10 Gallon Plant problems

[Guppylover]

In my 10gal I have these plants:

#2 Amazon Sword
#1 Afzeli Anubias
#2 Bunches of Java Moss
#1 Green Cabomba
#1 Giant Hygrophilia
#1 Tape Grass

Every since I had CAE in my 10gal they have been eating my plants and terrorising my fish... I gave them back to my lfs and got myself some oto's. Everything was fine and my plants were starting to grow back ...but then the oto's started eating my plants right where the CAE's had started The oto's have even started to attack my little cuttings I have placed small containers over the cutting to protect them... but how do I help the laregr plants? What do I do to stop the oto's behaviour? How can I help the plants to grow?

 

[elgecko]

I've had ottos in my planted tank and they never ate my plants. they will eat algae off the leaves of your plants if there is any growing, but will not eat the leaves themselves.

 

[endparenthesis]

I've never heard of that either.

 

[tear-scar]

Most likely you're just seeing the ottos grazing off algae or sections of leaves that are already dead. The healthy surface of live plants is not something their mouths can tear off.

 

[Tednol]

maybe there not getting enough algae and other foods so they eat the plants.

 

[Guppylover]

It might be my other fish then ... but everyday the part of the plant that has been bitten is growing larger, so the plant eating fish is still at large!
What do I do?

 

[Link]

Otto's won't eat your plants, just graze on the algae. It will be one of the other fish in the tank. Let me know what other fish are in the tank and tank info (lighting, water parameters etc) and I'll find you the culprit

 

[Guppylover]

Otto's won't eat your plants, just graze on the algae. It will be one of the other fish in the tank. Let me know what other fish are in the tank and tank info (lighting, water parameters etc) and I'll find you the culprit

Here are my fish:

#3 Peppered Cory Cat
#2 Dwarf Gourami
#2 Dwarf Otocinclus
#2 Guppy
#1 Poppendetta Furcarta
#1 Large Swordtail Fry

I haven't checked my water in I while but last time I did everything was fine. I don't have the parameters though... the lfs (where I get my water checked) didn't tell me them.
My lighting isen't strong... and all my plants have been perfectly well with it growing likes there's no tomorrow.

 

[elgecko]

Another thought; How much lighting do you have in your tank?
I would think if you only have a 15 watt fluorescent you're going to have trouble growing the Amazon Sword and Green Cabomba.
When I almost had 2 watts per gallon, I could not grow Cabomba in my tank. The leaves would brown and seperate from the stem, making one heck of a mess.

 

[Yeaulman]

I have a 15 watt lamp in my 20 gallon tank and I dont have any problems growing amazon swords or cabomba

 

[Link]

I dont think it's down to any of the fish.
It may be down to lack of light and/or lack of nutrients.

I agree with Elgecko. Cabomba loves bright light and can be difficult to grow. An easier and similar looking plant is Limnophila Sessiliflora. You might find that grows better. Swordplants will grow in almost any tank. If the leaves are yellowing then I'd add a good aquarium plant fertilizer.

You just have to keep trying plants that you like and stick to the ones you grow best. What will grow in your tank might not grow in mine. It's all about trial and error.

 

[*~*DaRk_AnGeL*~*]

I positive it wasen't the oto's, it has to have been bad lighting or nutrients

 

[Silly me]

does the eaten peaces look like pinholes on the leaves?? or is it eaten on the edges??

 

[Guppylover]

Eaten on the edges, there are alots of bite marks on the edges too.

 

[Nisha]

If the plants are being eaten by the Otos, you might want to try and feed them algae wafers or bits of one every week. If you're doing frequent water changes there might not be enough algae for them to eat. My Otos love Hikari Algae wafers but any brand should be fine. Put them in at night/evening since Otos are nocturnal feeders.
See if it makes a difference and hopefully you'll have whole plants again.