PDA

View Full Version : Holes in java fern, sword37 being eaten


AudraM
01-02-2008, 5:07 PM
I bought a 37g tank with a few plants about 3 weeks ago. There was lots of algae which has been brought under control. When I bought the tank, the plants were not in the best shape. The worst was the java fern and lace java fern. They had a bunch of dead areas and a ton of holes. I trimmed off the dead. I have used the flourish ferts and that helped. I was under the impression it was a occasional thing and not a several times a week thing, so I will increase my ferts. They are doing better since algae is gone, bulb has been replaced (20w), trimmed, and fertilized. I did have an ammonia spike and a corresponding nitrite spike but that is on the downward slope now. The swords are new and are in good condition. Both plants have stems with plantlets on them. But several of my lower leaves have been chewed on and I don't know what is doing it. All my other plants are doing great. I have platys, corys, pencilfish, SAE, neon tetras, amano shrimp, and a bristlenose pleco. I have a few Malaysian trumpet snails, but not many. I got rid of the pond snails. Any idea who is the culprit and how do I stop them?

Lupin
01-03-2008, 6:44 AM
Are you feeding your ancistrus some veggies? If not, they will resort to your plants for food. Snails can consume dead tissues of the plants.

jaysen
01-03-2008, 10:43 AM
how are nitrates? do you have ramshorn snails? my friend has the same problem due to his ramshorns. i would put a slice of zuchine in the tank so the snails and pleco have something to eat and see if the problem goes away.

AudraM
01-03-2008, 12:19 PM
No ramshorn, just malaysian trumpet snails, and very few of those. Nitrates have been about 5ppm.