[Terrie]

Hello friends,

I decided to add some Anacharis to my 29gal tank (7 betta girls).
To be honest, my nitrates were super high and after some research decided to add some live plants.

I read the easy plant guide and decided on Anacharis.

I have some rooted in gravel substrate ("natural" uncolored kind) and a few shoots floating.

Anyway, its been about 3 days and each day more and more leaves are turning brown and withering....I read this plant has a poor adjustment period...but there is no growth and they keep withering from the bottom up...Should I clip the browning leaves or just leave it alone?

Thanks for any advice in advance!!

P.S. I took out all my fake plants and decorations...the girls seem to be happier...their colors are more vibrant and they are zooming across the tank more often than before.

 

[callistra]

So the substrate is for plants right not just rooted in regular gravel?

what is your light situation?

What is your water source and what additives to you use?

 

[Terrie]

So the substrate is for plants right not just rooted in regular gravel?

what is your light situation?

What is your water source and what additives to you use?

I think the gravel is just regular...not sure how much it would be affecting them tho as the floating ones are also withering (which substrate should I be using?)
As for the light, I have a fluorescent bulb, which I leave on for about 12 hours a day.
My water is tap, conditioned with Prime and a ph neutralizer...

I did do 60% water change before adding in the plants...maybe it is some of the chlorine and such that made it in?

Thanks!!

 

[Terrie]

Should I consider a fertilizer to help them? If so, which brand?

 

[thekoimaiden]

Regular gravel is fine to root anarcharis in. You don't need special substrate for anarcharis as it gets its nutrients from it's stem, hence it is called a stem-feeder. Special substrates are for root-feeders like crypts and swords. It's not something you need to worry about here.

I've noticed a few problems here: anarcharis does tend to need higher light. I'm guess you have the stock lighting that came with the tank. You should think about upgrading to a "daylight bulb" or one that is in the 5000k-7000k range. In a planted tank you should leave the light on for no more than 10 hours. And even that is a bit long. You will get algae blooms if you leave it on longer. Planted tanks are about finding a balance between the nutrients and plants.

You also have no reason to use a pH neutralizer. Bettas are fine at most pH as long as it is stable. Most pH neutralizers say not to use with live plants; this is because they work by binding to nutrients that plants use.

If you just have a few anarcharis stems I wouldn't fertilize. Doing so will most likely result in algae blooms as the anarcharis won't be able to use the nutrients without better lighting.

While anarcharis is a fast-growing plant that will help with nitrate and ammonia it also has some higher requirements than other plants. Anubias or java fern would do much better in your current setup.