Hi Folks,
I need help. I have an established planted tank with CO2 injection and custom build LED lighting. I have posted elsewhere on UKAPS about problems with E. bleheri. I am in the process of re-planting some areas of my tank. And that's because I've removed several plants because they were in a poor condition. I cannot get my head around the fact that some of my plants flourish while others do badly. I have so-called easy/average plants, mostly Echinodorus species/varieties.
Recently, I replaced an ailing E. bleheri with another E. bleheri. It got off to a great start producing a new leaf almost every day. Now, a few weeks later, its growth is almost non-existent. It is dark green and some BBA is starting to appear on the leaf edges. It has a Seachem Flourish Tab at its base and I have been adding Flourish Comprehensive to the water column every two to three days. CO2 is typically around 25ppm after stabilization. I have good water circulation - courtesy of a circulation streamer.
OK, that's the current setup. I may be clutching at straws here but I am wondering if the problem lies with the substrate. I have Tetra Complete topped with JBL Manado. Is it possible that something is amiss in the substrate? Pockets of rotting/anaerobic substrate in which the roots cannot grow? Insufficient aeration? How do I know if the substrate is in good health? Are there any simple tests that I can do to indicate problems down there in that invisible world? The equivalent of a soil test kit comes to mind.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
JPC
I need help. I have an established planted tank with CO2 injection and custom build LED lighting. I have posted elsewhere on UKAPS about problems with E. bleheri. I am in the process of re-planting some areas of my tank. And that's because I've removed several plants because they were in a poor condition. I cannot get my head around the fact that some of my plants flourish while others do badly. I have so-called easy/average plants, mostly Echinodorus species/varieties.
Recently, I replaced an ailing E. bleheri with another E. bleheri. It got off to a great start producing a new leaf almost every day. Now, a few weeks later, its growth is almost non-existent. It is dark green and some BBA is starting to appear on the leaf edges. It has a Seachem Flourish Tab at its base and I have been adding Flourish Comprehensive to the water column every two to three days. CO2 is typically around 25ppm after stabilization. I have good water circulation - courtesy of a circulation streamer.
OK, that's the current setup. I may be clutching at straws here but I am wondering if the problem lies with the substrate. I have Tetra Complete topped with JBL Manado. Is it possible that something is amiss in the substrate? Pockets of rotting/anaerobic substrate in which the roots cannot grow? Insufficient aeration? How do I know if the substrate is in good health? Are there any simple tests that I can do to indicate problems down there in that invisible world? The equivalent of a soil test kit comes to mind.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
JPC