Water Wisteria not doing so well?

[MrMcKenna]

I dont think my waterwisteria is doing so well, I want to know what you guys think it needs judging by these pictures.






Do they need more light? More substrate? what could the problem be? everyone says they grow so rapidly but mine... not so much so there must be a problem

[Goes to 11!]

They are usually bullet proof, Mine grow like crazy in 5 dif tanks. I am assuming you just trimmed those by the looks of them.

Details required wrt lighting [include photo-period please], Substrate, Ferts [if any] water parameters, How long you have had them in situ etc..

[MrMcKenna]

Yeah I trimmed them a few weeks ago, before I got my new 38 gallon tank.
I have a 17w T8 bulb in a 120v 20w ballast(I have a feeling this is a case of insufficient lighting)
I have some of them in special plant substrate (I think fluval?) and the other just in regular general gravel.
I sometimes use seachem Flourish liquid fert.
I've probably had them for 2 months or so now, before i had them in my 20 gallon tank with LED lighting.

As for water params... i'll have to get back to you on that later I'm just running out for the afternoon.

Also, I'm not sure if there is a specific way to trim them, but I literally just snapped them in half and stuck them into the substrate.

[MrMcKenna]

I gave my girlfriend some branches that just came off one of the main plants that I had just poking out of the substrate, in my tank they grew some roots but now in her tank they are sprouting new growths from the bottom. Could this be cause her tank is more established than mine is right now? She has a 10 gallon with led lighting. Any thoughts?

[Goes to 11!]

Still waiting on those water parameters :-D.

Her lighting is unlikely to be worse than yours, I would upgrade my lighting stat if I were you. IMO You are not likely to grow much at all with your current setup.

[MrMcKenna]

I know! Sorry, I haven't found the time to do a water test :(.
When I get home from work I will have time to do a test I believe.
I'm just thinking its my lighting at this point

[MrMcKenna]

Ammonia: 0.25
pH: 8.0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5.0
Temp: Floating thermometer says 84 but my heater is set to 79 :s

I also noticed my brothers anubis is growing in his 29 gallon tank under LED lights pretty well... Maybe LED lights are the way to go lol

[TheVoldevader]

I cannot grow them at all. Them and Java fern. Maybe you have the same problem.

[MrMcKenna]

You have troubles growing the same 2 plants? What size tank? What kind of lighting do you have?

[korith]

Do you add any fertilizers to the substrate? That will help.