On Sat, 03 Apr 2004 21:33:29 GMT, "Michi Henning"
wrote:
My previous rambling...
pH = 7.8
KH = 15
GH = 20.5
NO2 = 0.01 mg/l
NO3 = 100 mg/l
Also, Myriophyllum is happer in slightly acidic and soft water.
Well my tank water will one day soon be this...
pH = 7.0-7.2
KH = 5
GH = 7
NO2 = 0
NO3 = 50-100 mg/l
You can see my more recent postings for the details, which makes for
water that may be more favourable to this plant.
Your conditions may well be too alkaline and hard for the plant to
thrive.
Maybe that is one reason why these two plants suffered a rapid death,
where only their core sections are now alive.
From what I have read Myriophyllum Tuberculatum is a little more
flexible in the water quality than what you seem to indicate, where it
just does not like the extremes.
Like my former extremely hard water.
(Even under ideal conditions, Myriophyllum Tuberculatum
is considered a difficult plant to grow and will not do well in many
tanks.)
Yes, I found that out, when I began searching into why these plants
were dying. Since it is a question of trying to save them, or having
them visit my bin, then it is best to see if I can save them first.
I am starting to think that this could be rather hopeless though.
And there they were doing so well in the pet shop with no real
maintenance sources, like a light, either. I think we know why that
is...
BTW -- you should try to get those nitrate levels down. 100ppm is
definitely on the very high side where it will be toxic for at least some
fish species.
My fish can live in much higher levels perfectly fine, where they just
become unhappy in a world where algae rules. So they are very happy
with anything between 50 and 150 mg/l, when algae growth is very slow
at this level.
Adding lots more plants will help in reducing nitrate
levels.
A nice idea, but what you do not mention is that plants in fact use up
very little Nitrate, which is why I would have to bed plants very
heavily for any beneficial effects.
And so there is nothing that I can really do when it comes out the tap
at 50 mg/l +-20% to begin with, where the fish pooping will only cause
it to go higher.
That is unless you know of some way to turn Nitrate into something
else that won't harm fish?
So my objective is always to try and keep Nitrate levels below 100
mg/l, when going above 150 mg/l poses a rapid algae problem. Like even
now I am starting to get a little algae growth on the glass again,
after I had scraped the last lot off.
Plants I am sure will help slow the Nitrate advancement to an unknown
degree, but at this time I have 7 White Mollies, 5 Red-Eyed Tetras and
2 other fish (not in my fish book...). And with the White Mollies at
least that is a lot of end Nitrate production.
In case you are interested, then I am soon to stock a load of varies
plants that are rated in the "easy" level and suitable for my water.
My shopping list is currently...
5 x Hygrophila Polysperma
1 x Anubias Nana
3 x Crinium Thainium
5 x Microsorium Pteropus
5 x (Assorted) Cryptocorynes
Since I am in the process of changing my water quality by a
considerable degree, then I will have to review these and make sure
that they are suitable for my new water.
Any comments in my 18 plant choice welcome.
My only issue at the moment is with these Crinium Thainium (onion like
plants), when they need lots of space. For my small 20 gallon tank
that would be impossible, but I will soon have my other 20 and 40
gallon tanks up and running. So one in each tank could have them
growing just fine in lots of space.
Cardman.
http://www.cardman.com
http://www.cardman.co.uk