Name That Nutrient Deficiency

M

mtber

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Jun 28, 2004
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I’m having an ongoing problem with progressively unhealthily plants. I fought an algae problem (you name it, I grew it) for ~ 9 months. After I quite trying (balancing/changing ferts, co2 levels, lighting periods, etc), the algae eventually went away or was at least under control.

Then a month or so later the plants started looking bad. It’s gotten so bad that swords are getting holes in them and severely yellowing, even melting. Even anubias is getting pale/yellow spots and holes.

For the last month I’ve been pouring in Seachem Flourish, trace, iron and potassium. Seems to have slowed some of the decline, but the plants are still getting worse.

The crazy thing is that there is still some growth albeit slow. Even some pearling from the tiger lotus and minor from some swords.

Tank Specs
125 gal, CO2 injection, 284 watts compacts, substarte gravel fluorite mix
pH 6.8, KH 5, GH 7 (correction), Nitrate 10-20 ppm, phosphate 0.5-1 ppm,


Suggestions?

Thanks,

John
 
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Here's a good place to start...
I'm wondering if it's a K (potassium) deficiency - just a shot in the dark.
If you're adding lots of ferts, keep in mind that excesses of some nutrients can actually prevent plants from taking up other nutrients - for instance, an overabundance of Mg can inhibit the uptake of other nutrients, especially K.
 
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Correction GH is 7 and was 8 a month ago.

I thought it might be K too. I added 400 mL seachem potassium over about a week period a couple of weeks ago and have been adding the following Seachem ferts mix daily for about a week now. Flourish 0.7 mL, Fe 1.4 mL, K 3.6 mL, Trace 8.7 mL.

Would these cover magnesium?
 
I don't know the answer I just thought you had very soft water and IF I understand correctly most of the Gh is Kh. I just looked at a bottle of Kent trace elements I have and it does include some magnesium.
 
I'm not sure how you arrived at the NO3 and {PO4 numbers, but the plants are hurting and that's not from CO2, that's from NO3.

Add some KNO3. (3/4 teaspoon 2x a week)
Add enough CO2 to get 6.7 pH.
Add some KH2PO4. (1/8+ teaspoon 2x a week)
Add 20mls of traces on the off days (3x a week)
You can add 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salt.

Do weekly 50% weekly water changes and wait.
The plants should perk up and be pretty healthy in about 2-3 weeks.


Regards,
Tom Barr
 
All of the water testing numbers are fron Aq Pharm test kits except pH which is by pH meter.

Are phosphate and nitrate too low at 0.5-1 ppm and 10-20 ppm respectively, or do you suspect the accuracy of the measurements?

I've been loath to add nitrate in concern for the fish. The tank is heavily/overstocked, but the plant growth has always mediated nitrate levels.

Yes, KH is steady.

Thanks,

John
 
I'd follow Tom's advice to the letter and see what happens. NO3 test kits can and do go bad, and even if your reading is accurate, adding a little more NO3 isn't going to hurt the fish.
 
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