Reply With QuoteMaybe you want to share what kind of soil/sand you're using?
Hi everyone,
I just setup my planted tank after doing lots of reading up on the forums. I purchased my plants from NA and they all look really healthy and good. However after just a day being planted I can see that they are deteriorating. The stems of some are yellowing and the leaves. I was wondering is this natural after the plants are moved and freshly planted as when you remove the sponge their roots are wrapped in will cause some damage.
I am just worried I did something wrong as I am still inexperience and would like to get some input. I read up online and they mention yellow is due to some nutrient deficiency. However I think that is more applicable to existing tanks and not new ones.
My tank is a 2ft tank, CO2 injection, overhead “tube” filter and dual T8 lights so I believe I got all the basics right. Any advice or tips are welcome. Many thanks! Below is a photo of my tank and the pale looking plants in the lefthand forground are the ones yellowing most. Espically the bunch behind not visiable in the photo.
RegardsIMG_0139[1].JPG
Maybe you want to share what kind of soil/sand you're using?
Hi,
Thank for your reply. I got the substrate from Seaview. I don't know what brand though they didn't have ADA so they recommended me that alternative brand. 9liters for $39, remember reading that its japan made sutiable for plants and shrimp. Poured it all into my tank the stuff on the top layer is just normal gravel and sand I used previously for my old tank without plants.
Need more info such as how many watt is your light, how long does it on, water temp, how many ppm is the co2, etc.
Not sure what do you mean by over head tube filter. Overhead filter normally not for planted tank because it drive away co2
Thanks for your inputs bro. This is a photo of the overhead filter I am using. The pump sucks up the water through the tube and is injected back into the tank through a pipe under the tank water surface so there is minimal disruptions.Originally Posted by Shadow
As for my light I have no idea what is the voltage got it second hand for $50 bucks hahaha! It looks really good though it can hold 3 T8 tubes. 2 are white lights and one pink. If i were to guess minimum each tube is 18 watts? (Pls correct me if I'm wrong about this). I turn on the 2 white tubes from 7am to 6pm (10hrs) and then at night when I'm home for work and I want to view i just on the pink tube.
Water temp should be room temperatur or slightly higher then room temp due to the lighting. Have chiller or anything and the top of my tank is full cover by the overhead and the light box. Using a manual regulator 2liter CO2 tank. 2 bubbles per second no idea what is the ppm. I turn the CO2 on in the mornings when the light come on and turn it off at night. At night I also switch on an airstone in the tank as my filter does casue any bubbles..
Hope the info is sufficient! Appreciate the help!!
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weird looking filter, my first time seeing it.
Anyway, your setup look OK. I don.t see any obvious fault on it. Which plant which is turning yellow? Some plants are grown emerse thus the emerse leaf will rot. The green plant on left and right of the wood look like emerse leaf. Valisneria species, the one you use at the back normally will melt when first planted but they should start to grow new leaf and runner.
Thanks for the inputs. The plant i think is doing the worst is the pale looking plants infrom of the red ones. They have obviously yellowed. I am hoping that the problems are due to the shock from being freshly transplanted and the plants will recover in the next 1 or 2 weeks. The long green ones are looking brittle like there are cracks forming on the leaves. When I bought them they looked so good! haha! Is it common for plants to have this issue when transplanted? The red ones seems to be doing ok.
Should I take any action or just wait and see? Don't want to be hasty and ruin my tank. Was pretty happy with my first attempt until I got home yesterday and saw that some plant don't seem to be doing that well.
Not sure about the pale looking plants but it is normal for those long green leaf to have melted after planting. Just monitor, you should see new leaf or runner coming out.
I think the lighting is insufficient. How old is your light? 7am to 6pm with 36W. and 18W for what duration? You can't make up light power (W) by light duration (Hr)
colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS
Possible, its abt a year old. I have a silly question but how do you determine the wattage if there is no lable on the lamp? Will the fluorescent tube be indicative? I can replace them i guess
How to determine depends on experience with lights. That's not a problem if you bring your sample tube to the fish shop, they will have to help you to pick the right tube.. and it will have the wattage indicated.
colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS
I can fire up all 3 tubes and that would be 54 watts that should be good enough right? What kinda of wattage should I be looking at? I am also afraid too much light will result in algae
Good. 54 Watt is good. I guess! Try to measure your tank size. I think 3 Watts per gallon is good enough (for your situation - short tank)
Next, you need to address your CO2 content during your firing of the 3 tubes.. You need to have 20-30ppm of CO2 in the water column during photosynthesis period.
Lastly, I look at your picture (3 times) I realize that your substrate is made up of those big granules, which I think is not helping the plant to grip and draw nutrient via the roots. (Even Shyta suspected something is amiss)
I can be certain that if you address your lights, CO2, and base - algae will be minimum concern to you
colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS
Do i have to change my substrate?
I will fire up all my lights for the next few days and monitor the situation... Hope my plants improve! any advise on what actions to besides the lighting?
If you don't change your substrate, you might have to limit your choice of plants.
The plants will not improve without improving the CO2 distribution. Therefore, actions besides the lighting is C02
colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS
hmm ok i don't understand what do you mean by CO2 distribution. I have a bell diffuser at the corner of my tank at where the water from the filter is entering to help push the bubbles around. How else can i improve the distribution?
What substrate should i change to? are my current plants ok with my current substrate?
Yes CO2 distribution is important and just to made sure if your light white light or red light? White light for plant and red for fish. Plant does better with white light.
Everyday is a good lesson to me. Learn as you grow...
If the plant still yellowish after a few day my advice is remove it and plant other. Cos that plant might require some lower temperature. Cause 10 hour of light without chiller will rise the water temperature.And maybe the plant will do better if it only 8 hour of light.
Everyday is a good lesson to me. Learn as you grow...
You have choices like GEX, AquaSoil, Lapis and more. Definitely not large granule. Your current plants, some is red plants - they don't seem to do well. And Vallisneria need properly substrate system. Therefore, not ok. : )
colin | The Wilderness and Forest | FTS
I have 3 tubes, 2 white 1 pink. I will take more photos of the substrate and show you guys see if I can find the wrapper. I was a huge effort to set up my current tank. At least i am gaining experience along the way. I know that I specifically asked for a substrate for plants.
If there is no improvement in the next few days means I need to restart my tank? How do i improve CO2 distribution?
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