Some Plants Not Doing Well

[kyleb2003]

I have a 240L planted tank with a fine gravel substrate, two T8 tubes running the length (standard ones that came with the aquarium). I'm dosing with Flourish, Flourish Excel and Flourish Potassium at the moment, 1-3 times per week depending on the individual directions. I'm no pro with the plants/ferts so all advice/directions welcome.

The only thing that has changed recently is the addition of a few plants, a floating Salvinia (that does grow like wildfire but I'm pulling handfulls out to keep the amount down and it all settles right up the front so not blocking much light), a red tiger lotus which is growing well and has just had a leaf reach the surface, and a madagascan lace plant which isn't doing well (it was an ambitious buy).

So, the problem, a few of the plants that are already established and growing steadily are beginning to rot. As in, holes in the leaves, going brown and dying. These plants include java fern, anubias barteri, Alternanthera Reineckii (I think), the lace plant and one or two others I can't find the names of (at work). The first 3 were all growing really well, no problems, the anubias is now down to about 4/5 leaves after looking fantastic, one java fern in the centre with a decent amount of light is down to just 1 leaf not rotted. I'm not shocked that the lace plant isn't doing well I hoped it would be ok but am aware it's difficult to look after.

Any ideas what may be the problem or what I can add/remove to improve things?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm not an expert, but do you have enough flow in the water? You said they were doing well. Did anything change? Anything?

 

[kyleb2003]

Nothing changed with the flow, only the mentioned additions but everything else is the same.

 

[ian]

have you got any pics of the affected plants?

So, you are only dosing Excel and K? the thing is Excel is a Carbon supplement, which is fine, however, once you start adding a carbon supplement, you need to start dosing other things. If you are dosing just these, you need to start dosing some trace elements. You may also need to start dosing some nitrate and phosphates.

 

[kyleb2003]

Yeah I have been looking at the trace, nitrate, phosphates etc. just wasn't sure which I needed before I started spending. Though, I have been dosing these for a while and the plants have only recently become affected. Just not sure what would cause the sudden change.

I'll get some photos of some later, cut most of the leaves out on sunday but there are a few to show you.

 

[kyleb2003]

Right, have a couple of pictures for you to check over, these leaves aren't as badly affected as the ones I cut out at the weekend but they're heading that way as you'll see. there's a small amount of dark green algae growing too, had it for a while but doesn't seem to be doing much and is only affecting a few leaves and mostly is on one rock.

Would you recommend me to dose trace, phosphates etc?

 

[RadaR]

Yes ofcourse.
I see nutrient and carbon deficiencies.
You could get an all in one fert like tropica plant nutrition+ or you could go for the Easylife range.

This is not aimed at you however I think everyday on this forum I am seeing more people using liquid carbon without knowing that they need to dose macro and micro nutrients frequently as well as large water changes per week due to the increased plant metabollic waste.