Slimy Vallisneria?

[ellena]

I've had 3 of these and every one has done the same. I'm fishless cycling so I took them out to avoid their rotting producing ammonia.
Here's a shot when they were in the tank

I had straight and the spiralling. They were going slimy the day after I bought them. I used fert (tetra brand) and have the lights on 8-9 hours a day. I still have the cambomba which seems happy-putting out a few flowers.
What did I do wrong with the vallisneria?

 

[aaronnorth]

vallisneria prefers alkaline water, ammonia will turn the water acidic.

 

[Alasse]

Val can be funny with some fertz too. I'd be thinning it out a bit and not using the fertz and see if the sliminess stops

 

[ellena]

The ammonia is def. making the water alkaline-pH readings are 7-8.5.
I've taken it out now, but it's something I'd like to try again with in the future, so I'll bear in mind about the fert. Thanks

 

[aaronnorth]

The ammonia is def. making the water alkaline-pH readings are 7-8.5.
I've taken it out now, but it's something I'd like to try again with in the future, so I'll bear in mind about the fert. Thanks

thats a first!

 

[Dave Spencer]

vallisneria prefers alkaline water, ammonia will turn the water acidic.

Ammonia will increase the pH, Aaron. It is a base.

Dave.

 

[aaronnorth]

vallisneria prefers alkaline water, ammonia will turn the water acidic.

Ammonia will increase the pH, Aaron. It is a base.

Dave.

i always thought it was acidic, due to people worrying about pH crashes with fishless cycling. thanks!

 

[ellena]

I think it's the products of the cycle which are acidic and make the pH crash?

 

[Craster]

Yep. Nitrite buildup is usually in the form of nitrous acid in solution which will lower the pH. Considering that when cycling the usual process is to keep the Ammonia topped up until it's processed down to 0ppm, you quite often have a significant nitrite content at that point, which is enough for a pH crash.

As I understand it, at least.

 

[aaronnorth]

Yep. Nitrite buildup is usually in the form of nitrous acid in solution which will lower the pH. Considering that when cycling the usual process is to keep the Ammonia topped up until it's processed down to 0ppm, you quite often have a significant nitrite content at that point, which is enough for a pH crash.

As I understand it, at least.

thanks