Plant question

[Alan Fluxion]

So I have 2 questions regarding plants...

First... for some reason, my plants seem to have 'pin holes' in the leaves, I don't think it's a deficiency, I dose EI and additional FE+, Co2 is running at aprox 2 bps and is placed half way in the aquarium to be caught by the flow from the filter and spread out, flow seems alright, I can see plants moving around everywhere, light is 1x24w bulb. This is occuring with old leaves and new ones, and different plants, the growth doesn't seem to be stunted but don't look too great either.

Second question... I have e. parvula and it doesn't want to grow runners, and some of the blades turn brown... any suggestions?

Edit: - I should have probably mentioned, I do water changes 1x50% and then 1x90% every week...

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi
Could be Co2 and Potassium deficiency...add some more of both.
hoggie

 

[Alan Fluxion]

Ok, I will add some more co2, and I need to make a new mixture of EFI's so I'll defenitly add some more potassium, should I stop the FE dosing?

Alan

 

[G H Nelson]

You should okay for iron...if your dosing Macro/Micro EI.
Cheers
hoggie

 

[Alan Fluxion]

I understand, and I was wondering why I had to does additional iron if the micro/macros were supposed to suppliment the plants more than then needed...

I have a 60L tank but used the perameters provided for I believe 100L and just does it less... I believe 20ml/45ml instead of 25ml/50ml

 

[G H Nelson]

Do you have a Co2 indicator/Drop checker?

 

[Alan Fluxion]

Yes, I try to keep it at a dark lime green

 

[G H Nelson]

How long has the system been set-up?
Is it heavily planted?

 

[Alan Fluxion]

hmm, dry start Jan - March then added water in March so it's been a few months.

Heavily, not really, maybe in reality it's only 1/4 planted if you put all the plants next to each other, but I have them spread out throughout the entire tank. I can take a picture tonight when I get home.

 

[G H Nelson]

Go with the changes for a few months....see how the plants react.
hoggie

 

[Alan Fluxion]

would it be the same deal with the pervula?

 

[G H Nelson]

Yes
The grass needs cleaned regular to keep it in good condition....use a small gravel cleaner to remove detritus.

Grass can be very slow at getting started......depending what substrate you are using.
hoggie

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Hey alan, you should aim for a light lime green, like the inside of a lime. If its dark green then you will be short of co2 as your plants are telling you 🙂

 

[Alan Fluxion]

@ Hoggie - I believe my substrate is part of the problem, Monado and I've tried it in a few external projects too with the same outcome that everything dies... or it's me... and that's not possible 😉

@ Iain - When I had the Co2 higher, my fish started to float so I had to lower it a tad bit... maybe I'll try raising it again and see what happens

 

[G H Nelson]

More Co2 slightly more surface movement....you need a good gas exchange to keep your fish happy.
You will use more Co2 but that's the consequence of having inhabitants.
hoggie

 

[Alan Fluxion]

When I had the co2 in my reactor it worked great, was a nice lime green and everything was distributed nicely but the inhabitants suffered, always on the surface and breathing heavily.... I need to fix my pump and make it work better

 

[G H Nelson]

Raise your spray bar or lily/exit pipe up a tad.

 

[Alan Fluxion]

I have a cascading filter because my tetra isn't working 100% how it should be...

maybe someone can tell me how to fix this, I bought an additional pump and figured I could do it this way...

Aquarium -> Pump -> Tetra -> Aquarium
or

Aquarium -> Tetra-> Pump -> Aquarium

it's just still not performing how it should imo...

 

[G H Nelson]

Not sure what you mean?
Can upload a few pictures
hoggie

 

[Alan Fluxion]

ugh how to explain it...

I have a tetratec ex700 that has a low flow rate, what I want to do is add an inline external pump (aquael mk-800)