Help diagnosing a plant issue...picture included

Emg

Emg

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Jan 16, 2005
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Northeast Connecticut
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What could be causing these plants to fade away at the leaf tips like this. I figure it's probably not enough light, but the other plants in the tank are doing fine....but I'm not exactly sure what type of plants these are.

I have 2-20watt flourescent bulbs over a 29 gallon. I dose with flourish excel and there is some flourite substrate mixed in the gravel.

Any help is appreciated, these plants were looking really good up till recently.

6434_91.jpg
 
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Well, I did say I dose with flourish excel.....they aren't swords, some type of aponogeton I believe. I do have the temp in that tank up to 80 for the rams and gouramis I have in there. Other plants in the tank are a type of sword, water sprite, some anubia and a bit of java moss. Everyone else in there seems happy enough...even another type of the same kind of plant....an aponogeton with curly/wavy type leaves.

I have two 20watt flourescent bulbs and it's a 29 gallon. A bit low in the light area, but like I said, the others seem fine with it. Also, I have flourite mixed in the gravel.
 
Emg, that one with the curly wavy leaves is a Aponogeton Longipumulosus. I also have one. Can you tell me how to propogate? Mine has reached the water level and is on its way back to the gravel, but trimmining the leaves would look kinda stupid.
 
Lol Boo...I have no idea.....these grew from those cheapie bulbs you buy at walmart. I was rather surprised at how well they took off...of course, now I have this issue with the flat leaved variety.... :rolleyes:

Anyone know specifically what could cause this issue ?? :confused:
 
Probably a nutrient defficency EMG. I use just regular flourish, not the excell with lower wattage than that and the plants do fine. I'd try doing that first. Aponogetons are pretty hardy and adaptable plants.
 
I think nutrient deficiency. Flourish excel is not a nutrient per say but a source of organic carbon, source of co2 if you will. You need to dose traces as well. Flourish should provide that or you can make your own. If you use Flourish, I would probably start off with 2ml/week and move up to 3ml/wk two weeks later. At that light level I don't think you need to add macros. Some should be available from the water column(waste and leftover food). With macros, I would go very slowly. Add a little bit at a a time, 1 or 2x a week until you find a good level for you tank.
 
I started useing Tom Barr's Estimative Index way of doseing nutrients and things went well at first. Then I got the same sort of decay pictured except on my crypts. I started adding some magnesium and calcium and the plants stoped dieing back like that.

There was a thread over on Aquaticplantcentral where a tank kept melting much worse than that even after a month of regular doseing of N, P, K and traces. The tank came around after he started adding calcium and magnesium as well.
 
Hhhmmm...I wonder if I remove the carbon from my filter first, if that would help. I recently have read that carbon in filters with planted tanks is not a good idea. I think I'll try putting some Echo-Complete down around the base of the plant and see if that does the trick. It's suppose to have everything in it that plants need....except the carbon..that's why I've been adding the excel. Of course I realize that won't last forever...but it may for awhile yet....we'll see

Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I'm sure it is some type of definciency..I was just hoping someone would know what particular missing trace element could cause that type of issue.....
;)
 
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