Italian val PLEASE HELP

[tutut125]

Hello I am relativley new to keeping aquarium and have recently added a few plants (a marble queen and a few italian vals) to my tank and my italian vals seem to be turning brown and falling apart and I am worried about the ammonia shooting up! I have a 20 gal. with a 17 watt t5 flourecent bulb and have it on for 8 1/2 hours a day. Any tips or suggestions as to what is wrong?

(PS i have 3 guppies 2 small catfish and a ghost shrimp in there currently)

Thanks in advance!

[Lady Hobbs]

Could be shock from being newly planted and they may send up new shoots still from the roots. Just cut off the dead stuff. It will not "shoot up" the ammonia level. However, Italian vals are much too tall for 20 gallon tanks.

[tutut125]

Thanks for the advice! Any suggestions for a plant smaller for a 20 gal ?

[Lady Hobbs]

I have a hard time finding middle of the tank plants myself. But in your sized tank, those considered mid or foreground plants would work. Java fern, anubias, crypts for instance.

Tall background plants, swords, etc, are for bigger tanks.

[tutut125]

:l24: thank you a ton for helping out a little newbie like me!