Mmathis
TurtleMommy
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 13,893
- Reaction score
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- Location
- NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
- Hardiness Zone
- 8b
- Country
@addy1 @adavisus @fishin4cars @JBtheExplorer and "@" anyone else who is knowledgable about the relationship between ponds & plants......
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Just out of curiosity, exactly WHAT nutrients are required by most pond/marginal/bog plants?
And do you ever have to ADD anything [a supplement] that isn't detrimental to the ecosystem?
Reason I ask is that my plants are growing, but if they were all planted in soil I'd be adding fertilizer -- they're just not greening up and/or putting out new growth like I would like/expect. They look anemic.
However, there is plenty of algae in the pond, so I know at least it's getting what it needs, LOL! Not so much the suspended algae, which has been sparse [thank goodness], but plenty of the stringy stuff.
So...... If there are enough nutrients in the water to "feed" the algae, why aren't the plants looking more lush? There must be something missing......
And, BTW, I am probably right at my stocking limit, or just over (goldfish), so there's gotta be plenty of "food" in there. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings, though, are always "0." I have a 100 gal Skippy, 6'x3' turtle-bog, 2 smaller pumps in box filters that go to DIY spitters, and have airstones in 3 places. Pond and bog receive almost full sun throughout the day -- there are periods when one or another section is briefly shaded.
__________________________________________________
Just out of curiosity, exactly WHAT nutrients are required by most pond/marginal/bog plants?
And do you ever have to ADD anything [a supplement] that isn't detrimental to the ecosystem?
Reason I ask is that my plants are growing, but if they were all planted in soil I'd be adding fertilizer -- they're just not greening up and/or putting out new growth like I would like/expect. They look anemic.
However, there is plenty of algae in the pond, so I know at least it's getting what it needs, LOL! Not so much the suspended algae, which has been sparse [thank goodness], but plenty of the stringy stuff.
So...... If there are enough nutrients in the water to "feed" the algae, why aren't the plants looking more lush? There must be something missing......
And, BTW, I am probably right at my stocking limit, or just over (goldfish), so there's gotta be plenty of "food" in there. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate readings, though, are always "0." I have a 100 gal Skippy, 6'x3' turtle-bog, 2 smaller pumps in box filters that go to DIY spitters, and have airstones in 3 places. Pond and bog receive almost full sun throughout the day -- there are periods when one or another section is briefly shaded.