Plant leaves keep going brown...

[Jimmy Twotimes]

Hi guys

My plants are suffering for some reason. I have some amazon swords (2) and vasilleneria (not sure how to spell! ). The thing is on all these plants and some others I have had, the leaves always go brown and then die. The plants actually shoot up new growth which start off green but then these go brown and die also.

No idea why this is....

I have small gravel as substrate and water params are normal (0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites and some Nitrates). I've an idea it could be low light but not entirely sure. I have 35 UK gallon tank and one fluorescent tube.

Any ideas?

 

[Nisha]

Light is a major factor for plants as well as nutrients.
Vals and Swords do fairly well in a range of lighting though you might want to check their specific needs at Tropica.
Have you tried adding some kind of aquatic plant food for your plants like Flourish?

 

[Jimmy Twotimes]

Cheers Nisha. I've thought about some kind of fertiliser but reading the forums, on a lightly planted tank it shouldnt be necessary.

I might try increasing the light output by putting some aluminium foil behind the light tube to try and increase the output.

Thanks again.

 

[babyfish]

plants like swords with a vigorous root system need to have fertilizer of some type put in around the roots or they go brown and die