Finally- Something is Growing

MarkM · 06-14-2013, 11:53 AM

I have attempted growing plants more times than I can count and failed every time, guess I don't have a green thumb. The last 3 times have been low tech/low light/ no CO2.

I had upgraded to 2*T5HO bulbs @6700k and thought that was correct after review of the online charts. My plants melted away. Finally I bought a par meter and determined I had too much light even with CO2. Removed one of the bulbs and the par value was down to mid high range. Plants still did not respond. Bought 2 T5NO bulbs and still no plants. About 3 weeks ago I removed one of the T5NO bulbs and began seeing growth a week later. (I have a 50 gal tank that is 18" high)

Stopped last night and bought a half dozen more plants as I was down to two bulbs and 2 others.

Maybe this time?

Mark

aja31 · 06-14-2013, 12:10 PM

What is your substrate? and do you use any root tabs/fertilizers?

zoo minsi · 06-14-2013, 04:17 PM

how many watts are the bulbs and what type plants are you trying to grow. Not all plants are the same. Some have issues being transplanted, some grow super slow, some fast. I wish you luck but a bit more info would help a lot. Ive even had two of the same plant just to have one grow fantastic while the other did nothing for 5-6 months before it got happy.

MamaFish · 06-14-2013, 04:48 PM

I have a 20 in high tank and using 2 T5NO gives me low light. I would make sure you are choosing the correct plants for the type of tank you want (the sticky here is very useful) and that you're either dosing the correct ferts or have a nutrient rich substrate ( i.e. inert w/ root tabs or "dirted").
One T5NO seems too low imo.

bpb · 06-15-2013, 03:33 PM

I had the opposite experience. When I was running 2T5NO bulbs on my 75 gallon I couldn't get anything to grow. Not even java fern.

I upgraded to 2T5HO on the tank with no co2 and suddenly growth exploded. My ludwigia is reaching the surface every couple weeks and he java fern is producing new leaves weekly we well.

MarkM · 06-17-2013, 05:20 PM

Some more information.
I have substrate from aquarium plants . com which is purported to be plant friendly. I am using the PPS recipe of micro and macro ingredients but dosing once a week rather than once a day recommended for use with CO2 injection. In terms of light I measured my par value levels at six points at the bottom of my tank and the six readings were more similar than I expected, all between 17-24. The "book" recommends low light as 15-30 micromols so I believe I am where I want to be.

I do not know all of my plant names, yet. I have a couple of stems of whisteria, 2 x anubias, 1 java fern, and two bulbs which I forget the name of.

The bulbs were added with leaves about 16" high but they melted away and there was no visible signs of life for about six months, then two weeks ago they both began to sprout. Leaves from both bulbs are about 3" high now. One anubias has grown a new leaf within the past two weeks. The java fern, one of the anubias, and the whistera are only holding.

My results do not seem positive, but, this is the first indication of success I have seen in six or seven attempts over the past three years.
thanks, Mark

06-14-2013, 11:53 AM	#1
MarkM Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 36	Finally- Something is Growing I have attempted growing plants more times than I can count and failed every time, guess I don't have a green thumb. The last 3 times have been low tech/low light/ no CO2. I had upgraded to 2*T5HO bulbs @6700k and thought that was correct after review of the online charts. My plants melted away. Finally I bought a par meter and determined I had too much light even with CO2. Removed one of the bulbs and the par value was down to mid high range. Plants still did not respond. Bought 2 T5NO bulbs and still no plants. About 3 weeks ago I removed one of the T5NO bulbs and began seeing growth a week later. (I have a 50 gal tank that is 18" high) Stopped last night and bought a half dozen more plants as I was down to two bulbs and 2 others. Maybe this time? Mark

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06-14-2013, 12:10 PM	#2
aja31 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Western PA Posts: 30	What is your substrate? and do you use any root tabs/fertilizers?

06-14-2013, 04:17 PM	#3
zoo minsi Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: canton,michigan Posts: 223	how many watts are the bulbs and what type plants are you trying to grow. Not all plants are the same. Some have issues being transplanted, some grow super slow, some fast. I wish you luck but a bit more info would help a lot. Ive even had two of the same plant just to have one grow fantastic while the other did nothing for 5-6 months before it got happy.

06-14-2013, 04:48 PM	#4
MamaFish Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 184	I have a 20 in high tank and using 2 T5NO gives me low light. I would make sure you are choosing the correct plants for the type of tank you want (the sticky here is very useful) and that you're either dosing the correct ferts or have a nutrient rich substrate ( i.e. inert w/ root tabs or "dirted"). One T5NO seems too low imo.

06-15-2013, 03:33 PM	#5
bpb Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 598	I had the opposite experience. When I was running 2T5NO bulbs on my 75 gallon I couldn't get anything to grow. Not even java fern. I upgraded to 2T5HO on the tank with no co2 and suddenly growth exploded. My ludwigia is reaching the surface every couple weeks and he java fern is producing new leaves weekly we well.

06-17-2013, 05:20 PM	#6
MarkM Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 36	Some more information. I have substrate from aquarium plants . com which is purported to be plant friendly. I am using the PPS recipe of micro and macro ingredients but dosing once a week rather than once a day recommended for use with CO2 injection. In terms of light I measured my par value levels at six points at the bottom of my tank and the six readings were more similar than I expected, all between 17-24. The "book" recommends low light as 15-30 micromols so I believe I am where I want to be. I do not know all of my plant names, yet. I have a couple of stems of whisteria, 2 x anubias, 1 java fern, and two bulbs which I forget the name of. The bulbs were added with leaves about 16" high but they melted away and there was no visible signs of life for about six months, then two weeks ago they both began to sprout. Leaves from both bulbs are about 3" high now. One anubias has grown a new leaf within the past two weeks. The java fern, one of the anubias, and the whistera are only holding. My results do not seem positive, but, this is the first indication of success I have seen in six or seven attempts over the past three years. thanks, Mark