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	Problems with Vals
des_sniper Hobbyist Posts: 65 Kudos: 42 Votes: 11 Registered: 20-Nov-2006	I purchased 4 Vallisneria americana at a LFS along with 4 Sagittaria. The tank is 15g Eclipse. It is lighted by 2x 15w tubes, 1 Powerglow and 1 Floraglow. It is stocked with 6 Von Rio Flame Tetras. The substrate is small river rock with Floratabs insurted into it. They have all been planted for about a month now. The Sagittaria is starting to grow runners. The Vals are dying off. PH is 6.8, Nirites 0, Nitrates 10-20. Fish are doing fine. What is the problem with the Vals? "There is also a Clown Pleco in this tank some where. I am telling you, HE IS IN HERE."
Posted 16-Mar-2007 20:52
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Hi, Vals prefer calcium in their "diet." Check your GH and see what it is. I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that Vals, and Sags did not grow well together. Not because of an alopathic problem, but because the prefer different water condidions. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 16-Mar-2007 21:07
So_Very_Sneaky Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3238 Kudos: 2272 Votes: 201 Registered: 10-Mar-2004	Hi there, I have found Vals to be heavy heavy root feeders. Supplement with Jobes plant spikes for lush palms and ferns, buried under the plant. They work excellent for my Vals, who were not doing well before I used them. Now they grow like mad. Come Play Yahtzee With Me! http://games.atari.com Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames
Posted 16-Mar-2007 23:21
des_sniper Hobbyist Posts: 65 Kudos: 42 Votes: 11 Registered: 20-Nov-2006	Pardon my ignorance on this, when you are talking fertalizer sticks, your talking about the kind you get at Home Depo and "hammer" into the ground? "There is also a Clown Pleco in this tank some where. I am telling you, HE IS IN HERE."
Posted 17-Mar-2007 02:48
So_Very_Sneaky Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3238 Kudos: 2272 Votes: 201 Registered: 10-Mar-2004	They are ordinary house plant fertilizer sticks. I get them at walmart in a pack of 50 sticks for 2.98 This is what they look like: Come Play Yahtzee With Me! http://games.atari.com Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames
Posted 17-Mar-2007 05:12
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Hi, Depending upon the size of the tank you are using them in you might want to snip them in half or even quarters. They do release a tremendous amount of fertilizer around the roots and if it gets into the water colum you could set a feast for algae. Lots of nitrate and other nutrients inside just one stick. They do work, but I would err on the side of caution with them. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 17-Mar-2007 05:54
des_sniper Hobbyist Posts: 65 Kudos: 42 Votes: 11 Registered: 20-Nov-2006	I will pick them up tomorrow while I am out. I hope that this works, I was thinking that I was going to have to pull out the substrate and place a layer of potting soil at the bottom of the tank and then substrate. This will save me many hours of hardache and stress on the fish. "There is also a Clown Pleco in this tank some where. I am telling you, HE IS IN HERE."
Posted 17-Mar-2007 06:24
So_Very_Sneaky Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3238 Kudos: 2272 Votes: 201 Registered: 10-Mar-2004	I havent had any issues with algae because of them at all so far, maybe luck, who knows. I put about 15 in my 75g tank, 10 in my 25, and 5 in my 10g tank. Basically I put 1 under each heavy root feeding plant. Come Play Yahtzee With Me! http://games.atari.com Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames
Posted 17-Mar-2007 08:25
des_sniper Hobbyist Posts: 65 Kudos: 42 Votes: 11 Registered: 20-Nov-2006	Got 'em! They were $1.78 at Wally World and it was a 25 free pack. I am going to take your advice and place them at the roots of the plants and hope for the best. If I dont have any problems, I will post the results in a week (hopefully, there will be runners by then). If problems do arise, I will back on here asking for help again. Thanks all! "There is also a Clown Pleco in this tank some where. I am telling you, HE IS IN HERE."
Posted 18-Mar-2007 05:57


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