Whats wrong with my plant?

[smwhang]

Hi anyone,

I've got these plants; forgot the name but their leaves are in this condition; they have holes and brown/black around it....actually, they turn colour and then the holes appear.
I'm not sure what the cause is.

Can anyone advise?
Deficiency in what trace elements?
Could be another problem?

Can anyone help?
Thanks

[Urban Aquaria]

Without any other information on your tank setup... it could be due to a combination of Co2, macro and micro nutrient deficiencies.

Here is a very useful plant deficient diagram and checklist for reference:



Source: AquaCalc

[thebaldingaquarist]

what soil are you using? if its soil meant for planted tanks and its new (or not so old), i would adjust my CO2 diffusion/circulation or the amount of CO2 i use in the tank.

[smwhang]

Thanks Urban Aquaria and Ercteanda,
What a flow chart!! Awesome!

I neglected to provide more info on my tank; my bad...sorry

It's a 180 liter tank; 60X60X50 ht
Soil is ADA powersand, then amazonia soil, then amazonia soil power as top layer. Using the prescribed fertilizing method by ADA ( all 5 types P,W etc...)within the substrate as i built it up.

This is a high bio-load tank, filled with micro fish and shrimps so it's filtration system is pretty much a bit over...about 120 fish and 100 shrimps; detailed list can be divulged if asked...

FILTRATION
Eheim 350 with pre-filter and then through eheim UV350 ( shoulda bought a classic 600, better flow rate)
UP-Aqua EX120 connected to a fluidized bed filter then through a Max Mix L size CO2 reactor; bubble count at 2 to 3 per second
A converted skimmer with just Seachem Matrix just as a bio filter being aerated slightly.
A HOB Fluval C2 from my ex nano tank; didn't want to waste the bacteria in there...
A converted glass in-tank vassal for my Seachem Purigen which I need to change out/recharge every 2 weeks or so when it darkens...

Lighting
HID 150w at 6500K hung at 35cm from water surface to bulb; 10 hr a day

Test kit result;
NO3 25
NO2 1
GH >10
KH 3
PH 6.5

Now this is strange...PH pen says 7.2
Maybe it needs recalibration.


I used ADA Brighty K daily until recently; stopped 3 days ago because of appearance of hair algae...single strand. This problem is off and on, single strand when it appears before I take it out.
I do have Seachem flourish excel on hand but am not using it for now.....
Thinking of getting a PO4 test soon to monitor phosphate levels....must be high because i like to watch my fish feed....hahaha.

Water change at 30% weekly

I've changed location of my CO2 indicator to where the problem plant is....and it's showing healthy green, not over nor under, just right

Added water lettuce 2 days ago to soak up excess nutrients...growing well, resulting in less appearance of hair algae...it's been a very delicate balance this hair algae problem; it appears only when I fertilize the plants so I stopped. This lettuce is also pretty effective I believe in soaking up excess nutrients.
I must already have a lot of nutrients from the fish waste to keep the plants happy ...
Tomorrow is water change day.

Anyway, back to the plant I have this problem with.
All other plants are doing well except for this one and 2 anubias which I believe is being fried by my lights, too high up on my wood toward the surface....maybe I will change location for this one.

Frankly guys, I am stumped...

[smwhang]

Here's a picture of my tank.

[Urban Aquaria]

With all the equipment and nutrient dosing in your tank setup, it looks like most of the requirements are covered.

If all the other plants are doing well, then just trim away the old and weak leaves from that plant so that it can focus more energy to growing new fresh leaves.

Do be careful when using fast growing floating plants in a planted tank, they not only soak up macros but also alot of micros too, and at a much faster rate then the plants on the substrate, so you may need to dose some micro/trace ferts to offset the increased demand.

[smwhang]

Hi Urban Aquaria,

Thanks for your diagnosis, I couldn't figure this problem out as well, some things do fall in the unknown...
Yes, good advice on the trim, which I have done.

