Plants Dying !

[SlyPolak]

I have had plants in my aquarium for quite a while now.... don't know too much I do know this is some kind of nutrient defieciency or something.

So my plants have been doing great from the start but about 2 weeks ago I noticed brown spots on some leaves, then the spots develop into holes. Then it seems like thw whole leaf breaks down and rots away...starts with older leaves first.

The odd thing about it is that there is only 1 Aponogeton that is SERIOUSLY affected to where almost the whole thing is dead. Then there is another one that is showing same effects but starting at the tips. Where the other one would just start "dying" all over the place. Some of my younger Aponogetons are showing the same problems but only a few brown spots and holes here and there. Also, the one that is the worst of all seemed to start getting smaller and yellower new growth around the same time the "problem" started to appear.

For some reason neither of my swords (echinodorus bleheri) seem to have ANY of the problems above ...

I will try to take a pic and post it tomorrow, even though there is'nt much of the worst plant left

Thank you for any help

 

[RadaR]

Are you seeing any algae?
Sounds like nutrient deficiency.....I'm leaning towards nitrogen.
Some plants might be effected more than others due to circulation etc. A plant in good flow may be recieveing nutrients at a good rate, whilst a plant in a "dead spot" wont be recieveing alot. Or possibly the Swords have a source of nutrients below them that the other plant doesn't have.
Either way, to eliminate the possibility of nutrient deficienies, I'd dose an all in one fert, like Tropica Plant Nutrition+.
If you have a lot of light, then Carbon deficiency is a possiblilty.

 

[SlyPolak]

No algae whatsoever.... might be because the farlowella is keeping up. The worst plant is actually right next to a 12 inch bubble stone so I was thinking maybe lack of C02... I was thinking of shutting the bubbler off atleast for nighttime for a few days and see what happens. (I like the look of a bubble wall).. About 2 months ago I placed Seachems Flourish Tabs below all of my plants , A week ago I started using Seachems Flourish "Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium" (micro-nutrients) in liquid. Contains .07% Nitrogen... How long do you think that liquid ferts take to show visible results? I doubt its a Carbon deficiency since its a pretty low light setup...
Any other views peoples??
Thanks..

 

[ian]

I think you have solved the problem yourself, the airstone needs to go, you'd be suprised how much c02 is lost through airstones, and as RadaR say get yourself some tpn+.

 

[SlyPolak]

But I thought in real low light setups you dont need more C02..... They did fine with the airstone for a few months so why all of a sudden this happens??

Plus I thought you are supposed to see algae with low C02 and I have not seen ANY.........

 

[ian]

what is your lighting and what size tank is it?

 

[RadaR]

But I thought in real low light setups you dont need more C02..... They did fine with the airstone for a few months so why all of a sudden this happens??

With low light set-ups you don't need to add CO2, but why drive off what you already have. Just because you dont have to add Co2 doesnt mean you can be getting rid of the stuff. I can't answer why it hasn't happened before. It may not be CO2. By process of elimination we have to rule out every possibility.

Plus I thought you are supposed to see algae with low C02 and I have not seen ANY.........

When the plants are unhealthy and begin to break down internally, then algae soon follows. You must have good maitenance in order to eliminate the leaching ammonia and organic waste (from the dieing plants) that would otherwise be triggering algae.

ianho's question is an important one.

 

[SlyPolak]

Its a 55 gal. with 2x 20W 8,000K Aqueon T8's... LOW light....

Im not saying its not the C02 but I doubt it because like I said , all conditions have been the same since the beginning...
Same lights, same amount of fish, same amount of day vs night light ratio.... NOTHING has changed.
As I understand if it was a lack of C02 wouldnt I have been seeing issues since the beginning??

I will shut the bubbler off for a while and see what happens but I think it might be a potassium problem but wouldnt the fish be supplying enough of that??

ANY help is appreciated .. THANKS

 

[RadaR]

I think it might be a potassium problem but wouldnt the fish be supplying enough of that??

Fish produce more N+P thank K I think.. You'd think the fish would be enough however if the plants are telling you that they need more of something, then give it to them. I'd want to rule out all possible nutrient deficienies by dosing an all in one fert like Tropica Plant Nutrition+ and seeing if it made a difference. Observation is the best test method we have with plants.

 

[SlyPolak]

I dont have TPN+ but I placed Seachems Flourish tabs under all the plants over a month ago and have been dosing Seachems Flourish liquid for about a week and a half... which are all micro nutrients not macro....
I have been thinking of getting Seachems Potassium but I don't want to get it unless I am SURE that what the problem is.......

 

[ian]

i would save my money and buy TPN plus.

 

[RadaR]

which are all micro nutrients not macro....

Kind of says it all deson't it.

I have been thinking of getting Seachems Potassium but I don't want to get it unless I am SURE that what the problem is.......

You wont know till you try. The plants are struggling and we think the problem is macro nutrients not CO2. If the macro nutrients dont work (you should a difference definetly within 2 weeks) then it must be CO2. But don't get Seachem Potassium. Get the TPN+ which has everything.

 

[SlyPolak]

I understand but I can't find TPN+ for sale anywhere here in the US.

 

[SlyPolak]

?

 

[RadaR]

You can make your own

Big Al's has Tropica Plant Nutrition, but not the "+" version which contains the macro nutrients. Pobably because they think it causes algae

Can you find Easylife products? Easylife Nitro and Easylife Fosfo.