Several questions need to be solved for a live plant newbie!

[FishPlanet]

So, as some of you know, I got live plants the Friday before last. I have some questions as for needing algae identified. TIA

 

What is that little cone-shaped thingy on my Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus?

What is this algae? My nerite can't seem to clean it up.

What is this moldy looking algae on this fake plant?

Enjoying watching my frogbit growing back leaves!

What are these roots sticking out of my Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus?

The top leaves of my scarlet temple look a bit black. Something to be worried about?

What are these roots sticking out of my scarlet temple? 

My melon sword is growing a root out of the substrate. Is it going to die?

What can I do to keep my nerite from laying eggs!!??? T_T

 

My Cryptocoryne Tropica is growing back!

My baby tears have been looking poorly since I got them. I gave it root tabs. Please help!

[Guppysnail]

Most stem plants grow roots from each node. They can then be up just below the node to propagate for more plants. Nothing can be done to stop female nerites from laying eggs. They simply bedazzle tanks with them. 

[eatyourpeas]

I see Nerite tracks on your glass, which means your Nerite may be eating the algae on it. It appears you have diatoms, which can be dealt with by decreasing the light period. How long is your light for?

The little cone shaped top on the PSO may be a flower.

Edited December 7, 2021 by eatyourpeas

[FishPlanet]

It depends. Sometimes the light is on from 7 hours to 12 hours. 

[eatyourpeas]

On 12/7/2021 at 1:14 PM, FishPlanet said:

It depends. Sometimes the light is on from 7 hours to 12 hours. 

I would try to not let it go for 12 hours. Try 8 until the diatoms disappear.

[FishPlanet]

On 12/7/2021 at 3:17 PM, eatyourpeas said:

I would try to not let it go for 12 hours. Try 8 until the diatoms disappear.

Are the diatoms the black stuff on the fake plant?

[PedroPete]

Congrats on your journey into keeping aquatic plants! 🙂 A couple ideas I thought of:

• A magnetic algae brush/scraper or even something like a Seachem algae foam could help your glass - or adding another nerite snail  🙂
• Speaking of nerites, I have heard that some people trade their female nerite in at your LFS for another... in an attempt to get a male. Might be an option? 
• Your sword plant growing roots out of the gravel isn't a sign of it dying. A root tab under it would be a good idea, if you haven't yet.
• I recommend planting your crypt tropica with a root tab in the gravel so it can settle in and acclimate better vs. settling in its net pot/rock wool and then re-planting later.
• Finally, I agree that photoperiod shouldn't be longer than 8 hours until plants grow more.

 

[FishPlanet]

Thank you. I put root tabs under each plant when I got them. I am planning on planting my crypt very soon. I just need to find a place for it! 😃

[PineSong]

It can be really helpful in the process of learning to grow plants to have your lights on a timer. That way, if you are changing something you're doing to try to fix a problem--like changing how you fertlize, the number of plants, how you time water changes, or number of fish-- you can know that the hours of light are consistent and whatever changes you are seeing are due to the thing you're changing.

If you don't have your lights on a timer, it can be an easy fix. Some lights come with apps, or you can use a smartplug. I bought an Aquasun Aquarium Controller because I have multiple tanks plugged into one outlet, but if you just have one light, you could use any outlet timer and they are only about $7.