plant deficiency - help

timwag2001 · 11-02-2009, 02:37 AM

i have some plants that show signs of calcium deficiency. i dont understand why though. here are my parameters

55g
4wpg
ei dosing kno3, kh2po4, csm+b
kh 2.5d
gh 10d
pressurized co2 with a yellow green drop checker
ph 6.2 - 6.3

i get plants that have a distorted growth on the new growth of the plants.

could use some help please.

timwag2001 · 11-02-2009, 02:40 AM

oh. the plants that its most noticeable in is alternanthera reneikii and rotalla indica

timwag2001 · 11-02-2009, 05:42 PM

i cant find my camera right now in the this mess i call my apartment but i found a pic that is identical to my problem online
http://www.defblog.se/picture/1542.html

anyone?

timwag2001 · 11-02-2009, 10:15 PM

is it because i'm not using gh booster? do i need gh booster when my gh is 10?

Wasserpest · 11-02-2009, 11:19 PM

It's possible... maybe the Ca/Mg ratio is out of whack for some reason. Do you have access to local water reports, or some way to get it tested?

One thing you could try is to reduce the light a bit. Either by turning off some, reducing the period, or raising it up above the tank. 4W/gal is a lot, especially if it is efficient T5 or PC light with good reflectors.

Adding some GH booster and looking at the results might be another option.

timwag2001 · 11-02-2009, 11:29 PM

i have well water so there is no report. my lights are already about 4" over the tank and for some reason i cant get ground cover to grow for me with 3wpg. so i went to 4 and everything is growing fine. i did have the same problem one time with my alternanthera one time when i was using 2 wpg so i doubt its the light.

Ariel301 · 11-03-2009, 01:35 AM

If you can take a sample of your tap water in to an LFS that deals with saltwater, they can probably test the calcium level for you.

timwag2001 · 11-03-2009, 01:37 AM

what an awesome idea.
thanks! i'll try that

sewingalot · 11-03-2009, 01:47 AM

I was having similar issues recently: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...cess-what.html How are you diffusing the co2? My plant growth is improving after changing from an inline to a powerhead diffuser.

timwag2001 · 11-03-2009, 01:54 AM

i have a rex griggs diy style reactor

timwag2001 · 11-03-2009, 03:57 AM

boron deficiency maybe? i have hygro corymbosa that shows signs of potassium deficiency and the other plants show signs of calcium deficiency.
http://www.finostrom.com.gr/images/a...lizers/map.htm

am i reaching too far?

**Jeff5614** · 11-03-2009, 08:19 AM

I would add some GH booster just to see if that helps but I'm betting it's CO2 related no matter what color your drop checker. That's a lot of light so I'd either cut back on the light or try misting CO2 instead of using a reactor. If it were me I'd make sure I have good flow throughout the tank, cut back on light by half, be sure I'm consistent with my ferts. If that doesn't fix it I'd find go the misting route. But once again I think you're CO2 demand is more than you can supply with that amount of light.

timwag2001 · 11-03-2009, 12:33 PM

why would misting be better than a reactor?

Wasserpest · 11-03-2009, 04:19 PM

Some folks think the mist is superior to the 100% diffusion in an inline reactor. I am not one of them.

Sometimes you get better CO2 distribution with a powerhead (in addition to your regular filtration). Better circulation = more CO2 getting to plants.

However, you can't blame everything on CO2. I think before you change around your CO2 injection, it would be worth doing some testing and perhaps adding some GH booster.

timwag2001 · 11-03-2009, 04:44 PM

i have a emeim 2026 (i think) and a powerhead in the tank for circulation.

i'm willing to up my co2 i guess even though its yellowish already, if anyone else really thinks its a good idea.

i ordered some gh booster figured it cant hurt to try it.

could it be lack of calcium in my substrate?

11-02-2009, 02:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	plant deficiency - help i have some plants that show signs of calcium deficiency. i dont understand why though. here are my parameters 55g 4wpg ei dosing kno3, kh2po4, csm+b kh 2.5d gh 10d pressurized co2 with a yellow green drop checker ph 6.2 - 6.3 i get plants that have a distorted growth on the new growth of the plants. could use some help please.

11-02-2009, 11:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wasserpest Born to be mild (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 10,578	It's possible... maybe the Ca/Mg ratio is out of whack for some reason. Do you have access to local water reports, or some way to get it tested? One thing you could try is to reduce the light a bit. Either by turning off some, reducing the period, or raising it up above the tank. 4W/gal is a lot, especially if it is efficient T5 or PC light with good reflectors. Adding some GH booster and looking at the results might be another option. __________________ All my tanks Cheap Autodosing Cheap Water Change Cheap Filter Acrylic Filter Pipes The Wasser-Controller

11-03-2009, 04:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
Wasserpest Born to be mild (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 10,578	Some folks think the mist is superior to the 100% diffusion in an inline reactor. I am not one of them. Sometimes you get better CO2 distribution with a powerhead (in addition to your regular filtration). Better circulation = more CO2 getting to plants. However, you can't blame everything on CO2. I think before you change around your CO2 injection, it would be worth doing some testing and perhaps adding some GH booster. __________________ All my tanks Cheap Autodosing Cheap Water Change Cheap Filter Acrylic Filter Pipes The Wasser-Controller

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11-02-2009, 02:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	oh. the plants that its most noticeable in is alternanthera reneikii and rotalla indica

11-02-2009, 05:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	i cant find my camera right now in the this mess i call my apartment but i found a pic that is identical to my problem online http://www.defblog.se/picture/1542.html anyone?

11-02-2009, 10:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	is it because i'm not using gh booster? do i need gh booster when my gh is 10?

11-02-2009, 11:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	i have well water so there is no report. my lights are already about 4" over the tank and for some reason i cant get ground cover to grow for me with 3wpg. so i went to 4 and everything is growing fine. i did have the same problem one time with my alternanthera one time when i was using 2 wpg so i doubt its the light.

11-03-2009, 01:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ariel301 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kingman, Arizona Posts: 376	If you can take a sample of your tap water in to an LFS that deals with saltwater, they can probably test the calcium level for you.

11-03-2009, 01:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	what an awesome idea. thanks! i'll try that

11-03-2009, 01:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
sewingalot Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (59/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 2,975	I was having similar issues recently: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/pl...cess-what.html How are you diffusing the co2? My plant growth is improving after changing from an inline to a powerhead diffuser.

11-03-2009, 01:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	i have a rex griggs diy style reactor

11-03-2009, 03:57 AM	#11 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	boron deficiency maybe? i have hygro corymbosa that shows signs of potassium deficiency and the other plants show signs of calcium deficiency. http://www.finostrom.com.gr/images/a...lizers/map.htm am i reaching too far?

11-03-2009, 08:19 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jeff5614 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: TN Posts: 622	I would add some GH booster just to see if that helps but I'm betting it's CO2 related no matter what color your drop checker. That's a lot of light so I'd either cut back on the light or try misting CO2 instead of using a reactor. If it were me I'd make sure I have good flow throughout the tank, cut back on light by half, be sure I'm consistent with my ferts. If that doesn't fix it I'd find go the misting route. But once again I think you're CO2 demand is more than you can supply with that amount of light.

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11-03-2009, 12:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	why would misting be better than a reactor?

11-03-2009, 04:44 PM	#15 (permalink)
timwag2001 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: upton MA Posts: 315	i have a emeim 2026 (i think) and a powerhead in the tank for circulation. i'm willing to up my co2 i guess even though its yellowish already, if anyone else really thinks its a good idea. i ordered some gh booster figured it cant hurt to try it. could it be lack of calcium in my substrate?