My plants seem like they are struggling

[Aqua junky]

I'm not a plant guy but I'm trying!  I've heard plants dont grow well in sand so I've moved half of them into pots full of seachem Flourite substrate with easy tabs. Only ones in the sand are the new Amazon swords.  The pics actually make them look better than they are. I've got higher Nitrates. Which I've been working getting it down to a more consistent 40ppm.  All these plants are surrounded by easy tabs. What else can I test for to give me more answers on what I need?  The bigger swords are new so they still look fabulous. Also my anubis has an alge growing on it. 

[Cory]

Are you dosing fertilizer in the water column? The anubias, java fern, and stem plants will want fertilizer in the water. As for the swords, some look to be planted too deep. In the last pic, the front left sword is planted too deep in the easy planter. The crown of the plant be below the substrate. This will cause all the leaves to die off. 

[Aqua junky]

Yes I use the easy green fertz, And I'll pull the swords up some, I had to bury them that deep cause of the sand substrate. If a fish swims near them they just float up out.  The substrate doesn't pack at all. I've got enough seachem Flourite to do the entire tank I just really love how the white sand and black back ground look but I feel like it's just gunna be  battle until I get rid of the sand

[be28ans]

9 hours ago, Mclovin said:

I'm not a plant guy but I'm trying!  I've heard plants dont grow well in sand so I've moved half of them into pots full of seachem Flourite substrate with easy tabs. Only ones in the sand are the new Amazon swords.  The pics actually make them look better than they are. I've got higher Nitrates. Which I've been working getting it down to a more consistent 40ppm.  All these plants are surrounded by easy tabs. What else can I test for to give me more answers on what I need?  The bigger swords are new so they still look fabulous. Also my anubis has an alge growing on it. 

Beautiful tank. If your using Co-op Easy Green only thing i can think of is maybe your lighting? What Cory said diff makes sense. 

Edited November 11, 2020 by be28ans

[Ken Dyer]

For me I will get algae on anubius leaves from a few of the following: too much/long light period, too little flow, too little tank maintenance. The things that have helped me are: a circulation pump or good aeration, lots of shrimp, ottos or hill stream loaches, water changes, and or lowering the light intensity or length turned on, adding more stem plants.

With the barbs shrimp would be hard but maybe something else from my list may help you?

 

Nice tank and enjoy the journey 😊 

[be28ans]

7 hours ago, Mclovin said:

Yes I use the easy green fertz, And I'll pull the swords up some, I had to bury them that deep cause of the sand substrate. If a fish swims near them they just float up out.  The substrate doesn't pack at all. I've got enough seachem Flourite to do the entire tank I just really love how the white sand and black back ground look but I feel like it's just gunna be  battle until I get rid of the sand

I wonder if u can take the water out the tank then plant them