Holes in Healthy Echinodorus Ocelot

CharlieV

CharlieV

AC Members
Feb 16, 2005
355
0
0
Hi All,

got the above plant cheap as it had about half a leaf left on it! Floated it for a week then planted it (no special substarte but I have DIY CO2). Since then I have 4 new blood red leaves - :D
The issue I have is I read somewhere that Common Pond Snails will not eat healthy plant matter and would go for algae on and above it.

I have had a severe BBA problem and a massive snail population explosion so over last 6 weeks I have reduced feeding and increased volume of water changes from 25% to 40% weekly.
This worked well and the BBA is all gone and the snail population is minimal (I assume there must still be a few hiding) and I haven't seen a snail for a week.

My question is are the snails eating the healthy leaves? I know there are still snails in there but no where near as many as there were. The BBA is practically gone so have they run out of food????

I was gutted to see my revitalised plant hole punched!

Water Perams are all good with Amm @ 0, N'Trite @ 0 and N'Trate never higher than 20ppm.
I use CO2 and dose with Hagens plant food with added iron. When I water change I use remiineralised RO.

Any help greatly appreciated.
(sorry fo the length of post just wanted to get as much info in as possible!)
 
I just got this list off the web.

Optimizes growth - Contains beneficial trace elements - Promotes vibrant colours - 0.15 - 0 - 0 Guaranteed Analysis: - Total Nitrogen (N): 0.15% --0.15% Water Soluble Organic Nitrogen (Cheleated agent) - Iron (Fe): 0.26% -- 0.26% Chelated Iron - Manganese (Mn): 0.05% -- 0.05% Chelated and soluble Manganese - Zinc (Zn): 0.003% -- 0.003% Chelated Zinc - Boron (B): 0.0005% - Copper (Cu): 0.0005% -- 0.0005% Chelated Copper - Molybdate (Mo): 0.0007% -- 0.0007% Chelated Molybdate

I dose weekly as per Hagens reccomendation (4 capfuls for my 30G) just after a water change

Chaz
 
Try to find some KNO3 and KH2PO4 for dosing. I'd wager that you have a nutrient deficiency. That PlantGro stuff (that's what it's called isn't it?) is okay if you have a low light, low growth tank, but it's useless in a tank with high nutrient demand.
 
PlantGro - it is that stuff yeh and the only stuff I can get in my area (have tried 3 LFS!). I have densley planted with just over 1wpg, but the growth has always been faster than I owuld expect for the species.
Any suggestion for the source of KNO3 and KH2PO4?

Thanks HappyChem - helpful as always!
Chaz
 
I second the vote for K deficiency, small holes in the middle of otherwise healthy leaves is not likely caused by snails or fish.
I get my ferts, including KNO3 and KH2PO4, at a hydroponics shop. They sell the dry chemicals separately, and they're quite inexpensive - about $3 worth of KNO3 lasts me for months, and my plants are greedy. You can also get KNO3 at garden centres (stump remover), though I've never had any luck finding it.
 
As Blinky said, you're not likely to find any of the individual ferts at a lfs, it's not worth it for them to carry them. Hydroponics shops are a good source of KNO3 and trace mix. You're in England, right? That'll probably limit the usefulness of a lot of suggestions. You should definitely be able to find some KCl in the spices section of your grocery store as a "salt alternative", read the label to make sure you're not getting a 50/50 mix (not harmful, just half as effective).
 
Guys thanks very much.
and yes.. I am in England (South) I believe I can get the salt alternative Happychem.
Blinky / Rev - thanks for your input also - Hydroponics shops are not that common here but I think i know of one at least.

Can I toruble you all for some dosing advice?
I don't have a K test kit is there one available?
Is dosing K harmful / Stressful to my fish?
 
Dosing K will not stress your fish out, well as long as you don't go way overboard. I dose around 30ppm potassium after my weekly 50% WC otherwise my anubias starts to look cheesy. Your NO3 value is fine but check out your PO4 and keep it around 10% of your nitrate reading.

I don't think there's any way to test for K levels but you should be able to get a report from your water supplier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom