Planted 36"x18"x17" Tank-Blyxa Japonica not Doing well

[SanamMarik]

Hi All,


As this is my 1st post here, so a little intro from my end. I am Sanam Marik from Kolkata, India.


I am into planted hobby for just last two years. In this time period I have done many tanks (15-16 or more) of varied sizes from 10" cubes to the one mentioned in the thread name. I own a total of 11 tanks and 10 of which are planted ones.


I love the Dutch Style aquascaping and hence work on that only as with this style I can learn growing plants as well as aquascaping.


Now, back to the topic- This tank is two months old.


Tank Specs-


Tank Size - 36"x18"x17"


Working Water Volume- 145L


Tank Temp- 21C(70F)


Filter + Surface Skimmer- SunSun HW-302 3 stage external canister filter 1000lph


Additional Flow - SUNSUN JVP - 110 Wave Maker 2000lph (initially I used 800lph power head)


Lights - Osram T5 6500K(2000 lm) x 3 + local T5 Blue(35") x 1(blue added after cycling of tank)


Photo Period-10 Hours


Water Column Height - 14"


Distance between Light and Water Surface - < 1cm


Reflector- DIY with Thermocol, Art papers, Adhesive and food Packaging Grade Aluminium Foil.


Substrate - DIY -> 3.5kg Soilrite capped with 20kg Sand Gravel


CO2- 2 BPS


Diffuser- New Diffuser G-025-L


Dosing- MacroLab->Grade NPK, Micro- Rexolin CXK, Rexolin EDTA Fe


Dosing Method- N-20, K-35, P-7, Mg - 8


WC Schedule- Once Week 60-70%


All of my plants are doing quite well except for the Blyxa Japonica imo. Can some one please let me know what I am missing here.


Pic of unhealthy Japonica





Pictorial Reference of the tank from Day 68(ignore the sucker please and the macrandra too, I was experimenting a bit with it and something went wrong, will get it back soon)





Thanks in advance for all your guidance.


Regards,


Sanam

 

[SanamMarik]

anyone??

 

[UDGags]

Two things come to mind when I look at your pictures...

• The substrate isn't nutrient rich. I know when I had japonica in AS it grew a huge root system and flourished. I think it might get most of its nutrients from the substrate so maybe try some root tabs..
  
• The limnophila is shading it too much and blocking the light. It's hard to tell in the pictures but just a thought.
  

 

[Tom Barr]

It is very weedy in my 180 gallon tank, plenty of current, moderately bright light etc, ADA AS, rich CO2, ferts can vary pretty widely.


I think perhaps a bit more NO3 might help also. It grows fast, so leaner tanks tends to do poorer and same with the CO2.


You often will see progressively smaller and smaller growth/plants when not happy.

 

[SanamMarik]

UDGags Thank you for your response. the substrate I used contains Peat moss mostly to specifically help rooting. I have done substrate experiments over 1.5years with Downoi to check the factors and realized that substrate is not a big part as I can evn grow downnoi tied on a stone. Lights- the new leaves come with red tinge so I dont think light might be an issue.


Tom Barr Thanks a lot for sharing your insights. from the points you mentioned, I think its the flow issue. I just will turn the flow towards it and see how it reacts. Thank you.


Will update on the status in 2weeks time...

 

[hadjici2]

Nutrient rich substrate always helps!

 

[SanamMarik]

what I observed is that snails are the culprits and are eating up the new leaves... :|


Also good flow is required...will post updates once i get rid of the snails.


If you know dosing well u can grow plants on rocks...substrate is not an issue here as all other plants are doing well...


I have experimented this substrate with ADA Amazonia, this one doesnt lack any where...

 

[SanamMarik]

Hey All, After a long time I 'think' I have been able to finally figure out the issue and its not snails or any other thing but the dKH. My Tap water thn was 11-12 dKH and thats why i might have been having great trouble at growing them, but luckily/unluckily the tap water is now 5 dKH and blyxa doing really well.


Please let me know your thoughts on this carbonate hardness factor and Blyxa japonica.


Regards,


Sanam

 

[skija]

Hi , how much micros and/or Fe are you dosing ?