[Sir_BlackhOle]

I have some dwarf chain sword and something else that isnt doing so great. I may not have enough light for them, I dont know. My tank is 75gallons, 2 watts per gallon flourescent, I dose 4.1grams KNO3, 2mL fleet enema, and 15ml Flourish. Each twice a week. These plants have been in the tank about a week. Any ideas?

Does anyone know what this plant is?

TIA

 

[Moss]

Hi there! It really looks like lack of nutrients near the roots. What kind of substrate do you have? (Sorry about my English, I have to rephrase my sentences in order to express an idea when my vocabulary is scarce). Check the roots and see if they are rotting.

Regards.

 

[Sir_BlackhOle]

I have plain gravel with laterite. Its about 3 inches thick so maybe the roots havent gotten to it yet?

 

[Moss]

I had a similar problem once and I solved it with JBL Root Fertiliser Balls. (sorry about the publicity)
7th item in http://www.aquariumsuperstore.co.uk/mall/jblplanting.asp (just to let you know what I'm talking about)
If you find a similar product, break the balls oops in small pieces and placed it near the roots.
Let me know how it goes.
Best regards.

P.S. - Also, check the second post from HeyPK at http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=80

 

[Sir_BlackhOle]

Thanks!!

 

[EDGE]

2nd plant is

Rotala rotundifolia.

 

[Sir_BlackhOle]

All the pics I see of Rotala rotundifolia look a whole lot better than mine. Granted I have only had it about a week, but should I cut off the tops and replant them? There are no leaves on the lower portions of the stems.

TIA

 

[IUnknown]

How did you get the plants, they look like they were beat up from the beginning. I would pack that tank with fast growing plats. Then the plants that are weak will have a better chance.

 

[Sir_BlackhOle]

Thats pretty much what I have attempted to do. The only plants that I think are not fast growers are the dwarf chain sword, c. wendtii, and anubias nana. The two photos above and the c.wendtii in the crypt forum are not doing so well, but I have only had them a week so they might just need more recovery time. They were all in sad shape when I bought them.

 

[IUnknown]

Maybe I need to see a pic of the full tank, but by cramming I mean enough plants so that very little gravel is showing. So that 70-80% of the tank is filled with plants. Otherwise algae is going to get to the plants you have in there eventually. You can't really balance things with ferts if there are not enough plants to take up the nutrients, the algae takes hold.

 

[Sir_BlackhOle]

Im sure I probably need more plants then. My LFS wont be getting any more for about a week and a half :-( Guess I will be stuck waiting. Anyone know of a really cheap package deal with lots of fast growing plants?

 

[hlx]

Rotala Rotundifolia

I agree with the Rotala Rotundifolia identification posted earlier and wanted to add that the reason it looks sad is that it was growing emersed previously. What looks almost like a different plant shooting out from the tips is the fully submerged growth.

Unfortunately, this normally fast grower seems to take a little bit to get going IMO when it is changing from emersed to submerged growth. Once there is a few inches of the new growth, you can clip it off and replant in place of the original stems. They will eventually die anyway.

 

[Sir_BlackhOle]

AH Ok. Thanks! I have pics of the tank from today posted in the general forum "Project 75 Gallon" if anyone is interested.

 

[Sir_BlackhOle]

I believe both of these plants were in immersed form when I purchased them. They are both shedding old growth and growing new, different leaves. The dwarf swords spoon shaped leaves are dying and new narrow blades are coming in.