plant care

[Pureace]

Hi everyone

I've had my planted tank up and running for about a year now. It's a 150L setup with a Fluval U3 pump and my fish are doing great. I've got a good routine going with regular water tests, changes, and I'm confident I've got the fish care under control.

However, I've been struggling to get anything but Java Ferns to thrive. I've tried other plants like Zoster Swords and Anubias nana, but they just didn't make it. I've had to remove them, which was a shame.

I'd love to add some variety to my tank, but I'm not sure what's going on. Is it something to do with my water parameters? I test the water weekly with my aquarium lab kit and I've also got an air pump in there, which my danios love. The substrate is sand over a layer of Tetra Active. Am I missing something? Any ideas why Java Ferns are the only ones doing well?

Thanks

[belleora]

I've been thinking about your plant struggles, and I'm wondering if lighting might be the culprit, especially since your tank is quite tall. You don't necessarily need a fancy plant light, but something that can penetrate the water would be beneficial for some plants. Java ferns are great because they don't require much in terms of lighting or extra fertilizers, making them perfect for beginners, but Anubias nana doesn't need high light either, so that's not the issue.

Zorchzon swords can be a bit finicky, often requiring root tabs as they're greedy root feeders. However, you mentioned your tank has a layer of planted substrate, which is odd, since that should provide the necessary nutrients. I've been fortunate with my planted tanks and haven't had to delve too deep into lighting and fertilizers, but luckily, we have experts here who can offer more insight.

If you could share the type of light you're using and your water parameters, specifically the GH and KH levels, I'm sure someone like @willie32 or @starlord could provide more detailed advice. I highly recommend checking out their journal threads for inspiration – they're a great resource.

[boomer]

I'm inclined to agree that lighting might be the culprit. To better understand the situation, could you please provide some specifics about your lighting setup, such as the type, spectrum, and any other relevant details?

I took a look at the Tetra website to learn more about their "Tetra Active Substrate" – not "Natuflake," I assume that was a typo – and I have to say, I wasn't impressed. Their claims about promoting beneficial bacteria and water flow are vague, and I couldn't find any concrete information about the substrate's composition. My experience with these types of products is that they often don't live up to the hype. I used Flourite in the past, and I found it to be largely ineffective.

This brings me to my next point: fertilization. Are you using any fertilizers in your tank? I've found that Zorchzon swords respond well to substrate tabs, such as Seachem's Flourish Tabs. Placing one of these tabs near the plant's roots and replacing it every three to four months can make a significant difference.

[Pureace]

Thanks for the advice, both of you. I've been using an LED light, but to be honest, I've had it for so long I've forgotten the specifics - it was originally used on a smaller tank. It does have different settings, including blue and white light, but maybe it's just not powerful enough for my current tank. I've got it attached with suction cups under the lid since I don't have a proper light fitting.

I've never actually tried using root tabs before, so any recommendations for a good brand would be really helpful.