Newbie Plant Help

[Matty Preston]

Hi,
I'm a newbie in aquariums and I'm seeking some advice on planted tanks!

My plants never do too well, I dose tropica plant growth specialized and keep good water conditions.

My specs:
Tank: Juwel Trigon 190
Lighting: 2x T8
I run lights for 8 hours per day


As you can see from the photos below, my plants aren't very well. Most of the plants I buy either die or never grow.
I have substrate just below the surface of the gravel.






My question is, what do am i doing wrong!
Is my lighting in-adequate?


Thankyou

-Matty,16,England

 

[nickmcmechan]

How are you feeding the plants?

 

[Matty Preston]

How are you feeding the plants?

I'm using liquid ferts

 

[nickmcmechan]

I'm using liquid ferts

Thanks, which product(s)?

 

[Martin in Holland]

Try to lower your lighting period, 6 hours should be enough for low tech. As soon as light come on, plants will ask for CO2 so if you are not injecting CO2 there is only a limit amount of CO2 in the water and thus will run out of fast.

 

[Matty Preston]

Thanks, which product(s)?

Tropica plant growth specialised[DOUBLEPOST=1408604446][/DOUBLEPOST]

Try to lower your lighting period, 6 hours should be enough for low tech. As soon as light come on, plants will ask for CO2 so if you are not injecting CO2 there is only a limit amount of CO2 in the water and thus will run out of fast.

Okay 🙂 I've bought a soda stream co2 cannister and I have ordered an adaptor and a regulator, will this help?

 

[Martin in Holland]

Of course...every CO2 injection will help

 

[Rıza Sırman]

You can use stick fertilizers in the substrate. This will help too

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I think both light and fertilsers should be OK, I'm not a CO2 user myself and I wouldn't go down that route if all you want is a planted tank.

Some of your plants are being eaten/pulled at by your goldfish, but plants like Anubias and Java Fern should be OK and not eaten. I've got spare plants you can have.

cheers Darrel

 

[Martin in Holland]

Indeed...when I look at your pictures more closely, I see that hey are being eaten. Goldfish like some green in their diet.