Whats causing this????

[jdwyz]

check the link below for some pics of a few plants in my tank that have got dark black fragments all over the leaves.i dose macro and micro nutrients and also add fluorish trace elements. i add fluorish iron and the substrate is fluorite.are these plants ruined.will they ever recover to their true color?im beginning to suspect this is some type of algae what do you make of it?all help on diagnosis of prob appreciated

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?selected=285100

[djlen]

Are those Anubia Barteri? If so, that's algae, and if you find a way to stop it from happening on those plants you'll make some big bucks. The older leaves on tend to accumulate that on them and it's just something that I and many other aquarists have learned to live with.
Len

[wetmanNY]

Len's got it. That's algae, all right. Anubias have a waxy cuticle that makes them moderately resistant to the bleach dip. Dilute the Clorox to 1:20, not stronger. Leave the plant submerged for 2 minutes, on the clock. Not longer. Follow with rinsings, and a soak in de-chlorinator.

The algae will turn white in the next few days. A repeat may be necessary, but wait a few weeks before you do it.

Try growing Anubias attached to a small rock, so that you can remove it from the tank to prune it etc.

HTH.

[jdwyz]

thanks ill try that.i dont understand what you mean by 1:20?please explain.

one more thing.can dwarf sag be dipped in clorox to remove algae also?


thanks for your help

[Aquafreak]

1:20 = 1 part bleach 20 part water

[djlen]

On the dwarf Sag.......very lightly. I would go no longer than a min. and then rinse well. Don't forget the final rinse should be in water with tap water conditioner in it.
Len