Amazon Swords Going See-through And Brown.

[djl08]

Hi there,

I'm currently 4 weeks into cycling my 160L tank, About 2 weeks ago i bought an amazon sword from pets at home. I put this straight into my tank (still in the ceramic pot) along with some API leaf zone. They seemed to be growing wonderfully so i decided to take them out of the pot and noticed that the crown had split into two separate plants which i then replanted separately. Now they seem to be growing OK, quite a few new leaves are coming through.

But the trouble is the larger leaves are turning see-through and brown, i was wondering what i was doing wrong and what could be done to prevent this from happening. I now understand that amazon swords are root feeders is this correct? Should i be adding root tabs to my substrate?

Heres my spec.

Lighting - 1 x 30W interpet tropical tube, 1 x interpet marine tube (came with two marine but could only afford one tropical)
Tank - Aquatropic 100 - 160L
Substrate - Standard aquarium gravel, around 1.5 inches deep.

Thanks,

- Dj -

 

[Geoff1991]

Do you use fertilizers or co2?

 

[djl08]

I use API Feaf zone, its a liquid fertilizer. I currently dont have a CO2 system installed but its something im planning on adding in the near future.


- Dj -

 

[Geoff1991]

It sounds like a deficiency to me. Not sure what though.

 

[RadaR]

Definitely a deficiency.
Leaf-zone unfortunately doesn't contain any nitrogen or phosphorus which the plant needs. And in the 4th week of the tanks cycle there is no way that you'll have a fish bioload high enough to produce the necessary nitrates and phosphates.
Give these a go and over 2 weeks see if there is any difference.
You might find that in a few months, your tank will have a sufficient amount of fish to produce the food the plants need. If after that you still want better growth then consider a liquid carbon additive such as EasyLife EasyCarbo.

 

[djl08]

ok, great. Will give them a go.

Dan

 

[Goodygumdrops]

re you noticing that the new leaves are a different shape?Could be that when you bought it,it was displaying emerged growth (lots of companies grow their plants like this).They then need to start growing in submerged.
I recently got two largish swords from pah,leaves paddle shaped,the new submerged leaves are growing in the traditioal sword,elongated shape now,I just cut the original leaves off right at the base as they'll eventually die off anyway.

 

[djl08]

re you noticing that the new leaves are a different shape?Could be that when you bought it,it was displaying emerged growth (lots of companies grow their plants like this).They then need to start growing in submerged.
I recently got two largish swords from pah,leaves paddle shaped,the new submerged leaves are growing in the traditioal sword,elongated shape now,I just cut the original leaves off right at the base as they'll eventually die off anyway.

I think you it this one right on the button. The new leaves do seem narrower, and i just received 4 new swords from Murphee, which have long narrow leaves, unlike the paddle shaped leaves of the ones i got from pets at home.


- Dj -

 

[Goodygumdrops]

That'll be it,there's actually an amazing difference in the leaf shape I found,and once the new ones start growing,they should come in pretty quick.If there's quite a few new leaves,just cut all the dead and dying ones off as close to the crown as poss and chuck them.
Also,you did the right thing taking them out of the pots,make sure with swords also that they're not planted too deep,plant them,then gently wiggle them up a bit so the crown (where the roots and leaves meet) is just visible.

Sorry,meant to add,yep,if you have just plain gravel,swords will benifit from root tabs.Also,if you don't want to go down the co2 route (it's not entirely necessary dependant on what you want to grow),I use a liquid carbon supplement,Seachem Flourish Excel,you can also get Easy Carbo etc.You can pick up a 250ml bottle for around 8 quid on eBay and it'll last you a while.They reckon you get around 3x the growth rate adding a liquid carbon as opposed to adding no carbon at all,growth rates are more than this with gaseous carbon.
I've got two fairly heavily,really healthy planted tanks that I use liquid carbo on,I keep looking at co2 systems but I think I have a mental block there lol.Technophobia or something.

 

[djl08]

Well i will be adding root tabs when i get paid next week. But as for liquid carbon, does it raise the co2 levels in the water. Because im in a fishless cycle situation i have air stones in place to raise the oxygen levels. Wont adding carbon inhibit the bacteria growth?

- Dj -

 

[Goodygumdrops]

I'll pass on that one having never cycled a tank in my life,I'm sure someone from the cycle police will be along shortly to help

 

[Geoff1991]

Well i will be adding root tabs when i get paid next week. But as for liquid carbon, does it raise the co2 levels in the water. Because im in a fishless cycle situation i have air stones in place to raise the oxygen levels. Wont adding carbon inhibit the bacteria growth?

- Dj -

Im fishless cycling with co2 and it hasnt had much of an effect of my cycle...

HTH

 

[djl08]

Hmm i'll post this question in the new to the hobby section. Perhaps WD or Oldman will be able to help.

- Dj -

 

[RadaR]

Liquid carbon doesn't put any carbon dioxide into the water. It adds a carbohydrate that the plants can utilize the carbon from, replicating CO2. Neither liquid carbon or CO2 gas injection will slow down the cycle.

 

[aaronnorth]

Liquid carbon doesn't put any carbon dioxide into the water. It adds a carbohydrate that the plants can utilize the carbon from, replicating CO2. Neither liquid carbon or CO2 gas injection will slow down the cycle.

agreed. Even if you did add CO2 gas then it doesnt replace Oxygen in the water - it is possible to have a CO2 & O2 enriched tank at the same time.