leaves look like they are chewed?

Paccula

Paccula

AC Members
Dec 14, 2004
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Vancouver, BC, Canada
I can't quite figure out what the heck is going on here. My hygrophilia and hornwort arn't doing the greatest lately (although my java ferns are still growing like weeds). Both the hygro and hornwort have basicly stopped growing, when they were doing great a few weeks ago and were fine for many months. The weird thing, though, is the hygro. The plants on the right side of the tank have just stopped growing period, but on the other side the plants look like their leaves have been chewed off! Mainly just the leaves on the side of the plant facing the front of the tank- see pic.

plants-chewed-small.jpg



Now, the only thing I can think of is that ottos are gnawing at them- but is this even possible for them to do? I've been giving them extra zuccini just in case, but I didn't think ottos could even chew on leaves in the first place.
Not much has changed in the tank- temperature is a little higher than normal because I'm getting actual summer weather here now. It's also getting more natural light, same reason. (Vancouver was very cloudy and rainy for most of the summer, just getting hot and sunny the last few weeks).
The only other thing that's changed is my Sera kH plus. Normally that's exactly what I buy, but last time I went to the store they only had kH/pH plus - they said it was the same product, just changed the name. Well, after compareing the bottles I don't think it is the same, but I don't yet have a pH test kit to see for myself. Would a slightly higher pH cause this kind of leaf deteriation?


pH - should be 7 unless the new kH plus changed it
kH - around 4
CO2 - Sera tablet kit
temp - 78-80F
Light - flourecent bulb x 2 - 15W 12 hrs a day
ferts - Nosalt, nutrafin iron enriched plant gro liquid fert, sera flore plus and florena gravel tabs
 
I doubt the otos are nibbling the leaves more likely the tetras.

I'd get a pH test kit and see if it has indeed changed.

I'd also go to Sera's site and see what kH/pH plus is supposed to do and if kH plus still exists.
 
As to a pH change causing leaf issues like you are seeing, very unlikely.

I personally wouldn't go about messing with pH adjusters, it is most often a losing battle that messes with tank stability. Adding a long-term fix, if you think you need to lower/raise for some reason, is a better option, but still often very frustrating.

I would look into the possiblilty that the added light is prompting growth in your plants that your available nutrients cannot provide. I seem to have some of the same issues in tanks that get a lot of window light throughout the day, where plants such as hornwort and anacharis grow, but don't seem very healthy.
 
Yeah, I didn't want to change the pH, and I shouldn't have trusted the guy at the store so much as to buy and add that product. I've since found more kH plus at a different store, but I think Sera might be phasing out the kH plus and replacing it all with kH/pH plus. Sera's North American site is down, but the European site does not mention kH plus, only kH/pH. So, after my supply is out and stores are sold out, I guess I'll have to find a different product to do the job.
I've done enough water changes now I figure the pH is back to normal, but plants arn't doing much better. My hygro seems to be unable to grow good roots any more either, and some are comming unrooted by my simple gravel vacuming, which never used to bother them. I'm going to see about buying a test kit pack today, or at least a pH test. If the pH is again neutral, then I guess the light is the issue.
I don't think my tetras can nibble plant leaves either, as they never have in the 3+ years I've had them so I don't see why they would suddenly mow down all my hygro.
 
I think the black skirts are the culprits, next in line the danios.
 
my clown loach really limits me. I hate it.
 
ok so I finally broke down and bought a master test kit (although I did get a good deal on it).

copper = 0
pH = 7.5-8

Iron
non-chelated = 0
chelated = 0.25 mg/l

Phosphate = 0
GH = 60
kH = 5
Nitrate = 5mg/l
Nitrite = 0 - 0.1 mg/l
Ammonia = 0
 
Alright, I'm still having the same problem, but it's getting worse now. It doesn't appear to be affecting all the plants, but the ones that are affected are getting much worse. I sold the giant java fern which was blocking the filter current to the other side of the tank- so that is no longer a problem. However, I just bought a new cryptocoryne wendtii (which I haven't had time to actually plant yet, just put it on the bottom in it's little pot and covered the exposed roots with gravel) which looked very healthy when I bought it- two days later, the ends of some of it's leaves are breaking off, much like my hygro!! I fear if I don't act fast it will just be stumps before long.
Some of the Java's leaves are pale- not completely white, but they definately aren't normal. That makes me think I have a shortage of calcium? That's my last idea of what could be wrong. My test kit won't read such low results. How should I add calcium to the water supply? And what about the gh? I already add sera kh plus, because my tap water kh is zero as well!

20G tank
30 watts flourecent light, (2 X 15Watt aquaglo plant bulbs) both replaced one month ago with new bulbs

pH = 7.8

Iron
non-chelated = 0
chelated = 0.25 - 0.5mg/l

Phosphate = 0
GH = Less than 20mg/l. Test kit could not detect any
Calcium = Less than 20mg/l. Test kit could not detect any
kH = 4
Nitrate = 0- 5mg/l
Nitrite = 0 mg/l

Substrate is half regular gravel and half flourite.
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