Simian Posted June 27, 2008 Report Share Posted June 27, 2008 I am sorting my community tanks out and planting them properly with proper substrate etc. I have taken cuttings from my existing plants (the parents are scrappy, have snails and lanky due to lack of proper care/light etc) What I want to do is get these cuttings cranking! I have a spare aquarium and have put a nice layer of sand down as a rooting medium and have them under water. What I had planned to do was get a liquid general fert and some excell, intense light and go for gold. plants I have Osiris and amazon sword, Java fern, Combomba, some dwarf crypts and some other odds and sods... wisteria I think Possible issues temp (I dont want to heat the water if I can help it, power bill was $400 last month ) By using general fert (i have some phosphrogen in the shed) will I get algae blooms? All I really want to do is get these cuttings roted & growing well so when I put them in the aquarium I get them established asap..I have patience issues :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Without heating at this time of year, may kill plants such as combomba, as they dont like the cold, others that do tollerate cooler temps will grow much slower. What sort of lighting are you planning? I would think that general ferts will cause mass algae blooms as the are high in phosphates which the algae loves. Just my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Also as a after thought. Many plants, especially swords and crypts dont like their roots disturbed and will most likely begin to melt when you move them again. With Crypts you can sometimes plant them and the appear to rot away totally with ony the rizome (sp?) remaining, give it time and the correct conditions and it will grow back.usually bigger and stronger than before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 ive found the jbl fert balls work well, just push them under the gravel near the base of the plants and mine went nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 get some dried sheep pellets if you can and put them under the water. i made a PMDD mix with no phosphate that would be great for that application. if you crank the light enough eg metal hallide/lots of T5s or T8s you will generate enough heat to not need a heater in the tank. sounds like a good idea to get your plants rocking along ps ouch on the power bill.. heat pump time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 ive found the jbl fert balls work well, just push them under the gravel near the base of the plants and mine went nuts i read in a really old skool aquarium magazine that rabbit droppings make an ideal primitive jbl 7 ball like fert . havent tried it (i have the jbl balls) has ane1 else tried rabbit droppings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Yeah if you are growing tropical aquatic plants use a heater. Otherwise you could always go get some plants from the local streams and QT them or treat them with potassium permanganate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted June 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Thanks guys, as usual the cheap ass way is not best, I have heated the tank and am dosing with Flourish..Apparently the algae blooms happen if the nitrate/phosphate balance gets outta wack...Im hoping the boffins at seachem no thier stuff. I am waiting for a 2l bottle of excel to arrive then I will be in business..that is a financially failing business As for lights, a bunch of 6500K T5's & T8's will be my choice..as I have most of the gear already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Glad you heated the tank - I was going to say that even plants that can tolerate cold water will melt if you move them from cold water into your tropical tank - which kind of defeats the purpose of giving them a head-start in the cold water. Also as supasi said, some plants don't like being moved once they have got established, so you might find there is a recovery period needed if you are transplanting them into another tank. If moving plants with a well established root system, make sure you trim the roots cleanly rather than just ripping them out of the substrate, and also trim the leaves at the same time. Heavy root-feeders will not be able to support the nutrient requirements of their leaves if the roots are disrupted too much, so you can help them by reducing the leaf burden. Stem plants that feed from the water column are much less bothered by transplanting, but remember they will go back to their old habits unless you improve the conditions in your main tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simian Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Glad you heated the tank - I was going to say that even plants that can tolerate cold water will melt if you move them from cold water into your tropical tank - which kind of defeats the purpose of giving them a head-start in the cold water. Also as supasi said, some plants don't like being moved once they have got established, so you might find there is a recovery period needed if you are transplanting them into another tank. If moving plants with a well established root system, make sure you trim the roots cleanly rather than just ripping them out of the substrate, and also trim the leaves at the same time. Heavy root-feeders will not be able to support the nutrient requirements of their leaves if the roots are disrupted too much, so you can help them by reducing the leaf burden. Stem plants that feed from the water column are much less bothered by transplanting, but remember they will go back to their old habits unless you improve the conditions in your main tank. Thanks for that Whetu, I wasnt sure about the root trimming thing, I may need to tidy up the swords roots I think. As for the new conditions, I am setting it up as a proper planted tank so light ferts etc will be done properly once I rebuild it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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