Anybody else have this problem?

[konrad05]

I know this should be in "how does your garden grow", but nobody goes there. Anyways, does anybody have this problem with their plants where they look like they're decaying, or parts are turning clear? I fertilized a bit, but then algae came so I stopped. I have a CO2 system along with 3 watts per gallon. Anybody know what this could be? I'm finding dead plant leaves every morning! Help!

 

[Teelie]

Some plants need to be taken out of the water and kept wrapped in a moist towel or newspaper and warmed. I know it's true of Aponogentons and a few other common ones. I'm no plant expert though.

 

[Silly me]

Is it your sword plant
Does it look like it is melting??

What I do need to know if what plant it is, the PH

 

[CFC]

Knowing what the plants are would help, many of the plants sold in lfs's are not actually aquarium plants and start to die after a couple of weeks under water.

 

[henderg]

I think my plants are suffering from the same malady. I don't know what type they are (mid green, long sword like leaves with thin stems), but I have a photo of them, but don't know how to attach it. If someone could 'talk me through it' I'll try to post it.

The problem first showed up as brown patches on the leaves, which slowly turned an almost transparrent gray colour. The plants are only about 5 weeks old, and they have fresh healthy looking growth coming on.

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

my blue something, i cant remember what it is called. the second word starts with 's' i think. its got long kinda pale green leaves which go kind of pink in the light. i dunno. anyway some of the larger leaves on that go transparent and slimey. the new leaves that grow out of the top of it though are really nice looking (lol). i'm going to take it out though and put another amazon sword in instead. amazons seem to grow really well in my tank. yep ok i should probably go before i bore everyone to tears

 

[konrad05]

the plant that has always given me the most trouble is the Hygro. Everyday I notice dead leaves, transparent type, look like they're decaying. Also my sagittaris natan (grass), it releases a new shoot then it just almost falls apart. Do I need something specfic, like potassium or more iron? Thanks

 

[Bol]

How high do you run your CO2 levels?
And, do you happen to know the pH, KH, nitrate, and phosphate levels in your tank?

With 3wpg and higher CO2 levels and no ferts, it's very likely that you're seeing a nutrient imbalance. Or, at that light level, it could also be that you just don't have enough CO2 in the water.

 

[konrad05]

Well, I don't really control CO2, I use the DIY yeast method, changing bottles every 2 weeks or so. pH is usually around 6.6-6.8. I also have algae problem, I bought some otos today, hopefully they'll relieve that problem. A guy at the fish store told me it could be my temperature, 80*F, do plants prefer a lower temp or does it not matter?

 

[Silly me]

http/www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nutrient.htm

Have a look at this page

 

[Bol]

konrad,

I don't think 80 degrees would cause any problems, but I may be wrong. Doubt it, though, as many, many people keep their planted tanks at that temperature.

Do you happen to know the pH of your tank water when there's no CO2 being injected?

 

[konrad05]

KH is about 4 degrees, pH is around 7.2 without CO2. I let the temperature drop to about 78-79 recently, see what that does. Maybe I should be pruning more often? It's so annoying though, cutting the leaf, and if it gets loose, then I have to try to catch it with the plant tweezers.

 

[luxum]

When was the last time you changed your lightbulbs?

 

[konrad05]

bought them brand new 3 weeks ago. 2-40W Natural Color full spectrum by philips, and 2-40W power glo's.

 

[luxum]

Hmmm. What's your substrate?