I do not have the green thumb (unless algae counts )

Veteran tank owner (18 years). But newer ti plants and not a natural.
*Tank is stable and 29 gallon
*25-30% weekly water change.
*0 nitrite and ammonia
*Slightly hard water
*Nitrates are <5 even with ferts
*ferts: nicolg thrive and leaf zone
* primarily platies a a couple pygmy cories left. No fish in stores covid and shipping limited because of covid and weather
* finnex stingray 2 for three weeks (so bright) verses my Prior Zoo med ultra sun plant t5. They suck, were dim and lasted six months both times I purchased it
* lights on 7-8 hours


Problem: my anubias thrive and grow - anything else noT so much. I changed my lighting and after three weeks am getting some algae growth despite nitrates that are too low so I hesitated to add more ferts. Nothing out of control and I can clean it up with a mr clean eraser every couple weeks.

I first switched from easy green but my plants didn’t thrive with it. I even added extra iron/ potassium with leaf zone. It did perk up my ferns but they still developed new spots just slowed the dying. Now I have changed my lights.. I am trying water wisteria and water sprite. Water sprite died off in quarantine and wisteria mostly did. But the little that is left is growing roots and looks healthy if not growing in length yet. It was a petco plant. Everything else is coop or amazon.

i love anubias but i would like to branch out. I am content to keep some silk taller plants as background. I do not want to keep buying until i figure this out.

also how do you clean gravel/ sand with rooted plants? I have seachem peace river rock which is extremely fine and smooth for “gravel” like large grain sand without the filter mess.

 

Can you add a pic of your tank and pics of your affected plants. I would up your WC’s to at least 50% assuming u have a decent light I would leave it on for a strict 5-8 hours even if u need to add a timer.. as far as gravel vac wit gravel. Get yourself a Turkey baster and when u do your WC just keep your siphon in one corner n use the baster to congregate everything towards it… root tabs might help the planted plants some as well… they would just use the thrive and forget the other stuff.

 

No rooted plants yet so that was an in advance question . I have a pic attached. I may have been attaching it when you posted. I only have issues with java ferns. Anubias thrive. My wisteria died back upon acclimation / quarantine but seem to be improving with new lights just not wild growers like everyone says. Lights are good now and on a strict schedule 6pm- 12/1 am. I am thinking i need more nitrogen but I don’t want more algae!
Thanks! I will try larger Wc
I want to master what I have before moving into more species.

 

Java ferns often do better in softer water. Many on here have had issues with it in harder water. I have hard water and am having no issues with water wisteria, ludwigia repens, and several anubias types. I do not quarantine my plants though. I know how they melt when introduced into the tank and do not want to stress them twice. I use Thrive and that is it. The hardest part is waiting for it to grow.

 

Java ferns often do better in softer water. Many on here have had issues with it in harder water. I have hard water and am having no issues with water wisteria, ludwigia repens, and several anubias types. I do not quarantine my plants though. I know how they melt when introduced into the tank and do not want to stress them twice. I use Thrive and that is it. The hardest part is waiting for it to grow.

Awesome! Thank you! That may be the missing piece! I will branch out and try one of your recommended species next. All I ever hear is they are indestructible. I have many anubias varieties and they thrive.

 

I agree with awilkinson871, if you're using tap water (especially if it's hard water) that can be the problem. I've had plants that didn't do well until I started using RO water (often mixing it with my tap 50/50). Sometimes there's just some unaccounted for something or other in your tap water that your plants don't like.

 

I agree with awilkinson871, if you're using tap water (especially if it's hard water) that can be the problem. I've had plants that didn't do well until I started using RO water (often mixing it with my tap 50/50). Sometimes there's just some unaccounted for something or other in your tap water that your plants don't like.

Well if nothing else ya’ll made me feel better. All anubias truly thrive in my tanks. We aren’t super hard but it must be enough or something else in the water. All the literature says java is hard water friendly but I have been reading real life accounts that say it struggles. I won’t mess with ro so ot won’t effect my fish and it would add up . Maybe in a microtank i would try!