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Plant Growth
I just set-up my 75 gal. tank for plants. I have fluorite substrate, 3+watts/gallon, and the temperature is a constant 74-75 degrees. I have pressurized CO2 (KH 3, pH around 6.6-6.7).
The question I have is on plant growth. The other planted tanks I've had seemed to really take off from the get go. Growth in this tank seems to be really slow. This is only the sixth day with the plants in the tank, so I wanted everyone's suggestions on whether or not something might be wrong (or is it to early to worry). The plants arrived in sort of rough shape, and I'm wondering if they are just taking more time to adapt. I'm using Chuck's method of "new tank set-up". I have a lot of plants, including numerous swords, green tiger lotus, and of course bunched plants (water sprite, cabomba, L. aquitica, L. Sessiflora, different varieties of Hygro, etc.). All of the plants are surviving, but only the swords seem to be growing at a rate I would expect. I used substrate fertilizer to begin with, but no water fertilizers per Chuck's plan. I plan on using PMDD, as I'm accustomed to this method. I have, however, always had a rough time in the first two months of keeping plants in other tanks due to algae. This is why I'm trying Chuck's method. Anyone else have experience with this plan? I imagine things will start to take off, but I wanted anyone else's insight. I'm not used to seeing growth this slow. Thank you, -- Craig Brye University of Phoenix Online |
#2
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Plant Growth
"Craig Brye" wrote in message ...
I just set-up my 75 gal. tank for plants. I have fluorite substrate, 3+watts/gallon, and the temperature is a constant 74-75 degrees. I have pressurized CO2 (KH 3, pH around 6.6-6.7). the swords seem to be growing at a rate I would expect. I used substrate fertilizer to begin with, but no water fertilizers per Chuck's plan. I plan on using PMDD, as I'm accustomed to this method. I have, however, always had a rough time in the first two months of keeping plants in other tanks due to algae. This is why I'm trying Chuck's method. Anyone else have experience with this plan? I imagine things will start to take off, but I wanted anyone else's insight. I'm not used to seeing growth this slow. Thank you, You need more CO2, drop the pH to 6.5 and keep it there using only CO2 gas to do it. If you want a tank that has no trouble from set up on............use the peat and mulm method I have told folks to do. This adds precisely what is missing from an old established tank and there is no down time when you set up a new tank. Too many folks do not add the mulm...........this is the best thing you can add to a new tank! I add fertilizers to the water column, not the substrate. Plants prefer and will take nutrients from the water column first if the nutrients are present there. That's why the swords will do better, they will go after the nutrients in the substrate since there are none in the water column. What choice do they have if there are none in the water column? I add about 1/2 dosings the first week. 3/4 by the 2nd week and full by the 3rd week. I add: KNO3 KH2PO4 Traces(Flourish or TMG) GH/KH if needed Crank the CO2! Regards, Tom Barr |
#3
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Plant Growth
I was hoping you're going to answer this post...
Thanks for the info. I'm going to start dosing immediately. Also... I have 260 watts of PC over my 75 gal. tank (48" long). I currently have the light fixture suspended about 21" above the substrate. If I put the fixture directly on top of the tank... it would be about 18" above the substrate. What would you recommend given the amount of lighting I have. Thanks Again Tom for the advice! -- Craig Brye University of Phoenix Online " wrote in message m... "Craig Brye" wrote in message ... I just set-up my 75 gal. tank for plants. I have fluorite substrate, 3+watts/gallon, and the temperature is a constant 74-75 degrees. I have pressurized CO2 (KH 3, pH around 6.6-6.7). the swords seem to be growing at a rate I would expect. I used substrate fertilizer to begin with, but no water fertilizers per Chuck's plan. I plan on using PMDD, as I'm accustomed to this method. I have, however, always had a rough time in the first two months of keeping plants in other tanks due to algae. This is why I'm trying Chuck's method. Anyone else have experience with this plan? I imagine things will start to take off, but I wanted anyone else's insight. I'm not used to seeing growth this slow. Thank you, You need more CO2, drop the pH to 6.5 and keep it there using only CO2 gas to do it. If you want a tank that has no trouble from set up on............use the peat and mulm method I have told folks to do. This adds precisely what is missing from an old established tank and there is no down time when you set up a new tank. Too many folks do not add the mulm...........this is the best thing you can add to a new tank! I add fertilizers to the water column, not the substrate. Plants prefer and will take nutrients from the water column first if the nutrients are present there. That's why the swords will do better, they will go after the nutrients in the substrate since there are none in the water column. What choice do they have if there are none in the water column? I add about 1/2 dosings the first week. 3/4 by the 2nd week and full by the 3rd week. I add: KNO3 KH2PO4 Traces(Flourish or TMG) GH/KH if needed Crank the CO2! Regards, Tom Barr |
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