Wow

[Charles]

In a 55G tank I used RUGF and also added a couple airstones while I
had a couple goldfish in there. Plants were doing poorly, a sword
plant growing smaller and smaller, anubius covered with algae, java
fern slowly dying.

I added a new light fixture, one split with 6400 and 10,000 degree
bulbs, algae went wild.

So, I changed to a canister filter, took out the goldfish, just a few
guppies in there now. Took out the air stones. Started adding
Flourish Excel.

Plants, for the most part, are doing much better. Ceratophylum
doesn't look all that good, but what is amazing, the algae is going
away.

Thanks to Richard and Diana!

[Charles]

On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:58:28 GMT, Eric > wrote:

>On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:09:52 -0500, Charles wrote
>(in article >):
>
>> In a 55G tank I used RUGF and also added a couple airstones while I
>> had a couple goldfish in there. Plants were doing poorly, a sword
>> plant growing smaller and smaller, anubius covered with algae, java
>> fern slowly dying.
>
>Was it RUGF over the whole area of the tank floor? If so I think your roots
>were overly oxygenated and the plants grew too much root and not enough
>leaves. I don't know why this would have affected the Java fern though.
>
>> I added a new light fixture, one split with 6400 and 10,000 degree
>> bulbs, algae went wild.
>
>No wonder, plants like lights more toward the red end of the spectrum.
>
>
>-E
>
The Java fern is a bit of a puzzle, it has never done well in any of
my tanks. This one is now the best, I hope it keeps going.

The 10K bulb would not have been my choice, it came with the new
fixture, but I am coming to like it, now all the other tanks look too
yellow.

[Mister Gardener]

On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 06:11:13 GMT, Charles >
wrote:

>On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:58:28 GMT, Eric > wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:09:52 -0500, Charles wrote
>>(in article >):
>>
>>> In a 55G tank I used RUGF and also added a couple airstones while I
>>> had a couple goldfish in there. Plants were doing poorly, a sword
>>> plant growing smaller and smaller, anubius covered with algae, java
>>> fern slowly dying.
>>
>>Was it RUGF over the whole area of the tank floor? If so I think your roots
>>were overly oxygenated and the plants grew too much root and not enough
>>leaves.

I've been watching an Amazon sword plant at my LFS for a few weeks, I
really need to learn to identify the different kinds of echinodorus.
Live plants rarely last that long in his tanks, they are sold as
quickly as feeder guppies and I have to catch him on the day after a
new shipment to get the good stuff. This plant I've been watching is
absolutely beautiful, the greens are deep, the reds are full - the
leaves are only about six inches, it's got plenty of growing to do. I
have not been able to figure out why it hasn't been sold, and at the
same time I've been trying to figure out where I would put it if I
bought it. Yesterday, I just had to have it. I'll worry about where to
put it tomorrow, which is now today. When Vance lifted the plant from
the tank he commented on the heavy roots, (it's potted, Vance, that's
what you're feeling), but then he kept lifting and lifting and the
thick, white roots kept on coming - no kidding, some of these luscious
roots are ten inches long. His comment, "now who says you can't grow
plants with an undergravel filter." "Well, your UGF sure grows great
roots." I'm probably going to remove the pot and trim back the roots
by a third, but it's still going to require some care and time to get
all those roots going in the right direction. I'm looking forward to
watching the top growth shift into higher gear once it gets settled in
my tank.

-- Mister Gardener

[Koi-Lo]

"Mister Gardener" > wrote in message
...
I'm looking forward to
> watching the top growth shift into higher gear once it gets settled in
> my tank.
===============
And I'm looking forward to updates on this plant as I'm also a plant nut
(the smiley-face is out for coffee).
--
Koi-Lo.... the ReelMcKoi
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>