Problems with Dirted Tank

Problem: plants are not growing. Water wisteria, tiger lotus, dwarf sag are all withering. Anubis started to grow and now has stopped.
Tank is 15 gal, dirted with a generic organic potting soil, t5 lighting, 48 watts, 6700k bulbs, lighted 8 hours per day, hob whisper filter, 40% water changes every two weeks, and air stone.
I think I followed all of the advice, but I can't figure out why plants aren't growing. No algea either.
Any advice would be appreciated?
Keith

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Permalink Reply by jackson hutchison on October 23, 2012 at 7:58pm

How long have you had this tank, as it takes plants a while, up to a month, to grow back from a change in water parameters and lighting. Also, the lighting may be to fierce for the plants, as it is 5.5 watts a gallon, plus, if your not dosing and doing Co2 the nutrients of the dirt can't keep up with the light, plus the airstones take Co2 out of the water.

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Permalink Reply by Mr. Rick on October 23, 2012 at 11:57pm

I have had it set up for 2 months. I started growing duckweed on the surface which seems to be going well. I can't imagine co2 levels are low since only a couple anubias's are growing. Could I have used bad dirt?

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Permalink Reply by Howard on November 20, 2012 at 5:29am

What brand of potting soil did you use? That might be the problem, as it's recommended that generic topsoil is used for mineralized topsoil, while MiracleGro Organic Potting Mix (specifically) is also recommended. I've personally never ready about people using other potting mixes in planted tanks, though I suppose its possible depending on the ingredients. Do you happen to still have the bag and does it say what the specific ingredients are?

Also helpful would be water test results.

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Permalink Reply by ŦůRbö ۰ Ҏяѻ ۰ on November 20, 2012 at 4:50pm

I know almost everyone here uses MiracleGro Organic Potting Mix. But I would recommend not to use it, seeing that is contains poultry feces (chicken sh!t), unless you're in Florida then its cow feces. Read the ingredients on the back the the bag if you dont believe me. I use "supersoil" from the HD. (Home Depot)

I dont believe in "bad" dirt in an aquarium. Seeing that the dirt will "re-nutrient" itself with water changes and/or dosing.

Duckweed will "hog" all the nutrients, Thats why its used when there is an excess of nutrients. (alot of algae is a sign of to much nutrients.

Seeing that Water Wisteria is not a plant that needs to be planted, as in it can be a floating plant. Meaning that it gets most of it's nurtients from the water and not the substrate; so that cancels the "bad" dirt theory. I am leaning more towards the fact that the duckweed is sucking out all the "food" the others need. (Especially in a 15 gallon.)

I would remove all duckweed and the air stone. I can almost guarantee that will fix your problem.