Why Is My Twisted Valis Dying?

[mark.w.jones]

The twisted valis at the back of my 10gal UK tank at the back is gradually getting browner by the day, looks much worse than it does in my signiture which was taken about a month ago. Bits keep breaking off and floating to the surface. Not much left of the 4 original plants I bought. Not sure why though. The java fern on the log is doing fine as are the plants over to the right so I can't think of any other reasons why it's dying. Im no plant expert. Just add my liquid fertilizer every fortnight or so. I would consider a different bulb but don't want to go down the route of adding CO2.

Is there anything tall, flowing, easy to look after and cool looking that I can put at the back of my tank to replace it.

Any suggestions with pics would be gratefully received.

 

[Discomafia]

What is the PH, gH and kH of your water? Vallis does better in harder water, so that may be it. Also, the twisted val in my tank stopped growing when I got some free jungle val clippings. The jungle val grows very well in my tank, up to 2-3', but since I added it, growth in my twisted val has been very slow, with some leaves turning brown and rotting. So as a consequence, I had to throw it out after a couple of weeks, (this was last year). Not sure if that has anything to do with it, allelopathy I mean.... Also, my water is very soft, and has a PH of 6.4 or thereabouts...

HTH.

 

[George Farmer]

Twisted vallis is the most demanding vallis IME. It does best with v. hard water and plenty of light.

 

[Squid]

I had the same problem.. Swapped it out for normal vallis with much better results.. im not using CO2 or anything either.

Cheers
Squid

 

[Shuggieboy]

Im havin the same problem with my twisted vallis, i think it is cause my water is soft. I think im going to buy some onion bulbs instead, i dont know if that is the correct name but thats what my local LFSs call it. Ive had it before in previous tanks and it seems to do well in a wide range of conditions.

 

[pseud]

I let my nitrates and traces bottom out and my vals started turning brown and dying off.

Nice sig, squid. lmao.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Thanks for advice guys. The water is definitely hard but lighting is poor. You can't get a decent aqurium bulb less than 12inches in the UK, well not as far as Ive seen. Ive ordered some Thai onion plants from greenline aquatics instead.

 

[BigIan]

aparently valis neds to be in the direct flow from your filter....

or so i found out when mine died