[Tandrews360]

Hello everybody, first post on this forum. About a year ago I attempted to start my first planted fish tank. I bought organic potting mix, took everything out of my fish tank, put the mix on the bottom and capped with my old sand. Slowly but surely most the plants I had died.

All that remains in a few Amazon swords, a plant I do not know but it's a root feeder, and Vallisneria. My light is a 24/7 finnex planted light and I run it with the normal 24/7 mode. I don't have algae problems so from I know, I think the problem is that the sand is to compact not allowing the roots to anchor down and spread. I mean valisneria is supposed to spread like crazy and it hasn't. It's grown pretty long though. Here are some pictures of the plants.

I've tried replanting in other areas but the sand won't hold the plants unless I shove em down deep, and it's not easy. Which is why I think it's the sand that's the problem here.

 

[Frshwtr]

What is your fertilizer regimen? I'm 95% sure that's nutrient deficiency. Amazon swords are also very heavy root feeders. I would get some root tabs for them and trim off all the rot.

 

[Tandrews360]

What is your fertilizer regimen? I'm 95% sure that's nutrient deficiency. Amazon swords are also very heavy root feeders. I would get some root tabs for them and trim off all the rot.

I was using easy green for a bit but stopped because It wasn't helping, I think the sand I used over the organic potting mix is to fine and compact, not allowing the roots to breathe or spread out properly. I plan to get black diamond blasting sand and use that as a cap and then use easy green again. The sand is also hard to plant in due to it being so compact. However how should I got about trimming? Trim off the rot or try to trim it evenly? Or will it just grow back and it doesn't matter?

 

[Frshwtr]

It will grow back. Trim the leaves at the base. The rotting leaves compound issues with waste organics in the water.

In the meantime, get some root tabs and get back on a fertilizer regimen. Consistency is key!

 

[Tandrews360]

It will grow back. Trim the leaves at the base. The rotting leaves compound issues with waste organics in the water.

In the meantime, get some root tabs and get back on a fertilizer regimen. Consistency is key!

Thank you. Hopefully in a weeks time I'll post an update of my plants doing better.

 

[Le duke]

The biggest thing, for me and my plants, is consistency. If you apply a consistent, decent fertilization plan where you meet all of the macro and micro basic needs, the plants will likely adapt to it and do pretty well.

I had a bit of a BBA outbreak a while back; I cut back on my fish feeding by maybe 20%, gradually, and increased my CO2 and fert dosing. My plants are doing better, BBA has dropped off significantly and my fish seem just as healthy as before.