My plants look kind of leggy and wimpy. What is wrong?

[kakkoii]

For some reason my plants look all wimpy and leggy. what is wrong and what should I do? I just did a trim and they look even worse (typical). They still look bad before trims.

Symptoms: small leaves, spaced out leaves, slight melting on the HM, glosso grows up, has tiny, yellow leaves, and then rots, stemmed plants don't spread. I dosed every fertilizer that the plants needed and still no change. Anymore advice?

[akmal]

what's your tank spec and dosing regime? looks like you might have insufficient lighting..

[kakkoii]

It is the regular seachem dosing chart. I also think that it is insufficient lighting. My plants look kind of leggy and wimpy. What is wrong? - General Aquarium Plants Discussions - Aquatic Plant Central

I just bought a 2x24W t5ho fixture, so this should help.

[Brian]

check nitrate and Iron levels. i have the same problem and it was the nitrate level too low. Poor lighting can be the problem too.

[kakkoii]

thanks!

[nickyc]

What's the flow like in the tank? I've had problems as CO2 isn't reaching all of the tank due to dead spots.

[kakkoii]

I have a aquaclear 50 on this tank, so I have plenty of flow...

[John N.]

Q: Why are your plants leggy and not looking up to par?

A: Unfortuantely, not enough light. I've had the same setup in the past. A 10 gallon with 2 screw in CF bulbs to total 40 watts. Glosso growing vertical, leggy and rotala showing poor color. The restrike of the light against it's own bulbs and spirals, couple with a poor reflector turns that 40 watts into about 20 watts of useable and directed light into an aquarium.

Solution: Upgrade lighting to something like the 36 watt kit at AHsupply.com or select a different foreground plant species like HC.

-John N.

[blue33]

Flow, CO2 and light is the main course of planting especially for stem plants. Nitrate still not so critical as fish poo can still provide though adding enough nitrates make them grow crazy.

[kakkoii]

I removed the old fixture put a makeshift one (84WATTS!) on and raised the CO2. The lights have only been on for 1 hour and the plants have grown new leaflets!

[Pat7676]

Sounds like a step in the right direction.

[kakkoii]

my plants are pearling like CRazY!