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I planted my 5 gallon hex just over a month ago. It has a female betta and an apple snail(p. Bridgessi). I dose twice weekly with Flourish and have a 14watt bulb that i leave on 10hrs a day.

My problem is that some of the plants are rotting from the roots up. It only seems to be cuttings that are doing this. I have wisteria and plant that is either moneywart, pennywart, or H. Polysperma.

These plants seem just fine, but uproot easily revealing brown, rotton bottoms.

I do 20% water changes once a week. I don't know my parameters, but i should be by the LFS this weekend so i should be able to procure testing supplies.

Any idea whats going on?

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

Hi katieB,

In the past I've noticed that sometimes after plating some stem clippings, the part that was buried under the substrate rotted away. This is normal I think - that part of the stem is being buried under ground, away from light etc.

After a few days the plant should root itself regardless. make sure to push a good chunk of the stem under the substrate, and prop some of the substrate up against it so that it doesn't pop up again.

---

Back in the saddle!

Hi,
What kind of 14 watt light bulb is it?
Is it incandescent, flourscent? If flourscent,
what does the writing on the glass say?
Frank


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

Flourescent, 5500K(highest I could find)

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

Hi there,

I think NowherMan6 is pretty right with his suggestion, as such I will not add to it.

But I would like to use this chance to point out to you that Flourish is not a well-balanced-all-purpose fertilizer. It is usually used as a micro fert entity and one usually adds additional macro ferts (K,P,N).

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi,
Go to the Home Depot near you and look at their
bulb section. I found a 14 and an 18 inch tube that
was labeled SUNLIGHT and is around 6700K that would
give you better growth and a more pleasing, less yellow
light.
Frank


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

I went there, my bulb was the best bulb I could find. Its one of those screw in CF bulbs. It also said daylight or sunlight, I cannot remember which.

Is there any bottled version of macro ferts?


So much for low maintainence

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

Ah a screw in compact flourscent bulb. Good idea.

Here is a site you might find informative as far as
the "K rating" is concerned:
http://www.1000bulbs.com/page.php?s=KelvinTempExplained

and here is a link from the above site letting you
know that much larger wattage bulbs are available:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=2086

Frank



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

I found a fert by tetra(the name escapes me), with 3% Potassium is this a high enough concentration for my tank?

I am asking this because I only have micro ferts. I know there are other macros but this seems to be the hardest to come by.

ETA: I think its tetra florapride

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

Flourish is a GREAT fertalizer. But only if you buy the ENTIRE line that they offer..ie, Flourish, Excell, Potassium, Flourish tabs...it keeps on going and so does your money.
I have had great success with Leafzone for my smaller tanks, 20g and under. It seems to have a decent mix of potassium and iron needed to keep the plants looking good. Doesnt semm to help them grow but to look good. Since your problems is in a 5g, Leafzone should do you good.
Also, it is not uncommom for Moneywart or Pennywart to want to wilt away when you first put it in a tank. It grows wild here in Floida and seems to really enjoy mud. Creating a tank with mud as your substrate isnt the greatest of ideas, but i have had great luck using BB sized or smaller gravel mixed in with potting soil. A little messy at first, nbut it settles down over time.

Wish you the best of luck!

"There is also a Clown Pleco in this tank some where. I am telling you, HE IS IN HERE."