Amazon Sword Question

[mattoboy]

Hey guys,

I have a new Amazon Sword in my 10 gallon but it looks unhealthy. Everyday it seems to get more yellow-ish leaves and spots. What am I doing wrong? Am I suppose to give it something? Its sitting in about 2 - 2.5 inches of gravel and has about 13 hours of light everyday.

Matt

[inareverie85]

Is the light coming from daylight bulbs?

Are you fertilizing at all?

[Micho]

What kind of lightbulbs?

You may have the wrong lightbulbs I think.

[mattoboy]

They are just the lightbulbs that are in the hood of the fishtank and no fertilizer.. should I be fertilizing? The pet store people said nothing about it but I looked up Amazon Sword and it said something about fertilization... Im obviously a first-time live plant owner.

[Micho]

Originally Posted by mattoboy

They are just the lightbulbs that are in the hood of the fishtank and no fertilizer.. should I be fertilizing? The pet store people said nothing about it but I looked up Amazon Sword and it said something about fertilization... Im obviously a first-time live plant owner.

Yeah most hoods comes with incandescent bulbs, they can't sustain plant life.

So that's probably your problem.

[Silverfang]

I believe they need root tabs for fertilizer

[mattoboy]

Okay, what would be a better light for the plants and where can I get them? and where are root tabs? Please explain

[Micho]

6500k fluorescent bulbs would be the best.

Also root tabs are fertilizers that you place in your substrate, the strengthens the roots of plants and give them extra nutrients.

[mattoboy]

Okay and is that like fertilizer?

[Micho]

Originally Posted by mattoboy

Okay and is that like fertilizer?

Yep, it is.

I have some swords in my tank but I don't use root tabs only liquid fertilizers and they do fine, so it's up to you.

But I am picking up some root tabs soon, I want healthy strong roots!