Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: pollydoodle on January 20, 2019, 11:16:58 AM

Title: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: pollydoodle on January 20, 2019, 11:16:58 AM
Since I've had my tank (last May) I've had a mixture of silk and live plants. However, the silk plants are now brown and tired looking.  Is this normal? Have to say the live plants don't look too good either

Any suggestions as to what I can do
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: Littlefish on January 20, 2019, 12:44:34 PM
The brown could be diatoms on the plants. Does it wipe off?
Would you be able to post some pictures so we could have a look.
 :)
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: Sue on January 20, 2019, 12:56:49 PM
The brown on the silk plants is probably a type of algae. Have you tried scrubbing it off? I find a toothbrush useful for this (you can buy a cheap one just for fish use)


What species of live plants - some are fast growers which need a lot of light and fertiliser, some are slow growers which need less.
Are you feeding the live plants?
How long are the tank lights on for?
What kind of light do you have - spectrum and intensity of light affect plant growth as well as duration. If the light has a K rating (for the spectrum) and a wattage (for the intensity), can you tell us those please.
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: pollydoodle on January 20, 2019, 01:22:58 PM
I have tried scrubbing it off, but it didn't seem to want to move. and as to the live plants, I've no idea apart from a small java fern and a baby one  :vcross:

Lights 54w LED  They go on at approx. 7 am and turn blue 1pm and then I usually turn them off
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: Matt on January 20, 2019, 02:00:22 PM
Not sure on the size of your tank but 54w of led light is a lot. I have a 27w light (conveniently exactly half  :o) on a 220litre tank. It is likely that this may be the cause of the algae... do you have a dimmer for the light?
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: pollydoodle on January 20, 2019, 02:15:28 PM
I have Aqua Vogue 170.  I have an option to have a blue light, but don't know about dimming it.  The only dim thing round here is me  :rotfl:
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: fcmf on January 20, 2019, 04:08:48 PM
I have silk plants too and find that they develop brown, powdery diatoms over time. I reckon it's due to my lighting and, to a certain extent, the root tabs under the few remaining live plants and which get disturbed during water changes when everything is removed - the debris/dust tends to circulate round the tank and settle on the leaves. The latter could be avoided by being less particular about removing everything.

A toothbrush is how I address this and also the furry black beard algae which develops. My nerites - or, more accurately, one of the nerites - is a hard worker and often works his way along the plants leaves (until he falls off due to them being unable to sustain his weight) which helps too.
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: pollydoodle on January 30, 2019, 10:14:18 AM
I tried using a toothbrush (my husbands  :rotfl:) just joking!!   but it didn't shift it. the plants still feel feel gritty.

anyway, I did a big water change, and trimmed all the live plants of the decaying leaves and it does look tidier, but now I have another problem   :-\which I will address in a separate post
Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: fcmf on January 30, 2019, 06:56:29 PM
I tried using a toothbrush (my husbands  :rotfl:) just joking!!   but it didn't shift it. the plants still feel feel gritty
I've got an image of Paddington Bear cleaning his ears with a toothbrush, as per the film.  :rotfl:

I've never used this but it's maybe worth giving a go although it does say it's for plastic rather than silk: https://www.interpet.co.uk/Products/Maintenance/Decor-Cleaners/Plastic-Plant-Ornament-Cleaner-100ml  The manufacturers may be able to tell you more.

Title: Re: Silk Plants going brown
Post by: Matt on January 30, 2019, 08:39:59 PM
I have a similar product to this stashed away in the draw under the puffer tank. I'll try and remember tomorrow to have a look and see if it says anything about silk plants...