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I recently planted my 55 gal tank with three tall (looks like bird nest leaves) plants. I have a small spray of hornsroot and some small leaf cluster (that doesn't look so good).

I went three weeks with just the bulb that came with my tank light, before being told I needed a lamp that was plant friendly. I bought the full spectrum lamp that had a little plant picture on it one week ago. Paid $20.

Now my plants are turning more brown than before and I am getting a case of fast growing algae. I'm keeping the light on about 8-10 hours a day.

How long should the light be on? What makes leaves turn brown and algae grow?

I'm doing weekly water changes (cleaning gravel, etc.) but can't get my nitrates to stay below 30, that's why I purchased some plants and would like to be successful at growing them. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Temp: 80
Nitrate: 30
Nitrite: 0
Ph: 7.2
total alklinity: 80
Hardness: 120

Ok, I'm new to plants and just learning the basics.. but I've got my 20 gal off to a good planted start..and working on my 125 gal.
As far as the "bulb it came with", when you first put those plants in, even if they were healthy as all get out to start-they'd start dying without adequate light. Even using "a" bulb made for plants means nothing. You have to have a certain amount of light..as in "watts per gallon".. to get plants to live. That's just a start though.
But just going off your lighting alone, there's no way that your single bulb would be sufficient for plantlife in your size tank.
How long is your bulb by the way?
You're either going to need to put more light strips on (depending how long the bulb you have now is and how many watts it puts out) OR you're going to need to get totally new light strips with either 2 bulbs per strip..or the stronger U shaped bulbs..or something. Depending what kind of tank you have. Some 30-55 gal tanks..etc..come with a hood that will only allow for a single bulb, in which case you'll also need a new hood. Check out this site for basics on plants:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1839.asp

Girlunderrainbow is quite right. Just not enough light. That may also be the reason for your algae,depending on what type of algae it is. Brown diatom algae (like a film of brown slime) is usually associated with low light, that plus the high nitrates could be the problem.

In the meantime, 8-10 hours is a little short. Most aquarium plants are from the tropics and are used to 12 hours of daylight. If you do have the brown algae try to leave the lights on for 12 hrs per day (but not more then that, you can't make up for low light by leaving the bulb on longer). Dying plants (without enough light) are not going to be using any nutrients so your nitrates aren't lowering. Try to get some Hornwort and let it float on the water (closer to the light) and this will suck those nitrates right up.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Hey! Thanks for the replies. Very helpful. I am shocked to find out algae grows from not enough light. Boy did I have that wrong. I'll keep the light on 12 hours.

As to your questions....
Yes, it's a brown filmy algae.
I have one 30 Watt, 36 inch Power Glo Lamp across the top of aprroximately a 48 x 18 inch surface measurement.

Plants turning brown is an indication of lacking Iron. Generally you need about 10hrs of light each day plus need to add some plant food once in a while to keep them healthy.

Lack of Iron is indicated by yellowing leaves. With that kind of light I doubt very much any of the plants are growing well enough to be short of any nutrient. In this case adding ferts with insufficient light is just laying out food for algae.Ferts should only be used when there is a lot of light(allowing the plants to make use of the additional nutrients) and even then with caution.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thanks all... I will leave my light on for at least 10-12 hours a day. I am assuming the 30 Watt, 36 inch Power Glo Lamp across the top (approximately a 48 x 18 inch surface measurement)is adequate, because no one said otherwise. All the input is appreciated and will be used. My plants should be doing better soon.


[span class="edited"][Edited by lrooth 2004-08-11 22:49][/span]