Help with rotting plants!!

[starlightcgc]

Hi,

I need help.
I have a 60x30x30cm tank armed with CO2 electrode plate, 10W florescence tube (7000K), biofilter. Temp maintained between 28-30 degrees. Soil substrate 2inches deep.

It seems that most of the common variety plants I put in will not last 1 month, the stems always tend to rot away and the water turns brownish. Those hardier plants will have stunted growth.
I have snails and shrimps as well, but they don't seem to be chewing away the leaves.
Can anyone enlighten me how to keep my plant flourished??? I am desperate.

thanks
GC

[CK Yeo]

Erm... seems like your tank is way too dim. The plants die because they do not have enough lights to photosynthesize. Increase the lights to maybe around 72W (36WX2) If not, go for really hardy slow light plants e.g. Anubius, though I suspect it might not be enough for them either.

ck

[kaganesti]

i think the light is not sufficient either.
Anyway you using any base fert? or dosing any liquid fert?

[Shadow]

not enough light

[starlightcgc]

thanks everyone. looks like i need to add more power points to my tank.

[|squee|]

36W PL minimum, 72W imho will be too much light.

[CK Yeo]

Ya. You are probably right about having too much light. I didn't notice the tank is only 30cm tall.

ck

[Desmond]

You will need the light to reach the base of your plant stems if not they will just rot away.