Help with plant care (existing plants)

[Bradders]

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading the forum and articles, and unbelievably, I am still trying to figure out how to get a handle on plant care!

I have a low-tech 100L aquarium with gravel and only do a little fertilisation (Microbe-Out Plant) at this stage. Lights are Fluval Plant 3.0, and they are set to 20% brightness due to being near a window. (Not south-facing direct light). Ammonia/Nitrite is zero, and Nitrates range from 5 to 30.

To be completely honest, I plonked some plants in (from young) to see if I could just get a basic grip on looking after them. They have indeed grown, but I know they are not looking great, and any growth is simply luck. In short, I am not looking after my plants. 🙁

The problems I see are (and with accompanying photos):

1. Some plants' leaves look very pale and can see the veins, so I think there is some nutrient missing,
2. Some plants have a yellow tinge to them.
3. Some plants (like the red one) just look like they're ragged and worn.
4. I get algae, suggesting the plant's strength is not great and out-competing.

Now, I could add some Fert and experiment, but I thought I would check in with you guys and get some help after describing and showing the issues. I hope you can provide some basic steps to getting what I have looked better (and healthier!) than they currently do. Once I have a handle on the basics, I can move forward with more aquascaping, armed with greater insight.

All help is greatly appreciated, as always. Please ask any questions if I have missed something vital. And treat me gently! 🙂

Thanks,
Brad

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
@BRJP1 you are in luck. I've just finished <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">.

It (the "Duckweed Index") uses a floating plant (to take <"CO2 availability out of the equation">) but the <"fertiliser"> and <"deficiency symptoms"> sections are <"applicable to all plants">.

Some plants' leaves look very pale and can see the veins, so I think there is some nutrient missing,

The Hygrophila is showing <"interveinal chlorosis">, one of classic iron (Fe) deficiency symptoms (<"chlorosis in the new leaves">). It also looks like the plants might be magnesium (Mg) deficient as well (interveinal chlorosis in the old leaves). Have a look at: <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?"> the bit about magnesium is at the end of the section.

I could add some Fert and experiment, but I thought I would check in with you guys and get some help after describing and showing the issues. I hope you can provide some basic steps to getting what I have looked better (and healthier!) than they currently do.

That is it, just add a complete fertiliser: <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">.

cheers Darrel

 

[_Maq_]

Iron deficiency is quite a common problem, you're far from the first one. To solve it is not always easy. Iron is a peculiar element. In nature, it's present virtually everywhere, but not all plants are able to uptake iron in all situations. Everything depends on iron solubility, which is usually abysmal, and various species' ability to handle it.
It is essential to know the parameters of your water. If you're using tap water, your water provider should give you basic information, sometimes even more or less complete analysis of your tap water. That's the first step. After that, people around here will provide you with more advice than you'd really like. 🙂

(Edit: I agree with @dw1305 that iron is probably not the only problem in your case. Magnesium and some micronutrients are other possibilities.)

 

[Bradders]

Thank you, @dw1305 and @_Maq_ - I appreciate the insights! (Ill read the duckweed post for sure).

I assume that my Microbe-Lift Plant Fertiliser is not good and that I should move to the one suggested?

Also, will the Fert only help with new growth? i.e. are there any chances of recovering the current plants look or will I have to wait for new growth?

 

[John q]

I assume that my Microbe-Lift Plant Fertiliser is not good

Let's be generous, we've no idea what's in it % wise, the company doesn't reveale this info. What we do know is it lacks nitrogen and phosphate.

I look at it like this... you wouldn't buy a pint of milk without knowing the fat content. 😜

I'd move to a product that at least let's you know what it contains.

 

[ElleDee]

Let's be generous, we've no idea what's in it % wise, the company doesn't reveale this info. What we do know is it lacks nitrogen and phosphate.

I look at it like this... you wouldn't buy a pint of milk without knowing the fat content. 😜

I'd move to a product that at least let's you know what it contains.

I'm not clear what exact microb-lift product is being used here, but they list the guaranteed analysis for their all in one on their website.

Microb-lift is a US company and ought to be following our fertilizer labeling regulations, which includes how much of each plant nutrient. Actually any fertilizer being sold in the US ought to do this, but there are a lot of imported fertilizers in our hobby that skirt the rules.

 

[John q]

I'm not clear what exact microb-lift product is being used here, but they

Thanks for doing the leg work I couldn't find that information.

we've no idea what's in it % wise

Now we know what's in it... I'd choose something else, my tap water contains more nutrients than that. 😆

 

[Bradders]

That is it, just add a complete fertiliser: <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">.

I had a look at @dw1305 suggestion, and the thread. I see there is a 1KG bag, too.

1. I have gravel and fish. Is this (in the right dosage!) going to work and be safe for livestock?
2. I read the thread and it looks like it needs quite at lot of preparation - like distilled water etc. Is that correct?

I obviously want to take the best advice, but please forgive my questions and caution!

 

[PARAGUAY]

Could this fertiliser be one of a few they supply ,possible like Seachem approach.Or heavily fish stocked planted approach ,either way ,probably better and cheaper with a all in one

 

[_Maq_]

are there any chances of recovering the current plants look or will I have to wait for new growth?

