need Help in planted aquarium

Question
QUESTION: Hi

I am having a 40 gallon tank with live plants and some fishes namely Clown loach, pair of Red Gouramies, 2 pairs of serphe Tetras and 1 pair of Angel.

The problem i am facing is my fishes are now a days taking more time on surface then to swim in the water. I use to change my water 20 percent every weekend. Feeding is small dose, twice a day. but i think that i am lossing the fishes colors. They are are not showing there bright colors but getting yellowish white kind of color mixings in there body.

One more thing i want to tell you is i planted my planted in small pots of clay with normal sand in it and for lighting i am using two spiral CFC bulbs of 15 watts and one TF tube of 15 watt.
I am giving CO2 by Yeast method and defusing it by airstone. But having problem in propagation of PLants, growth rate is very slow.

Please help as soon as possible.

ANSWER: Hi Shaggy,

If fish are at the top, they're not getting enough oxygen in the main aquarium.

Please add a hang on back filter and let it cascade into the tank, or add some airstones.

If you do a 20% water change on weekends, we can be assured that the water's probably in pretty good shape, but the death of plants could have raised the nitrites in the water and caused ammonia to spike, causing bad coloration and a lapse of oxygen.

The best course to get rid of this issue is of course, the water change and removal of all dead plant waste.

Compact lighting should be enough for most plants.  

Slow growth can come from a majority of issues, my guess is there isn't enough flow in your tank.

People assume that just because a planted tank looks serene it shouldn't have flow, but that's incorrect.  Flow will increase nutrient suspension and will increase absorption by plants.

Adding that hob filter will be a good idea, in my opinion.

Your lighting could be the wrong spectrum as well.  What spectrum of light are the CFC bulbs?  If they are actinic 10k or 12k and blue 420nm, they should be actinic 6500 and red instead.  Consider a new bulb.  Choose one for plant growth.

I hope you feel free to write me back anytime with further questions. :)

Happy fish and plant-keeping.

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Renee,

As i mentioned in my question i planted my plants in small clay pots, will it cause any problem?

I have check my aquarium setup, all is working fine. but my plants are not growing. In my country i have no professional stores where i can go and ask for things which you told me in reply. I am only having Under gravel filter, power heads, and corner filters commonly available at shops. But this HOB or Hang on back is not available.

About the gravel, i am using silica gravels only, no layers of any other gravel or nutrition availability. Can you please tell me what are the essential needs for the plants which they require from roots?

I was told to use sand which is used in plant growing in gardens. But how can i fertilize my plants in aquarium? And yes last but not least what is the best way to diffuse the CO2 in water?

regards

Answer
Hi,
You will need a CO2 diffuser and to add an CO2 bottle.

Here are directions.

http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/DIY-Yeast-CO2/7/

You will need a diffuser and on Ebay, they sell for 99 cents, US.  That's under a dollar US.

Additionally, take some Miracle Grow and add it to your water.  Add half a teaspoon once a month, dissolved.

This should greatly increase growth to the plants with these 3 things.

I have many people who write from Indonesia and other countries and they are still able to grow plants.

Happy plant-keeping.