Plants Too Old?

[chibi]

I have some very large amazon swords in my 29 gallon tank. They're over 2 years old. It grows new leaves every few days. Some leaves are over a foot long! However, I've noticed that they aren't growing as well anymore. They aren't making little baby swords like my other plants are (I don't know the name of my other plants, sorry!). They seem to be browning quickly, and sometimes get brown spots. I treat my tank with some sort of bottled fertilizer and have a UV sterilizer. My other plants are doing fine, but my amazons are starting to look yucky. I have no intention of putting a CO2 thing in my tank because I'm simply running out of room. Should I toss my swords and get new ones?

Edit: Here's a picture. It's not the greatest, but it's the only recent picture of my plants. You can see the one my corys are sitting on upclose and there is a browning leaf in the background.

 

[lljdma06]

Amazon swords are plants with extensive below-substrate root systems and this is how they primarily get their nutrients. Perhaps they need additional fertilisation in the substrate. Before you toss them, try inserting a few rootabs ( solid, little concentrated pellets of fertiliser) under the substrate close to the swordplants and see how they do then. I use Seachem brand, but there are others. These kind of look like tiny, black chocolate truffles to me.

Other questions to consider. What is your lighting level and how old are the bulbs?

llj

PS: cute corydoras, C. habrosus, right? Very nice.

 

[SuperColey1]

LLJ - From recollecting the roots on mine. I threw them out at 3 months old cos they were just too big for my tank. They had foot long roots then.

Is it possible that hese plants at 2 years old have such extensive roots that they have 'filled' the substrate and cannot extend more? Or that there are so many roots that they are 'fighting' for nutrients against their own?

Andy

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Like the above post said- give em root ferts. The root tabs need to be pushed all the way down to the bottom glass. For a larger soowrd multiple tabs or 1/2 tabs can be pushed in from different sides. Push them into the substrate at an angle starting from outside in. The idea is to distturb the roots as little as possible while getting the fert deep under the plant.

 

[chibi]

Amazon swords are plants with extensive below-substrate root systems and this is how they primarily get their nutrients. Perhaps they need additional fertilisation in the substrate. Before you toss them, try inserting a few rootabs ( solid, little concentrated pellets of fertiliser) under the substrate close to the swordplants and see how they do then. I use Seachem brand, but there are others. These kind of look like tiny, black chocolate truffles to me.

Other questions to consider. What is your lighting level and how old are the bulbs?

llj

PS: cute corydoras, C. habrosus, right? Very nice.

Yep, those are habrosus.

Okay guys, I'll try the rootabs! Thanks!!