Should I dose fertiliser, and what?

blueether · April 20, 2012

As mentioned in another thread I got an assortment of plants given to me for my birthday, with an accompanying list of scientific names.

These have been planted for a week now and are doing fine I guess, with roots and leaves on most cuttings. Now I need to know how to best grow these plants, and ID them :oops:

About the tank:

The substrate:

Soil with slow release granules (unknown brand) about 20mm thick with about another 20-30mm of river sand over top.

I may have over done the granules as the nitrate went off the chart even after a 80% WC, but is coming down at 40ppm thismorning

The soil also got 1/4 of a pinch of FeSO4 as there are red plants - was this a good idea?

Tank:

480w*270d*330h with a 70mm false wall for the filtration

Light:

14w round florescent tube ~600mm? as the two tubes/fixtures in the original hood are dead. [Edit] just placed the 24w cool daylight CF above the tank as well and some of the plants started to pearl (constant stream) almost instantly

Filtration:

150l/h powerhead in the 70mm void with two banks of sponge and a cup or two of lime chips to help buffer the water

CO2:

DIY into powerhead venturi

Fish:

None as yet

Just after filling:

Next day:

About 5 days:

Plants (I think):

Bacopa monnieri

Cardamine lyrata - I think I will need to move this plant

Gratiola sexdentata - Not sure where/what this is

Heteranthera zosteraefolia

Hygrophila angustifolia - Not sure where/what this is

Hygrophila polysperma

Ludwigia brevipes

Ludwigia repens

Ludwigia glandulosa

Lysimachia nummulariifolia & “Aurea”