My 20 gallon tank is in a room with good light and I have light on top of the tank as well. Plants have always done well but as of late I am seeing yellowing leaves. They are predominantly Java Ferns. Should I remove the plants that are yellowing? Anything I should do for the plants?
Plants turning yellow
- Thread starter msmtinct
- Start date
Not yet. Have some on order.
Nitrogen and iron deficiency are often causes of this. A nitrogen deficient plant will have all yellow leaves. and iron deficient plant with have green veines but the rest of the leaf will be yellow. There are other possible deficiencies that can cause yellow leaves but they are harder to identify and often leave holes in the leaves.
For a nitrogen deficiency test your water for ammonia , nitrite and nitrate. If all are zero you probably only need to add nitrogen to the water Seachem sells a bottle of nitrogen you can buy or you can use potassium nitrate. Add only enough to get a detecable amount of nitrate. 3 to 5 ppm should be enough.
If it looks like a iron deficiency a fertilizer within and micro nutrients is needed..
For a nitrogen deficiency test your water for ammonia , nitrite and nitrate. If all are zero you probably only need to add nitrogen to the water Seachem sells a bottle of nitrogen you can buy or you can use potassium nitrate. Add only enough to get a detecable amount of nitrate. 3 to 5 ppm should be enough.
If it looks like a iron deficiency a fertilizer within and micro nutrients is needed..
I would caution on the use of nitrogen here...first, the plants are Java Ferns which are slow growers which means they need less intense light and less nutrients. If there are fish in this tank (I assume there are), they will supply more than enough ammonia/ammonium to satisfy Java Ferns.
Those who run high-tech planted tanks may have nitrogen deficiencies. But those with low-tech natural method tanks with fish present are not realistically going to ever run out of nitrogen. The ammonia from fish respiration and the decomposition of organics in the substrate will provide all the plants need.
Those who run high-tech planted tanks may have nitrogen deficiencies. But those with low-tech natural method tanks with fish present are not realistically going to ever run out of nitrogen. The ammonia from fish respiration and the decomposition of organics in the substrate will provide all the plants need.
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