How To Approach Melting Plants

[yinyangpete]

I collected some plants from my lake, all of which were completely submerged, but which grow to be emersed. I put them in my newly set up 55g with a gravel bottom. Decidedly low tech here. 48" t8 shop light, one 6500 daylight and one reef sun 50/50, both older bulbs. No supplementation.

They are all dying. When I went to pull them from the tank, I noticed almost all of them had fresh, white roots growing. I nudged them back into the gravel and figured I'd wait it out and see what they did. I'm worried about pruning them or anything for fear that what green they do have left is necessary to keep those roots growing.

I collected specimens of two other plants, both of which grow and stay completely submerged. I've been trying to identify them. Both are definitely rooted. They look like sago pondweed or widgeon grass, but I've found that trying to identify my lake plants based on internet pictures is distinctly more difficult than I ever would have imagined.

My camera is off on vacation and I can't do pics till next week.

Are there any general approaches to what I'm guessing are melting plants? Do I just let them die and see if new plants come up from the roots? I'd like to think that the plants which remain fully submerged will fare better, or is that just a silly assumption based on ignorance?

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[nic1]

Hi,
Well in my experience, plants tend to lose colour and rot away when I first add them, I give them a month sometimes longer to regrow and acclimatise to their new environment, just trim off any of the dead bits and they will start growing again.

I had some elodea from a pond once, and it was dark green and quite tough, when the ends started to melt away I chopped them off, but the new growth was a brighter green and felt softer, I also used a liquid fert.... Just give them time to adjust and I think they will be ok.

 

[Zikofski]

exactly like nice has said, plants require time, and some plants like amazon swords are actually grown out of the water when sold, so once the new growth starts you may notice it looking completely different to when you first bought it, but yes as soon as you see a leaf start to die of, if there is already new growth chop of the dieing leaf, but if there is no, new growth give it a few days then cut away the old leaf thats my experience to this

 

[yinyangpete]

Thanks for the replies. This is the first time I've collected my own plants. I have to admit I'm probably tumbling myself in mental loops that aren't necessary. Thanks for the reminders that they are just plants, doing what plants do.

 

[snowflake311]

"48" t8 shop light, one 6500 daylight and one reef sun 50/50, both older bulbs. No supplementation."
 
Depending on the type of plants that could be the problem. What is your Substrate? We really need to know what kind of plants they are because each plant has a different need. The plants are Rotting away because you are not giving them what they need and I can't tell your what they need if I don't know the kind of plant. 
 
t8 lights are only good for Ferns. Java fern , moss and  Anubias. If you have any sward plants and you just put them in Gravel they are not getting the food they need to live they feed a lot by the roots. Thats just a few ideas. 

 

[SO19Firearms]

they feed a lot by the roots.

 

[snowflake311]

They need a type of substrate that will give the roots what they need to grow like iron among many other things.

 

[SO19Firearms]

They need a type of substrate that will give the roots what they need to grow like iron among many other things.

They'll feed just as happily through the leaves, no special substrates needed. Nitrate, Phosphate, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium are probably worth singling out with Iron some way after too.]

HTH

 

[Zikofski]

sadly i haft to agree with snowflake swords will grow 3x quicker with a fertile substrate i did a test in my old tank 330L one side was fertile other was just sand, and i had two swords the one in fertile substrate out grew my 330L tank wile the one in sand nearly reached 10cm tall had the same light same flow same ferts through leafs only difference was the substrate look at my old 330L journal pics of my old swords plants may not need ferts through there roots but if you give it to them they thank you for it