Plants Dying?

[Twinklecaz]

Hi,

Just recently some of my plants (mainly Amazon Swords) have started to go brown and some leaves have black patches on them. What's that about coz my tank is starting to look really crummy?

It's about 57 L and I dose 2-2.5ml of TPN+ daily and 1ml of Easy Carbo.

Is this down to too much or little light? The lights are on 8 hours a day (I do have moonights too if that's relevant). I'm lost as to why it could be happening.

Water stats are all normal/fine although my Nitrate was at 40 last time I checked which is twice as high as normal.

The only other thing I can think is I do now have quite a large lot of floating plants on the top that probably all together cover half the surface (but in patches obviously). Could this be be blocking the light?

Thanks

 

[Twinklecaz]

*sigh* no-one else has any idea then either. It's very strange!

 

[smudgedj]

I think Amazons are root feeders so you maybe better of using root tablets.....I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct me and help you out.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah that occured to me.........might be worth a try?

 

[aaronnorth]

They could be adapting as they are often grown emersed. How long have you had them?

Are moon lights blue? You might want to swap them for some white tubes.
There isn't really a 'normal' for NO3 as far as plants are concerned. You can't rely on the test kits providing you with accurate readings anyway, so it could be higher or lower.

Keep trimming the dead/ dying leaves off to promote new growth.

Thanks, Aaron

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hi thanks

When I say moonlights I mean as well as the normal light. I have the normal one on 8 hours a day and the moonlights stay on all the time (they're so low you can't see them when the main light is on).

I've had the swords since I've had my tank going so about 5 months?

I wonder if they are just adapting to the floating ones being there. Thanks, I'm gonna keep cutting them back and see what happens.

P.s how/where are you supposed to cut Pygmy Chain Swords?

 

[aaronnorth]

Ok thats fine then.

Well your dosing regime sounds ok, amazon swords can tolerate low light levels but we might aswell cover it anyway. What wattage are they and what type?

You can just cut the chain swords like you would a normal lawn.

Thanks, Aaron

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hiya, thanks again. Not sure about the moonlights but the normal one is 15w and T(whatever the lower light one is).....can't think.

 

[aaronnorth]

T8?
Yeah your lighting levels are low but that shouldn't matter, just trim them and see what happens in a few weeks. As long as the floating plants are moving around the surface and are not making a constant shade for the plants below then they should be fine.

Thanks, Aaron