Help with Brown Leaves

[ChubbyBetta]

Can someone tell me why my plants leaves are suddenly turning brown?? I can't tell if it's an algae issue or the plants need more light / fertilizer. Had an issue with black spots about a month ago that I corrected by going back to tap water (long story). But now all my leaves are turning brown.

It's a 10 gallon semi planted tank. Most plants are above the substrate, anubias, 2 java fern, 1 potted amazon sword. 5 giant hygro stems planted in gravel with root tabs as a fert (I don't use any other fertilizer for the other plants). The plants seem to grow nicely and I was told they're all easy to care for and don't need much light/fertilizer.

I have no problem adding more light or getting some liquid fertilizer but before I do, I would really like to know if it's just an algae problem!
Here's a couple pics and thanks!

 

[itiwhetu]

To much fertilizer is my guess, you shouldn't need fertilizer for these plants.

 

[ChubbyBetta]

To much fertilizer is my guess, you shouldn't need fertilizer for these plants.

Would 1 seachem flourish root tab be too much? And I placed it kind of in the middle of the stem plants in the gravel...

 

[itiwhetu]

Would 1 seachem flourish root tab be too much? And I placed it kind of in the middle of the stem plants in the gravel...

Could be,

 

[ChubbyBetta]

Could be,

Well I guess getting a liquid fertilizer will not help lol are these plants good with low lighting?

 

[itiwhetu]

Well I guess getting a liquid fertilizer will not help lol are these plants good with low lighting?

No better with higher light. Make sure your lights are on a timer 10 hours per day to start with.

 

[ChubbyBetta]

No better with higher light. Make sure your lights are on a timer 10 hours per day to start with.

Yes I have it set from 10 - 8.. ok thanks, probably add an extra light strip!

 

[itiwhetu]

Yes I have it set from 10 - 8.. ok thanks, probably add an extra light strip!

What lights are you running

 

[ChubbyBetta]

What lights are you running

It's just the stock lights that came with the aquarium kit hood. Total of 6 white and 6 blue led's. Never had a problem though until I added the Amazon sword and java fern.

 

[itiwhetu]

It's just the stock lights that came with the aquarium kit hood. Total of 6 white and 6 blue led's. Never had a problem though until I added the Amazon sword and java fern.

Blue light is not good for plants. Plants need warm colors red, yellow. White

 

[Spyro]

Can someone tell me why my plants leaves are suddenly turning brown?? I can't tell if it's an algae issue or the plants need more light / fertilizer. Had an issue with black spots about a month ago that I corrected by going back to tap water (long story). But now all my leaves are turning brown.

It's a 10 gallon semi planted tank. Most plants are above the substrate, anubias, 2 java fern, 1 potted amazon sword. 5 giant hygro stems planted in gravel with root tabs as a fert (I don't use any other fertilizer for the other plants). The plants seem to grow nicely and I was told they're all easy to care for and don't need much light/fertilizer.

I have no problem adding more light or getting some liquid fertilizer but before I do, I would really like to know if it's just an algae problem!
Here's a couple pics and thanks!

Anubias are very prone to being overgrown by algae. You have to clean them from time to time, especially if you don't have any algae eaters in the tank.
As Itiwhetu said: they generally don't need any ferts, all you are doing is feeding algae growth. (providing you have fish in the tank with them)

GL

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Blue light is not good for plants. Plants need warm colors red, yellow. White

...And blue is great for algae.

That 'brown' does look a little algae-like, maybe even diatoms. Nothing to worry about, but besides reviewing your lighting, just check that you aren't overfeeding and supplying excess nutrients.

 

[ChubbyBetta]

Blue light is not good for plants. Plants need warm colors red, yellow. White

Let me ask u this, do the plants compete for light? Because like I said, never had a problem until I added 3 new plants. And it kinda feels like the lights were ok before for what I had but now maybe it's

...And blue is great for algae.

That 'brown' does look a little algae-like, maybe even diatoms. Nothing to worry about, but besides reviewing your lighting, just check that you aren't overfeeding and supplying excess nutrients.

Hmm this sounds like it may be the case, definitely been feeding more since adding a new fish. After reading a comment yesterday I went ahead and purchased a light stick to add to my existing light. Now, will too much light cause the brown algae or, leaving the lights on for too long cause it? Also, the new light stick really isn't much $12 tetra brand led

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Let me ask u this, do the plants compete for light? Because like I said, never had a problem until I added 3 new plants.

Short answer is yes...but unless your 3 new plants completely, (and I mean completely), overshadow your older pants, then that isn't really going to be an issue.

Hmm this sounds like it may be the case, definitely been feeding more since adding a new fish. After reading a comment yesterday I went ahead and purchased a light stick to add to my existing light. Now, will too much light cause the brown algae or, leaving the lights on for too long cause it? Also, the new light stick really isn't much $12 tetra brand led

It's not so much the intensity of the light that becomes problematic, but the duration of light.
We tend to keep the lights on longer than necessary, so that we can see what's going on in the tank. Simply shortening the duration of lighting will have a negative impact on the algae.
Regarding nutrition, some aquarium plants feed themselves mainly through their root systems, others mainly feed through their stems and leaves. Root feeders also feed themselves through their stems and leaves and stem-feeders also feed themselves through roots. Normally, between these plants and the algae, the plants will take up the majority of available nutrients, leaving the algae to go hungry.
If, however, there's an excess of nutrients, then the algae, including diatoms, will bloom.

 

[ChubbyBetta]

Short answer is yes...but unless your 3 new plants completely, (and I mean completely), overshadow your older pants, then that isn't really going to be an issue.

It's not so much the intensity of the light that becomes problematic, but the duration of light.
We tend to keep the lights on longer than necessary, so that we can see what's going on in the tank. Simply shortening the duration of lighting will have a negative impact on the algae.
Regarding nutrition, some aquarium plants feed themselves mainly through their root systems, others mainly feed through their stems and leaves. Root feeders also feed themselves through their stems and leaves and stem-feeders also feed themselves through roots. Normally, between these plants and the algae, the plants will take up the majority of available nutrients, leaving the algae to go hungry.
If, however, there's an excess of nutrients, then the algae, including diatoms, will bloom.

Very helpful, thank you!