Plants Dying, Can't Figure Out Problem

[saltyfresh]

Hello everyone,

I've been in the hobby for about 3 years now and I love it. I enjoy reading about it and I know the basics. I have a 20gal freshwater with a large piece of driftwood, my water still is tea colored but I actually like it. I'm in NY and our water Ph is 7, mine is around 6.6 because of driftwood. All my parameters are perfect. I have no ammonia, no nitrite, no nitrates and it's been like that for 4-5 months now. I change 30-40% water every week and sometimes vacuum mid week.
I have two small South American cichlids and a dozen small tetras. Plants include two medium Amazon Swords, some Micro Swords, a few Cabomba and one Chain Sword. Lighting is Solarmax T5 HO 2x24w. This came with bulbs that came for saltwater so I replaced them with proper bulbs same strength. I have black EcoComplete substrate.

The problem is my plants. Cabomba is melting, Sword leaves are turning yellow and dying, micro Sword seems OK but haven't seen much growth. Odd thing is one big Sword is sending out two large runner stems, one to the bottom into the dirt, the other up and out of the aquarium. It's confusing because the plant is spreading which means growing but it is dying at the same time. ? The substrate did dry out before I started the aquarium but I'm not sure if that changes anything. My temperature has been 78-80F but I read that can melt Cabomba so I'm down to 75F. I have over 2 watts per gallon, I don't do any CO2 but I'm keeping Swords. I had Swords exploding like crazy in my first aquarium, with crappy substrate, no CO2 and "akuarium kit" lighting that was way under 2wpg. I keep the lighting on 6 hours per day, if I keep it on longer I get too much algea. I can't figure out what the problem is.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Hello everyone,

I've been in the hobby for about 3 years now and I love it. I enjoy reading about it and I know the basics. I have a 20gal freshwater with a large piece of driftwood, my water still is tea colored but I actually like it. I'm in NY and our water Ph is 7, mine is around 6.6 because of driftwood. All my parameters are perfect. I have no ammonia, no nitrite, no nitrates and it's been like that for 4-5 months now. I change 30-40% water every week and sometimes vacuum mid week.
I have two small South American cichlids and a dozen small tetras. Plants include two medium Amazon Swords, some Micro Swords, a few Cabomba and one Chain Sword. Lighting is Solarmax T5 HO 2x24w. This came with bulbs that came for saltwater so I replaced them with proper bulbs same strength. I have black EcoComplete substrate.

The problem is my plants. Cabomba is melting, Sword leaves are turning yellow and dying, micro Sword seems OK but haven't seen much growth. Odd thing is one big Sword is sending out two large runner stems, one to the bottom into the dirt, the other up and out of the aquarium. It's confusing because the plant is spreading which means growing but it is dying at the same time. ? The substrate did dry out before I started the aquarium but I'm not sure if that changes anything. My temperature has been 78-80F but I read that can melt Cabomba so I'm down to 75F. I have over 2 watts per gallon, I don't do any CO2 but I'm keeping Swords. I had Swords exploding like crazy in my first aquarium, with crappy substrate, no CO2 and "akuarium kit" lighting that was way under 2wpg. I keep the lighting on 6 hours per day, if I keep it on longer I get too much algea. I can't figure out what the problem is.

Do you feed your plants? I use Seachem Flourish and my plants do indeed flourish. Plants need iron, amongst other things, and they won't generally get it from fish droppings. Seachem Flourish is extremely cheap to use, in a twenty gallon tank you will only need half to one capful (around 5ml) once or twice a week and your plants will start to pick up after three to five weeks.

Your big sword is probably trying a last-ditch attempt at survival. Feed now.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Hello everyone,

I've been in the hobby for about 3 years now and I love it. I enjoy reading about it and I know the basics. I have a 20gal freshwater with a large piece of driftwood, my water still is tea colored but I actually like it. I'm in NY and our water Ph is 7, mine is around 6.6 because of driftwood. All my parameters are perfect. I have no ammonia, no nitrite, no nitrates and it's been like that for 4-5 months now. I change 30-40% water every week and sometimes vacuum mid week.
I have two small South American cichlids and a dozen small tetras. Plants include two medium Amazon Swords, some Micro Swords, a few Cabomba and one Chain Sword. Lighting is Solarmax T5 HO 2x24w. This came with bulbs that came for saltwater so I replaced them with proper bulbs same strength. I have black EcoComplete substrate.

The problem is my plants. Cabomba is melting, Sword leaves are turning yellow and dying, micro Sword seems OK but haven't seen much growth. Odd thing is one big Sword is sending out two large runner stems, one to the bottom into the dirt, the other up and out of the aquarium. It's confusing because the plant is spreading which means growing but it is dying at the same time. ? The substrate did dry out before I started the aquarium but I'm not sure if that changes anything. My temperature has been 78-80F but I read that can melt Cabomba so I'm down to 75F. I have over 2 watts per gallon, I don't do any CO2 but I'm keeping Swords. I had Swords exploding like crazy in my first aquarium, with crappy substrate, no CO2 and "akuarium kit" lighting that was way under 2wpg. I keep the lighting on 6 hours per day, if I keep it on longer I get too much algea. I can't figure out what the problem is.

The T5 lighting (well done on the 6hrs, thats a good start) and the No nitrates means your plants don't have any food. As stated above the sword is probably eating itself (transporting nutrient) in an attempt to survive. Your algae is comming from the dying plants, the plants die slower when you turn your light down so the algae reduces.
IMO if you keep your lighting as it is you will probably get away with just feeding them before having to add CO2. Again, as your Nitrate is zero, a trace elements mix like flourish won't cut it, in the seachem range you would want to get hold of the Seachem Phosphorous, Nitrogen and the Flourish (not Flourish excel unless you do get everything else)
An All-in-one would also be an option, but I'm not sure what's available in the US - Maybe try this LINK and make your own...?


HTH

 

[ShinySideUp]

The T5 lighting (well done on the 6hrs, thats a good start) and the No nitrates means your plants don't have any food. As stated above the sword is probably eating itself (transporting nutrient) in an attempt to survive. Your algae is comming from the dying plants, the plants die slower when you turn your light down so the algae reduces.
IMO if you keep your lighting as it is you will probably get away with just feeding them before having to add CO2. Again, as your Nitrate is zero, a trace elements mix like flourish won't cut it, in the seachem range you would want to get hold of the Seachem Phosphorous, Nitrogen and the Flourish (not Flourish excel unless you do get everything else)
An All-in-one would also be an option, but I'm not sure what's available in the US - Maybe try this LINK and make your own...?


HTH

Thank you for that, Firearms.

Good job I have nitrates in my tank. I always assumed that Flourish was a general purpose plant food but after your post I read the blurb on the side of the bottle and yes, you are right, it is a trace element supplement.

Nevertheless, my plants do indeed flourish so thank you to my pooing fish as well as the bottled elements.

Strangely, one of the ingredients in Flourish is chlorine: in fact chlorine is one of the larger percentage ingredients. Odd.

 

[saltyfresh]

Appreciate the responses, thank you. I was hoping all the fish waste would provide food for the plants but I guess it's not enough. Technically my aquarium is over stocked so I'm doing my best to keep the water as clean as possible. Maybe I'm over doing it I believe I can get hold of the Seachem products so I'll try those or an all in one if I can find it. Can't wait! Thanks again.

 

[SO19Firearms]

Strangely, one of the ingredients in Flourish is chlorine: in fact chlorine is one of the larger percentage ingredients. Odd.

It's another one of the vital elements plants need. You're plants are probably getting their phosphate from the fish food too