Aquarius Aquatics Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 I've always had trouble growing plants even the super easy ones. Recently I had my love of fishkeeping rejuvenated and I want to finally make my display aquarium an actual nice aquarium to look at! My GH is 10 drops and KH is 6 drops of the API test. Is this too hard for aquarium plants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 In a word, no. Try one of each of the ones that appeal to you and see which ones do well in your tank. Then get more of them. I have hard water and have pretty good luck with most... although I seem to be able to kill an Anubias by looking at it. Remember that aquarium plant time is measured in months, not days. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 On 8/30/2021 at 9:32 PM, Ken said: In a word, no. Try one of each of the ones that appeal to you and see which ones do well in your tank. Then get more of them. I have hard water and have pretty good luck with most... although I seem to be able to kill an Anubias by looking at it. Remember that aquarium plant time is measured in months, not days. I've had a handful of different plants and most have died. My Swords and Anubias survive but don't grow very much even though I've had them for a couple years now. The only plant I've ever gotten to grow is a Madagascar lace of all things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 if your swords, and anubias hang in there, have you tried any fertilizers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 On 8/30/2021 at 10:38 PM, lefty o said: if your swords, and anubias hang in there, have you tried any fertilizers? Yes I give each plant 2 aquarium coop root tabs monthly and dose easy green after each water change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JettsPapa Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 My water is hard, with pH at 8.2. Guppy grass grows like crazy, and I also have good luck with water wisteria, water sprite, anarcharis, crypts, pearl weed, Ozelot swords, and anubias. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 On 8/30/2021 at 8:32 PM, Ken said: In a word, no. Try one of each of the ones that appeal to you and see which ones do well in your tank. Then get more of them. I have hard water and have pretty good luck with most... although I seem to be able to kill an Anubias by looking at it. Remember that aquarium plant time is measured in months, not days. This. But I will add most plants prefer softer water and some require it. But 95% of plants will grow in your conditions. Just try a multitude of plants and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 1, 2021 Author Share Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 7:31 AM, JettsPapa said: My water is hard, with pH at 8.2. Guppy grass grows like crazy, and I also have good luck with water wisteria, water sprite, anarcharis, crypts, pearl weed, Ozelot swords, and anubias. Do you have any other ideas why my plants don't grow very well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle_Aquarist Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 (edited) Hi @Aquarius Aquatics The pH of 8.2 could be the issue. Check out this thread, specifically the portion dealing with iron uptake and pH. My post of July 28th may help you. -Royhttps://forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/14489-deficiency-help/?tab=comments#comment-11823 Edited September 1, 2021 by Seattle_Aquarist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 (edited) On 8/30/2021 at 11:10 PM, Aquarius Aquatics said: Yes I give each plant 2 aquarium coop root tabs monthly and dose easy green after each water change. My 2 swords are big, out of the top of a 40 breeder big. They get 4-5 root tabs each every month. The whole tank gets 15-20 a month and 1-1/2 times the recommended dose of Easy Green spread out as a squirt a day. My parameters stay just fine, lots of Hornwort probably helps with any excess in the water column. Edited September 1, 2021 by Ken . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 1, 2021 Author Share Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 8:01 PM, Seattle_Aquarist said: Hi @Aquarius Aquatics The pH of 8.2 could be the issue. Check out this thread, specifically the portion dealing with iron uptake and pH. My post of July 28th may help you. -Royhttps://forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/14489-deficiency-help/?tab=comments#comment-11823 My ph when I tested yesterday after a water change was 7.4 but thank you for the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 1, 2021 Author Share Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 8:01 PM, Seattle_Aquarist said: Hi @Aquarius Aquatics The pH of 8.2 could be the issue. Check out this thread, specifically the portion dealing with iron uptake and pH. My post of July 28th may help you. -Royhttps://forum.aquariumcoop.com/topic/14489-deficiency-help/?tab=comments#comment-11823 I read through the link you sent me. It looks very helpful I will try that too and see if the extra iron helps. Thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted September 1, 2021 Share Posted September 1, 2021 My water is hard ph 7.6-8 on my tanks. Pennywort anacharis anubias Java fern water fern water wisteria water sprite lemon bacopa mint Charlie cardinal swords moneywort all do well for me. I can’t even remember the tons of different ones I’ve killed though 🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle murfitt Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 I'm In Houston with pretty hard water and vallisneria from aco has been my best plant in the tank. Swords, crypts , and bacopa took me a little work but are doing fine once I figured out my ferts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/1/2021 at 12:07 PM, Guppysnail said: My water is hard ph 7.6-8 on my tanks. Pennywort anacharis anubias Java fern water fern water wisteria water sprite lemon bacopa mint Charlie cardinal swords moneywort all do well for me. I can’t even remember the tons of different ones I’ve killed though 🤣 Anubias, Java fern, Swords, and a madagascar lace plant are the only things I haven't killed but they still don't grow very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/1/2021 at 8:56 PM, Kyle murfitt said: I'm In Houston with pretty hard water and vallisneria from aco has been my best plant in the tank. Swords, crypts , and bacopa took me a little work but are doing fine once I figured out my ferts Ya I probably need to look back into that. I must not be doing something right. Time to hit the books! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 Is this a nitrogen deficiency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/2/2021 at 11:12 AM, Aquarius Aquatics said: Is this a nitrogen deficiency? What do your nitrates test? And what do you dose to the tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/2/2021 at 12:39 PM, Mmiller2001 said: What do your nitrates test? And what do you dose to the tank? Nitrates are around 40. I dose easy green after every water change. I usually take out 40% of water every week or two and then add 5 pumps of easy green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/2/2021 at 3:31 PM, Aquarius Aquatics said: Nitrates are around 40. I dose easy green after every water change. I usually take out 40% of water every week or two and then add 5 pumps of easy green. You are probably low on potassium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/2/2021 at 4:33 PM, Mmiller2001 said: You are probably low on potassium. Should I just dose more easy green? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/2/2021 at 3:46 PM, Aquarius Aquatics said: Should I just dose more easy green? Well, you could, but that's the problem with all in one fertilizer. Are the 40ppm Nitrates before or after your water change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Aquatics Posted September 2, 2021 Author Share Posted September 2, 2021 On 9/2/2021 at 4:50 PM, Mmiller2001 said: Well, you could, but that's the problem with all in one fertilizer. Are the 40ppm Nitrates before or after your water change? After Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted September 2, 2021 Share Posted September 2, 2021 (edited) On 9/2/2021 at 4:31 PM, Aquarius Aquatics said: After I wouldn't dose more Easy Green. I would look for a K stand alone. Seachem Potassium is available most places. Might grab some Easy Iron and dose per directions along with whatever you choose for K. You could try root tabs as well. They can fill in the gaps, but they will leach into the water column and possibly/ will increase your Nitrates more. Edited September 2, 2021 by Mmiller2001 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted September 3, 2021 Share Posted September 3, 2021 On 8/31/2021 at 9:01 PM, Ken said: My 2 swords are big, out of the top of a 40 breeder big. They get 4-5 root tabs each every month. The whole tank gets 15-20 a month and 1-1/2 times the recommended dose of Easy Green spread out as a squirt a day. My parameters stay just fine, lots of Hornwort probably helps with any excess in the water column. I forgot to mention that I do supplement with Seachem Pottasium. The leaves green up better and no more holes. I put in too much of it also. You'll have to figure out what works in your tank. It takes forever, a low tech aquarium plant's reaction time is measured in weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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