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Ok, I've gone about 2 weeks doing plant keeping the easy way. I simply didn't have the dough to buy the expensive lightbulbs that are 2-3 times as much as the normal ones. However, my $20 batch of amazon swords are not looking too good at the moment.
So what should I put on my shopping list? I'm already reading up on making co2. (coke bottle with a hose going from the inside to the tank, put yeast and sugar in the bottle which make co2, correct?) I'm also planning on purchasing a brighter light. Could I get a light from a home deopt or something cheaper than a pet store? The lights there are like $20. Then I just need ferts (and suggestions?). What materials do I need to bring back my swords?

list information about what you have now.

amazon swords from my experience are not that demanding. i had a large plant in a 15 gallon tank with 1 wpg, no fertilizer and standard gravel, and no co2. it grew fairly well, almost to well, and outgrew my 15 gallon tank.

if you just got them they probably have emersed leaves because they are usually grown out of water. it takes a while for all the leaves to die off and new ones to grow.

the emersed leaves have long stems and a rounder leave on the top. submersed leaves are usually long and have short stems.

if you get lights at a hardware store it depends what size tank you have. i have heard of people using standard 4 foot cieling lights on 4 foot tanks, you just have to basically cover the the whole top of the tank with them.

if you upgrade lights compact flourecent bulbs are the most effiecient for powerful light in less space. but with more watts make sure you have fans or have them raised abouve the tank. i used to not be able to get my tank below 80 until i installed fans on my diy compact fixture.

there are people on here that should be able to tell you more but that is just my experience with amazon swords

Hi,
There are a number of reasons for the failing plants.

It could be the acclimatization mentioned in the earlier
post where the plant "switches" from terrestrial
to submersion.

It could also be the normal period that all plants go
through when they are uprooted and then planted either
somewhere else in the tank or in another tank.
In either case the plants subsist on stored reserves of
nutrients, loose old leaves no longer suitable for the
current environment, and grow new ones.

If your tank is a new tank and not yet at least a year old,
then the plant may be lacking nutrients as the substrate
is not yet "seasoned." You may need to add fertilizer
in the form of plant tablets or plant sticks in the gravel
near the plants' roots.

Lastly, your light may simply be not good enough. You
mentioned that you are on a budget. What kind of bulbs
did you purchase? You should have bought bulbs labeled
DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT if they were flourscent. If they
are incandescent, they are useless. Throw them away
and replace them with the screw in flourscent bulbs.
Again, be sure that they are daylight or sunlight labeled.
Don't spend the extra $$ on anything that is a plant bulb.

Hope this helps...
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

djtj
In the last few weeks I have spent over A$100 for plants including Swords (which I had to chase Aust to locate them) I am also importing seeds from Canada (legally) to get the effect I require for my tank.

The lighting tubes alone cost A$60+.

If I had not spent the money on the lighting, substrate, fertilizers etc. I would have lost all my plants.

Can you see what I am refering to basically it is going to cost you more money than it should have.

As to put on your shopping list. At the moment I would forget about Co2, most sick plants will not respond to fertilisrs as the roots could be damaged.

I would get a good lighting system.
Take all problem plants out, remove all the dead and sick looking leaves and roots, and then let them float this just might bring them back.

Make sure the water is perfect for the plants.

I would use a very good fert at a very weak strength.

As I stated this just might help.

Keith

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I simply didn't have the dough to buy the expensive lightbulbs that are 2-3 times as much as the normal ones

While PC bulbs may be more expensive they don't have to be replaced as often and so it comes out about equal. The only increased cost is the actual fixture and it's a one time cost for alot of gain.

Could I get a light from a home deopt or something cheaper than a pet store?

Yep. Until I got my pc strip I had the whole top of my 55g covered in double bulb shop lights. You do have to replace the bulbs though with the correct spectrum for growing plants. The other problem is they don't really have a reflector and the sides are open so when you look at the tank you are looking directly at the edge of the bulb. That leaves you seeing spots unless you modify it a bit. Depending on the dimensions of your tank,how easily you want to be able to get into it, the plants your growing, and the modifications(reflectors) you make to the lights it can be possible to put alot of light on a tank with just cheap shoplights.