Crypts Losing Leaves

[jmuccillo]

I find that whenever I increase CO2 in my tank several of the crypts begin to loose their leaves. I found this during my recent struggle with bga during which I increased CO2 from around 12ppm to 20-25ppm. When I turn the CO2 down again the problem with the crypts goes away. ( but of course this increases the risk of bga returning).

Current tank parameters:

NO3 - 20ppm
PO4 - 1ppm
I also dose so that I am adding around 15ppm K each week as well as Flourish trace as recommended + Chelated iron to around .2ppm per week.
I don't use any substrate ferts.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[pseud]

15ppm of Potassium (K) each week... That seems a lot...

 

[pseud]

You know what? I shouldn't post at 8am when I've just crawled out of bed. I was thinking phosphate not potassium. Sorry for any confusion caused.

 

[jmuccillo]

You know what? I shouldn't post at 8am when I've just crawled out of bed. I was thinking phosphate not potassium. Sorry for any confusion caused.

Not a problem. I would also consider 15ppm phosphate a lot.

I came across this link which suggests loss of leaves could be attributed to phosphate defficiency. I have also noticed a bit of green spot algae in my tank which I understand may also be due to low phosphates. Still...my phosphate readings are generally around 1ppm which I thought was O.K. Might try bumping them up a little to see if this helps. Has anyone else had problems with Crypts losing their leaves?


http/www.aquabotanic.com/diagnose.htm

 

[pseud]

Could be. It could also be due to the drop in pH as you increase CO2. You could try upping the Phosphate to 2ppm and seeing if that helps. If I were you, I'd probably up the CO2 to 30ppm and just leave it constant, wait for the crypt's leaves to drop off and then grow back.

 

[George Farmer]

I wonder if it's pH related?

Some Crypts can be very sensitive to changes in their environment. The addition of CO2 will obviously result in a pH drop.

Another possibility - substrate fertilistion will definiltely help your Crypts, they obtain a lot of nutrients from their roots.

 

[jmuccillo]

Another possibility - substrate fertilistion will definiltely help your Crypts, they obtain a lot of nutrients from their roots.

Thanks for the replies.

I've been contemplating adding some sort of substrate fert for a while now but don't want to strip the tank down as it has been up and running in this form for a couple of years. What do you suggest I could add without starting over? Some type of root tabs perhaps?

I'll also try and keep the pH as stable as possible and see if that settles things down.

 

[George Farmer]

What do you suggest I could add without starting over? Some type of root tabs perhaps?

Definitely. I'm not sure what's available in Australia but I'm sure there's something.

 

[Ptarmigan]

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[pseud]

Uhhh... that's just not nice!

 

[jmuccillo]

[Definitely. I'm not sure what's available in Australia but I'm sure there's something.

Rabbit droppings !

Well there's certainly an abundance of rabbit droppings in Australia and if the idea ever caught on down here it would send a few aquarium fertilizer suppliers to the wall. At this stage I might stick to something a little more conventional but thanks for the tip. It made for some interesting googling.

 

[Ptarmigan]

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[pseud]

Oh, I'm not offended, or upset.. just a little grossed out. And trust me, in healthcare i see a lot of gross things, so it takes a lot to gross me out.

some are specialy prepared to be re-ingested by the rabbit

Yum. Yum. lol

 

[Sean_Buckley]

It actually just looks like round chocolate chip droplets. And its hard, not...well...you get the idea.
Sean

 

[Ptarmigan]

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