Peace Lily in.....all others out

[Lady Hobbs]

I get up this morning and the first thing I see is this planted tank with the brown algae, torn leaves, plants that are going nowhere and just plan ugly.

Even the java fern that I attached to wood 3 months ago (or longer) looks just like it did the day I put it in the tank. Not a root yet in sight.

I ripped everything out of there before my first cup of coffee. Why keep struggling with plants that are 3 inches high and going nowhere? I will start over with nice big healthy plants (someday) but will have decent lights before I get into this again.

The only plant that is working for me is a plant that should not even be in the tank.......a peace lily! I've seen them in Betta bowls (hated it) and I had a peace lily in my house so thought what the heck.....give it a try. These plants breathe from the leaves so should be out of the water or used as bog plants in low lights. My plant was large enough that several leaves reached out of the surface (no hood on tank) and it appears to be doing just fine and growing new roots. Go figure.

It may not make it for the long haul but has been in the tank a month now. It's also the plant my angels shredded when they spawned.
:27:

You guys have it all over me in the planted tank department. I can't get past the brown algae stage.:c3:

[RobbieG]

Sorry to hear about your plants - mine take twice as much time, effort and attention as my fish.

I am often tempted to pull them all out and go back to plastic.

[Lady Hobbs]

When I think of the cost of buying plants twice, messing with the CO2, trimming this and that, planting here and there, adding Fluorite, taking it out, adding Laterite balls, removing that, fertilizing, buying lights........

blah! Get one plant to look nice and the fish eat it.

[RobbieG]

Maybe it would be easier to keep the tank a foot from the wall - put a shelf behind it and grow the plants there!

[Lady Hobbs]

Or rocks, driftwood and branches that I can not kill?

[hungryhound]

I am sorry to hear that you are still experiencing problems with your plants. Hopefully it will all work out or you will find piece and serenity with your current set up.

[Lady Hobbs]

You must be able to tell when I am nearing a nervous breakdown by speaking to me in your gentle and calm attitude. You are always so sweet.

[hungryhound]

So must be able to tell when I am nearing a nervous breakdown by speaking to me in your gentle and calm attitude. You are always so sweet.

:l18: ahh shucks it was nothing :l18:

[Incredulous_Ed]

Keep in there hobbs!

[Lady Hobbs]

Removed four cigarettes butts and about two cups of coffee grounds and have them in my tank again. LOL

This time I have just banded them until they can get started better.

I will be signing up for the Air Head Convention this year.

[hungryhound]

I am glad to hear that you are still giving it a try. I wish you good luck and hope that the 1,00,000 times a charm. :)

I wish you the best of luck.

[RobbieG]

The greenest, healthiest plants I own are in a 30 gallon tank with about half a pound of laeterite, DIY CO2 offset by a 3 foot air wand that runs full blast 24/7 with about 1/2 watt per gallon of lighting. total cost = about 20 bucks (plants included)

2nd healthiest has the same airwand / no CO2 / 1/2 watt per gallon that doesn't even get turned on most days total cost = 0

The plants in my main planted tank are doing well - but nowhere near as well as those 2 are setup with 2 watts per gallon / 40 punds of ecocomplete etc. DIY CO2 with no airstone total cost = about 300 bucks.

Spoiling the green buggers does no good - they always want more!