Plant Problem

[DR.V]

lights are 4X55W white light
substrate is a natural gravel only
ferts is sera liquid fert

Does that help ??

[duck]

Nitrate?
Phosphate?
Does your water come out of the tap @6.5 PH.
How long do you leave the light's on for?
Have you still got the carbon?
You might want to start some diyCO2for the moment.

[DR.V]

havent try to test the nitrate and phosphate ... what are these things do anyway ?? isnt this thing comes from fish waste ?? My tap water is around 7.2-7.5 i use a little bit of pH down and the rest is the driftwood. The lights are on for 10 hours a day.
Yes, i still have some carbon in the sump to help the water crystal clear. Coz i got lots of driftwood, the water turns a bit darker without carbon .

Thanks for your info duck

[DR.V]

I tried DIY CO2 long time ago, but didnt work well
I think my tank is too big for a DIY CO2 ...
I used to use a air stone, and it turn slimmy every
day, so i had to clean them everyday.

[dreamer]

liquid fert is good ...but root tabs work better for this kind of plant. cheap source of iron is clay ....go dig somewhere out in your backyard

[DR.V]

clay ???? how about i put some clay pot inside the tank ???
Terracota pot , i think they called...

[kalebjarrod]

cheap source of iron is clay ....go dig somewhere out in your backyard

you are so close to being right without being right

clay is not a good source of Iron, it only has the potenial to hold the iron and then relaise it when nessecary

it has what is called a excellent cation exchange capacity

other things that have a great CEC are kitty litter (what i use) and eco complete (what duck is using)

I used to use a air stone, and it turn slimmy every
day, so i had to clean them everyday.

airstones do get clogged daily, you could try a few things

1. a small power head and simple insert the airline from your DIY CO2 reactors (this is really inefficient as you lose alot of the co2 quickly)

2. Make a diffuser to stick on the powerhead

3. buy a reactor http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/prod582.htm

I agree with the root tabs idea, i use a homebrand one every 2 months

[rtraher]

What is the homemade brand of root tab you use, is it diy? I'd be interested in the recipe.

cheers
Russel

[duck]

clay ....go dig somewhere out in your backyard

And the potential to wipe out your tank,And a BIG mess.

Plant's basicly need nitrate and phosphate.

DIY CO2 should be ok.

Not to hijack the thread Just to let you know that i just gave myself green water :But that another story on it's own

[dreamer]

im not saying put a ton of clay in the tank, make some clay balls and bury it near the root. i have no experience with this but many have suggested that clay is good source of iron in many planted tank forums.

when i still have planted tank i used those pellet type of ferts from bunnings/supermarket i put about 1 tsp near root for my sword plants and they grow like crazy.

just need to remember these sword plants absorb nutrients from root