Anacharis dying....salvageable? (pics inside)

J

JCKey618

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Dec 28, 2010
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Hi all,

First of all, I think it should be mentioned that I am currently one week in to a fishless cycle.

My stats:

55 gallon tank
Heater at 82 degrees
Ammonia at 5ppm (no nitrites yet)
two 15w lightbulbs (but they've been off the whole time for cycling purposes...since seeing my plant dying yesterday, I've decided to try and give them light regularly)
Aqueon 55 filter + sponge filter
Two bubblers
Ph: 7.5
Hardness: Normal levels

I have other plants in there that are doing fine. My anacharis was a little droopy since I got it last week. This is how it looked the first day:

5307169681_d022a7a17d.jpg


It looked pretty much the same until tomorrow. In 8 hours it became this:

5324641370_c037389ebf.jpg


It looks really frail now and I'm wondering if it's time to just take them out and try again after my cycle or...? Was it the lack of light? Also, I changed my substrate from gravel to sand this past weekend, if it matters. Also, if it matters, here's a pic of the entire set-up. It was taken yesterday morning (before I got worried) and you can already see the difference in the anacharis.

5317564788_1967330deb.jpg


And help is appreciated.
 
I just added this plant to my 55 gal a few weeks ago. I got it online and it arrived mostly black and it started falling apart. The few stems that made it are now producing really bright green new leaves.
I would start leaving the lights on and maybe add an all purpose fertilizer to give it a boost. It might just be acclimating to its new home.
I believe it also doesnt like high temps.
 
Well, I got the plant when I went to pick up the tank and wasn't finished putting the tank together until about 5 hours later. In the meantime, it was sitting in its bag on the counter...I didn't have the heat on and it gets pretty cold in my apartment...I'd say 50-60 degrees. But that was 8 days ago.

Also, once it's dead, is it done? When I picked one up that had dislodged to replant it, it started shedding all over the tank, just breaking apart.

And what fertilizer is good to use? That won't interfere with my cycle/hurt the tank?
 
hmm it probably isn't dead then because it would have been dead 3 days after you got it if it was damaged in transit. You can also float the plant in hopes that will help. Some of it might still be alive so i would just float it and give it a couple of days and see if you have any improvements. I don't think fertz will help at this point. Do you have any nitrates in the tank?
 
Luckily anacharis is a very forgiving plant.
Here's what I did to revive my dying anacharis:

If you have one of those clear critter keepers(for crickets etc, put it in a window full of tank water. No need for a heater being anacharis likes cold temps. After a few days of direct sunlight and lower temps, you will see the plants become much healthier. Mine actually filled the little tank up with thousands of bubbles. You just can't beat natural sunlight for plants, it's free, self regulating(no timer needed) and it works!

After this your plants will be strong enuff to acclimate to your warmer tank and should plant themselves just fine.

Also you might try letting them float at first before planting. While they will grow a pretty strong root system, they are "bunch" plants and do very well floating using their rhizomes to remove nutrients from the water column.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the advice. What is the best way to 'float' them? Do I just let them free? I ask because usually any stray strands that get away end up stuff to the filter :\
 
I also float my anacharis a few days before planting. I wait until I see new growth on ones that are in bad shape before planting. I doubt that my floating them is of any real value but it does keep them closer to the light source. They eventually recover and grow on their own.

With 5ppm of ammonia makes me wonder if that is the reason for the dieing off.
 
So when I try to float them in my tank, they easily end up pushed by the bubbles on one side to the other and latched on to my filter suction.

Also....they look REALLY dead. Like soggy bread.
 
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