Aug vs Sept Plant growth

[ewechye]

[brewmaster15]

Very nice growth! Is that water sprite? If so its a nitrate sponge so if it goes crazy keep an eye on the nitrates. Your fish look very happy and healthy too.

al

[ewechye]

Yup.. It's water sprite... It started with just 2 in my sump ( refugium ), they were growing crazy. So I moved some of the new cuttings into the main tank and they went crazy too. I'm trying to balance my system with the plants and water changes to try and get the nitrate ppm to sub 10... After I added the discus, it's been slowly climbing to around 20 something. I upped the water change and it's been steadily climbing down the last 2 weeks to around 10ppm with the plants and a 10g daily water change.

[brewmaster15]

The terrestrial vines..Pothos and Philodendrons can be nitrate sponges as well and look great too growing out of the water.

[Discus-n00b]

Great growth! Like Al said, some house plants around the outside of the tank can do wonders too, also looks incredible once they all start growing around the tank. Really ties the tank to the space. I have all varieties of pothos with their toes dipping into my tanks. Also my favorites Philodendron micans and Philodendron brasil

[ewechye]

Great growth! Like Al said, some house plants around the outside of the tank can do wonders too, also looks incredible once they all start growing around the tank. Really ties the tank to the space. I have all varieties of pothos with their toes dipping into my tanks. Also my favorites Philodendron micans and Philodendron brasil

Do you get 0 nitrates with the house plants in your tank? That's my goal ultimately. Which can be difficult for me cuz the water from the tap comes in at 5ppm.

[For100]

From my experience, plant consumption of nitrates and phosphates depends on the amount of lighting, plant biomass and CO2 availability.
In my display tank, Ferns and Anubias (slow growing plants) keep nitrates/phospates in check (<20ppm) for about 1 week of normal feeding (2 or 3 times a day). It is has a 12 large discus, not overcrowded.

On the other hand, my planted tank with CO2 injection and bright lights goes to the other extreme. I have to add macro fertilizer every other day even though is a 9G tank with about 15 to 20 CPDs, danios and pigmy cories. I was expect the high bioload of fish to help me provide NPK to the plants. I was really wrong about that.

[Iminit]

Water sprite is a fast growing and bushy plant. It tends to hold fish waste in its leaves. Best before water changes to shake it a bit to remove the waste. For many fish it’s great for fry to hide in or rainbow fish to lay their eggs in. Being a fast grower it will consume nitrate. Best to trim this plant regularly it can take over a tank. Co2 is not needed for this plant to grow huge. Many house plants will grow with just their roots in the water. These to will remove nitrates. I’ve got plants in all my tanks. Inside and growing out of the top. I haven’t checked nitrates in years . Your tank and discus look great! How big is the tank?

Yes a planted tank with co2 injection will cause plants to consume nitrates and other valuable minerals because it’s making them grow faster. So ferts are needed regularly. But even lightly planted tanks should get weekly or every other week ferts. I use nilocG every other week and for anubias a tablespoon of epson salt every other week.

[ewechye]

It's 150g tank. When I trim or move the plants, there's a lot of detritus that comes off.. It does scare me a little. I would like to add some household plants too. Trying to figure out how to add it and make it all still look good. Still working on the balance of the tank, but it's getting there.

[mwhite123]

It's 150g tank.

Very nice tank! What brand of aquarium is that? Looks like very nice low iron glass.

[Discus-n00b]

It's 150g tank. When I trim or move the plants, there's a lot of detritus that comes off.. It does scare me a little. I would like to add some household plants too. Trying to figure out how to add it and make it all still look good. Still working on the balance of the tank, but it's getting there.

Looks great! It will take a bit for house plants to grow in to where it looks really good but once established they should go crazy. I just use little 3D printed hangers or baskets that hang on the rim of the tank and you just stick the stem of the house plant in. Look up pothos aquarium holder and you will find all sorts of varieties of them, usually they are black and blend in very well. You could train the stems up those light brackets at the back. The goal with mine is to just let them kinda climb the rack and around the tank as they please, kind of ties in the whole space. If any get to spaces I don't want I redirect the stem or just make a cutting.