Brown plants??

B

boombustar

New Fish
#1
Oct 22, 2002
2
0
0
#1
i've had my plants in my tank for a while now...but after like...2 weeks...it started to turn brown...it looks like garbage or something.  my brother knows a lot more than me when it comes to plants...and he says im keeping my light on for too long. is this true??

just to know...i have a 37 gallon eclipse tank with florecent lights...and i keep my lights on for a bout 8 hours per day.  and i have 12 bucked toothed tetras...thanx
 

G

geoffgarcia2

Large Fish
#2
Oct 22, 2002
347
0
0
#2
not sure exactly what you mean here...
do your plants look like they are dissolving? if so then it could be that your tank water is to hot. whats the temp at?
8hours is not to long, actually its very short. You want to run your lights 10hours a day minimum, and 12 hours a day maximum.
What I do (and a lot of others I've talked to) is run your lights on a time in two 6 hour intervals with an hour inbetween them.
That hour break messes up the algae photosynthis process but not the plants. So you'll get better plant growth and less algae growth, you could also split it up into three 4hour intervals with 45 minutes between each. but I wouldn't press more than that.
Best of luck
Geoff
 

R

ronrca

Guest
#4
#4

Do you add any "fertilzer" like iron? How much lighting do you have (total watts)? What kind of plants? Have you just added the plants 2 weeks ago?

Like mentioned before, plants need at least 10 hours of light a day however there are more factors the contribute to the dying of plants for example nutrients, not enough light etc. Newly planted plants also take time to root and also will seem like they are dying. Depending on the plant, it can take up to 2-3 weeks. The type of plant also makes a difference. Some plants require low light (1-2 Watts/gallon) while others high light (3-4 Watts/gallon).

I hope this helps.  *thumbsupsmiley*
 

Cackett

Cackett

Large Fish
#5
Oct 22, 2002
406
0
0
43
Basingstoke, hants , UK
#5
i added a few last night  *twirlysmiley* the problem i have and still getting is that after i have put the plants in a week later or maybe 2. some of the leaves have deid and the plant stalks seem to have gone limp and soft also (when removed from walter the leave just give way and is goo..) i think this is where the weight is wraped around the stalks but at this point they just have snapped and the top flots off.
???
 

R

ronrca

Guest
#6
#6

Do you use any fertilizer? Like mentioned before, plants kind of die off in the first week or so depending on the plant and conditions. What is your substrate composed of? Just gravel or also laterite or flourite?
 

B

boombustar

New Fish
#7
Oct 22, 2002
2
0
0
#7
*celebratesmiley*
very cool...thanks for the information....and my temp is at 85....and the plants arent disolving...juss changing color.  i'll let you know what happens in a week or so....maybe it'll clear up...and im not sure how many watts im giving out...i'll check when i get home...and i'll reply again...
Thanks much... *thumbsupsmiley*
 

O

Oscardude

Small Fish
#9
Oct 22, 2002
41
0
0
#9
85 is a little hot!  turn it down to like 79 for most tropical fish. And try root tabs or some kind of fertalizer you put under the gravel.  Do you know the names of you plants?  Plants can be a pain at first until you know which kinds grow the way you want.
 

R

ronrca

Guest
#10
#10

My tank is around 82-86 most of the time. I have no problems with the plants turning brown. I did but that was because the lack of mineral/nutrients like iron. The substrate is also important and I also use root tabs. I dont think temperature has much to do with it less it is really hot.
 

R

ronrca

Guest
#13
#13

Yea, that is pretty hot. Im believe that some plants withered away however most plants will do good between 75-86. Algae actually does not really have a temperature rating like plants. You will find algae in any temperature (except at the extremes maybe). Blue/green (which is a bacteria) get be found in very hot temps like natural hot springs. Therefore, you can not really get rid of algae. In conditions ideal for plants, algae will strive also. There are some many types of algae and every strain has different characteristics.
 

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