Plants dying, I need help :(

[CandleMaker]

Hi everyone I am new to this forum since I am a new owner of a 20 gallon tank. Upon keeping up with the tank which was given to me by a friend I read that the proper pH should be around 7, this was a bother to me since everytime I checked it was 6. This got me nervous so I bought a buffer for the water, it's called Neutral Regulator By SeaChem. The guy behind the counter told me it might not be good for my plants meanwhile another person told me that phosphate is good for plants. Either way all my plants are dying, they are melting away, even after I did like a 70% water change. Someone help me!!!

[HybridHerp]

let me say this, do not touch your ph, having a stable ph is better than having a ph that is changing and fluctuating

as far as your plants go, the fact you are playing with the ph might be harming them, but we need to know more about your tank before saying anything concrete

1. how long has the tank been set up/is your tank fully cycled/what size tank is it (give dimensions if at all possible)?
2. what is the substrate and how deep is it?
3. what is the lighting and how long are you keeping it on for?
4. what ferts are you using and are you using co2?
5. what fish are in the tank?
6. what plants are you trying to keep?

[CandleMaker]

The tank is 20 gallons rectangular shaped. I have 6 tetras, one Molly,one platy, a red tailed shark and one pleco, all of them are no bigger than an inch, I have about 6-8 java ferns, and 2 purple-green plants and one other small plant. I have a filter and a water heater in it, the substrate is for fresh water or so said the bags, it is about 1.5 inches deep. I do a .25 change once a week, there is no Co2 diffuser, I use you that liquid co2 sparingly. I put The light on for 8 hours max and I believe it's a lEd tube

[HybridHerp]

Personally, I'd say that your substrate is too shallow
What size is the gravel though? I am assuming that it probably isn't right for a planted tank
Could you post pics of everything?

[gordonrichards]

Are you adding any fertilizers?

You don't have high light, enough nutrients for plants or enough plants to require the use of liquid carbon.

-Gordon

[CandleMaker]

I will post pics when I get home from work, thank you so much!!

[CandleMaker]

[CandleMaker]

Originally Posted by gordonrichards

Are you adding any fertilizers?

You don't have high light, enough nutrients for plants or enough plants to require the use of liquid carbon.

-Gordon

I don't even know what high light is, and the liquid carbon doesnt have any directions as to how often to us it or how many plants to use it for.

[JasonG75]

You probably need to get some ROOT TABS, pill like that you place near the plant so the roots get nutrients.

What is the BULB that you're using?

[ryann]

Your tank doesn't have enough light to require the use of liquid carbon so you can stop using it at least for now. That is what Gordon was trying to say. What is the wattage of your light?

I know this post is about your plants but you could run into trouble with your fish stocking. Depending what kind of pleco it is it could get way too big for your tank. Common plecos can get up to a foot long which is way too big for your tank. Red tailed sharks also get pretty big (usually around 6 inches I believe) so you need to consider whether or not you will have room for it when it gets to full size. I know they are only an inch now but you need to consider when they get full size.

Also, I agree that you need more substrate, maybe something a little more natural looking too.

[JasonG75]

Originally Posted by ryann

Common plecos can get up to a foot long which is way too big for your tank.

Hope this helps

[CandleMaker]

The light reads 15W and says full daylight spectrum

This pleco is real small now, the smallest fish I have. I plan on getting another tank (bigger, once I gain enough knowledge to take care of my 20 gallon first) because this is definitely something I am in love with.

So we agree I need more substrate and more natural looking colors?

As for JasonG75, Root Tabs? I live literally less than 2-3 blocks from a FISHTOWN USA, is there a possibility of any bad side effects to the fish from them?

Does anyone know if the neutral regulator will ever leave the plants internally and restore to normal health? I used it only once, prior to the plants were healthy, real healthy looking

[CandleMaker]

Originally Posted by JasonG75

Hope this helps

Yea I saw them at FISHTOWN, are there any types that don't grow bigger than a few inches? This tank was given to me about a month ago, the pleco had already been part of the tank, and he's really small, 3/4 of an inch at most.

[JasonG75]

Also appears you have a "Purple Waffle" in there which is NOT Aquatic.

Java ferns DO not get buried, they get attached (with fishing line or needle thread) to Driftwood

[JasonG75]

Originally Posted by CandleMaker

The light reads 15W and says full daylight spectrum

1. This pleco is real small now, the smallest fish I have. I plan on getting another tank.

2. As for JasonG75, Root Tabs? I live literally less than 2-3 blocks from a FISHTOWN USA, is there a possibility of any bad side effects to the fish from them?

3. Does anyone know if the neutral regulator will ever leave the plants internally and restore to normal health? I used it only once, prior to the plants were healthy, real healthy looking

1. Take it back and get a Bristlenose Pleco..They stay small.
2. None at all.
3. Stop playing with the pH. Do you have a liquid Test Kit (water-parameter kit for Freshwater) NOT Strips. If not and you are serious GET ONE. pH of 7 is fine, 6.5 FINE..What is your pH out of the Tap?