanted to cover the rear of my tank so I requested a taller species, however he said that this is an easier to plant and will reach the required height (2ft). The plant has been in my tank for 2 weeks, growing many new leaves however the height of the existing leaves remains at only 1ft. I read in tropica that most of the spiral species can grow to a height close to 2ft. So should I be worried?? What should I do?

Thanks for reading. Look forward to reading your advices.

[valice]

I have bought a bunch of Vallisneria from Teo, there were 2 types of spiral v. The uncle gave me the shorter one that he took from the left side of the farm near a few tanks (beside the arowana ponds). They are around 1 feet in height. I wanted to cover the rear of my tank so I requested a taller species, however he said that this is an easier to plant and will reach the required height (2ft). The plant has been in my tank for 2 weeks, growing many new leaves however the height of the existing leaves remains at only 1ft. I read in tropica that most of the spiral species can grow to a height close to 2ft. So should I be worried?? What should I do?

Don't worry.. All Vallis will grow tall... The existing leaves might not grow tall, but the new ones will...

[plantz]

Hi guys,

It is going to be 4 months now. And there are some existing problems that I need advice.

The vallis that I mentioned before is v spiralis 'tiger' from tropica that's why it's still short even till now.

There are 2 problems:-

1. The lace plant has been growing new leaves like 1 per week, however as the leaves grow, they will eventually turn brown and rot away. Hence the lace place is still small with 4 fresh small leaves only. I have reduced the temperature to constant 27 degrees. Does it require frequent water change or more of a certain fert?

2. The barclarya longifolia have several crumpled leaves that will grow into leaves with many holes and torn pieces. Why is this so? Does it lack of a fert?

Please advice. Thanks.

[ranmasatome]

can you state what you're dosing in terms of ppm??
Also if you can get the water temp to go below 27 would be better..

[theodore]

2. The barclarya longifolia have several crumpled leaves that will grow into leaves with many holes and torn pieces. Why is this so? Does it lack of a fert?

Give the plant a gentle tug/wiggle. If the roots are well formed, just trim away all the leaves and wait for them to regrow. Barclaya longifolia has this strange habit of growing new leaves that resemble its current ones. It's a heavy root feeder so try using (Ocean Free) root monsters or (Ferka) Rosetta pills every now and then.