Only the new leaves. The old ones won't get fixed no matter what.

 

[Bradders]

Only the new leaves. The old ones won't get fixed no matter what.

Thanks Maq.

Right, time to get a decent fertiliser and start looking after my plants!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Only the new leaves. The old ones won't get fixed no matter what.

What @_Maq_ says for iron (Fe), there are some images and an explanation in <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">.

I'm also going to link in @keef321 thread, <"Cloudy Water Hazy Water and Algae!">, it has <"some fantastic"> before and after photos.

I hope showing this helps. This was my tank at its worse before the iron deficiency was diagnosed and sorted, everything was dying:

and this was it after dosing iron. Note: I had to take the seiryu stone out, and that reduced the hardness a bit.

I read the thread and it looks like it needs quite at lot of preparation - like distilled water etc. Is that correct?

Yes, you need RO, DI or rain-water (at a pinch) to make up your stock solution.

I'm not clear what exact microb-lift product is being used here but they list the guaranteed analysis for their all in one on their website.

That is fantastic, all I can think of is <"Homeopathy"?>. You have to admire their <"chutzpah">. This is the <"Emperors New Clothes">, but with an initial admission that the Emperor is naked.

Now we know what's in it... I'd choose something else, my tap water contains more nutrients than that.

Definitely a leading contender in the <"World's most Expensive water"> contest.


cheers Darrel

 

[Bradders]

Definitely a leading contender in the <"World's most Expensive water"> contest.

View attachment 214018
cheers Darrel

Wow, that's not good!!

Does that mean there are no commercial off the shelf products that are helpful to plant care?

 

[erwin123]

Wow, that's not good!!

Does that mean there are no commercial off the shelf products that are helpful to plant care?

0.10% Nitrogen is shockingly dilute.

Tropica, which is also diluted water, has 13 times the amount of Nitrogen at 1.3% : Tropica Specialised fertiliser - liquid fertiliser for planted tanks - Tropica Aquarium Plants

 

[Bradders]

You don't get a lot of bang for your buck - even with the "better" fertilizer! 🙂

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Does that mean there are no commercial off the shelf products that are helpful to plant care?

There aren't really <"Aquarium fertilisers">, these are just fertilisers with the magic word <"Aquarium"> added, but if you did want to buy an Aquarium one? Then there are options that work, the problem is <"just the cost">. If I was going down this route <"TNC Complete?">

0.10% Nitrogen is shockingly dilute.

Tropica, which is also diluted water, has 13 times the amount of Nitrogen at 1.3% : Tropica Specialised fertiliser - liquid fertiliser for planted tanks - Tropica Aquarium Plants

You don't get a lot of bang for your buck - even with the "better" fertilizer!

<"That is the truth">, there is a cost comparison in the <"IFC calculator">, and it is <"pretty shocking reading">.



cheers Darrel

 

[ElleDee]

Wow, that's not good!!

Does that mean there are no commercial off the shelf products that are helpful to plant care?

Any premixed liquid fertilizer you buy is going to have a lot of water in it, so there is going to be a lot of mark up compared to the dry components. You are primarily paying for the convenience of someone else doing all the math and mixing for you, and I think that's a very sensible service to pay for in a lot of situations.

However that particular product is unusually dilute. I didn't actually look at the values when I posted the link, but my AIO fert is several orders of magnitude more concentrated for some elements, I think. What are the dosing instructions? I'm curious.

 

[Bradders]

Any premixed liquid fertilizer you buy is going to have a lot of water in it, so there is going to be a lot of mark up compared to the dry components. You are primarily paying for the convenience of someone else doing all the math and mixing for you, and I think that's a very sensible service to pay for in a lot of situations.

However that particular product is unusually dilute. I didn't actually look at the values when I posted the link, but my AIO fert is several orders of magnitude more concentrated for some elements, I think. What are the dosing instructions? I'm curious.

5ml per 100 liters initially once to twice per week. Then they say you can double/increase as per need.

 

[John q]

Does that mean there are no commercial off the shelf products that are helpful to plant care?

Any premixed liquid fertilizer you buy is going to have a lot of water in it, so there is going to be a lot of mark up compared to the dry components

Like Darrel and ElleDee mentioned the unfortunate truth is that pre mixed commercial fertilizer is expensive water, mixing your own or buying a non aquarium specific blend is magnitudes of levels cheaper, however, if one wants to buy a pre made fertilizer, that's marketed at planted tanks, for reasons of convenience; pick one that's not been mixed by Richard Turpin 😉
This is probably the best bang for £ in the UK. Tnc complete £11 for 500ml.

Analysis:1.5% N, 0.2% P, 5% K, 0.8% Mg, 0.08% Fe, 0.018% Mn, 0.002% Cu, 0.01% B, 0.01% Zn, 0.001% Mo, EDTA

 

[keef321]

If I was going down this route <"TNC Complete?">

This should do the trick (I’ve used it in the past) if you are not wanting to mix your own, or if you want something stronger there is also APT EI . I currently use this on a high energy / high tech system, and you could reduce the amount of dosing for a low tech. If you still find problems with new growth then I would also add some TNC iron into the mix. A friend of mine who has a low tech planted tank finds this helps him with iron deficiency.