Plants getting brown spots

[ryanalex]

I just recently put plants into my 6 gallon Eclipse tank. I have 2 Brazilian Sword, 2 Anubias Nana, and 2 Java Fern. I have had them in for about 3 weeks now.

The leaves are getting brown spots on them. The brown spots then turn into holes in the leaf. The roots also turned brown and then clear. It seems like that plants are still growing, though.

My understanding is that they do not require a lot of light. The Eclipse has a light and I got a timer for it so that the light is on for about 12 hours a day.

I also didn't think that CO2 would be necessary. The tank is small and the filter is above the tank so it disturbs the surface of the water enough that I didn't think the CO2 would stay in the water.

I only have a SAE in the tank and got at least one snail from the plants in the fish store.

Any thoughts?

 

[Roach]

Brown spots that turn to holes I believe are one of the signs of potassium deficiency. Not 100% sure though.

 

[TKOS]

Swords do prefere more light. They also have a tendancy to die off when introduced into a new tank . This is usually due to the fact that they are raised as emersed plants and have a different type of leaf when submerged, so they must grow a new set of leaves.

Is it all the plants that have brown spots?

 

[ryanalex]

Response

The Java Fern also has brown spots. The fern may not be getting enough light as it is under some of the other plants.

The edges of the anubias nana also have turned brown a little bit. Not as much as the sword, though, and only on the edges.

Could it be the snail or SAE eating the plants?

 

[TKOS]

Snails rarely eat plants (excpet some of the larger apple snails). They do eat decaying plant matter. Plus there would be holes. And SAE's don't do damage either. It sounds like a nutrient problem. Check the sticky on fertilizers in the plant forum. That might help.