[agdavis]

ok guys --
i recently put some microswords in my 6 gal nano. ever since i put them in, they are growing slowly (even creeping, not just growing straight up), but they are turning yellow and becoming somewhat see-through - i can actually see the cell walls just by looking at them. whats going on here?

The tank is about a month old, and here are my 'stats' for it.

4 silver tips, 2 neons

1.3 wpg (standard T5 fluorescent)
Fluorite substrate
10mL of Florapride fertilizer per week with weekly 30% water change.

i condition my tap water, but i have no idea what the hardness or pH of my water is...could that make a difference? (relative newbie at plant tanks)

any thoughts guys?

thanks!

 

[Rex Grigg]

I would hazard a guess that it's a total lack of any major nutrients.

Low light levels could also be the problem as your intensity is very low at that light level.

 

[Hoppy]

I think you would be more satisfied with anubias, ferns, mosses and maybe crypts. But, you will need complete fertilizing whatever you try to grow. The best deal on them is at http://www.gregwatson.com/DryAquaticFertilizers.asp, where you should buy KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM+B and dose about 1/16 tsp of KNO3 once a week, about a tenth of that of KH2PO4 once a week, and the same amount of CSM+B once a week. It would be easier to buy Seachem's Flourish, Flourish Nitrogen, Flourish Phosphate, and while you are at it, Flourish Excel. Those are liquids which would be easier to dose for such a small tank.

 

[magicmagni]

Yeah I think you need more light. 1.8 to 2.5wpg is good without Co2 injection. Over that you want Co2.

BTW check out the low tech forum. It is more tailored to your type of tank-

Also may want to search "Diana Walstad method". She wrote a book on low tech tanks and came up with a very good extremely easy low tech approach that involves using soil under plain gravel to grow plants. I have tried myself and have to admit I've had great success with it and it's so easy. Even easier then fish only tanks that I have had in the past.

 

[agdavis]

thanks guys! so is it very important to fertilize with small tanks?

 

[magicmagni]

The size of the tank is irrelevant. Plants don't know the difference.

The dominant factor is the amount of light. It drives the demand of nutrients. More light= more nutrients to support growth.

 

[badren]

All correct, your specific symptoms sound like Iron or potassium deficiency could be the most likely culprit. But without a comprehensive fertilization plan how you gonna know?