In addition, I've connected a separate pump ( Tetra WP1000) to the CO2 reactor; took it off the FBF and aimed the direction toward to back ground plants.....to increase flow of CO2 to that area.
This way, the FBF flow increases without the reactor slowing it down in resistance and I could increase the CO2 dosing by probably half a drop a second; should get the CO2 indicator a slightly lighter green.
Now to just balance the flow of the reactor to the make all the bubbles dissolve.

What micros would you advise I'd have to supplement as the water lettuce takes away?

Thanks again in advance

[Urban Aquaria]

Well, you could continue with the Brightly K dosing, its a source of Potassium which plants need and isn't generated as much from fish food or waste (compared to N and P), so it tends to be used up quickly in a planted tank.

For trace, you could dose any of the all-in-one micro/trace ferts like Seachem Trace or Comprehensive, or try Tropica Premium Plant Growth (i currently use that, supplies everything except N and P)... or if you prefer ADA products, can dose the series of Green Brightly Step 1/2/3 ferts.

[thebaldingaquarist]

Hi,
I just took another look at the first set of photos.
Noticed that the new leaves are ok, but the old ones are breaking up.

can check if its an echinodorus plant? If it is, can check to see if the crown (part of the plant connecting the leaves to the roots) is exposed to water?

[smwhang]

Hi Erctheanda,,
I checked, it's seems to be a wavy sword plant and no, the crown is not exposed above the substrate.
There's actually 2 of this plant there in the corner.
One of which is badly affected by this affliction the other, is a few stalks.

Not sure what you'd make of this then….

[smwhang]

Hi Urban Aquaria,
Yes, I'll continue dosing the Brighty K for now and see what happens.

Many thanks!!

[thebaldingaquarist]

Hi Erctheanda,,
I checked, it's seems to be a wavy sword plant and no, the crown is not exposed above the substrate.
There's actually 2 of this plant there in the corner.
One of which is badly affected by this affliction the other, is a few stalks.

Not sure what you'd make of this then….

Is it like the one in the picture below

http://www.aquapage.cz/Obrazky/Rostl...orus_major.jpg

credits to aquapage..

if its a echinodorus, you might want to pull up the plant a little to exposed the crown. I never had such problems with Echin species, so i am not sure whether this is the real cause. no harm trying. I know for echinodorus, the correct way to plant is to expose the crown a little.

Hope it helps.

[smwhang]

Is it like the one in the picture below

http://www.aquapage.cz/Obrazky/Rostl...orus_major.jpg

credits to aquapage..

if its a echinodorus, you might want to pull up the plant a little to exposed the crown. I never had such problems with Echin species, so i am not sure whether this is the real cause. no harm trying. I know for echinodorus, the correct way to plant is to expose the crown a little.

Hope it helps.

Hi Erctheanda,
I followed the link you provided and nope; it not this plant.
Rather, it's a wavy sword...and this is the info I got on it;

• Scientific name: Aponogeton crispus
• Synonym: Spathium undulatum; Ouvirandra undulata
• Common name: Wavy-edged swordplant , Crinkled or ruffled aponogeton
• Family: Aponogetonaceae
• Group: Aquarium plants
• Max height: 40 cm (sometimes more)
• Distribution: Asia; Southern India, Sri Lanka
• Habitat: The species normally inhabits temporary pools or small lakes which can dry out completely during seasons with little rain.
• Substrate: Rich with nutrients
• Placement in aquarium: Middleground
• Planting density: 3-4 plants for 50 cm²
• Lighting needs: Bright
• Temperature: 23-28°C
• pH: 6,5-7,5
• Hardness: 2,8-8,4 NK°

Description: This popular, attractive and adaptable plant is readily available in the aquarium trade. Once settled into an aquarium and given all the right growing conditions, it will grow quickly, producing numerous olive green-brown ruffled leaves. These are normally up to 4 cm wide and 20-35 cm long. In weak light, the leaves are produced on longer stems that may spread across the water surface in search of more illumination. Aponogeton crispus may flower in the aquarium.
Aponogeton crispus is a fast-growing tuberous plallnt which is regularly exported in large quantities from Asia. The species loves soft, slightly acid water with temperatures ranging between 25-32 °C, but can also be kept in medium-hard to hard water with simultaneous CO₂ fertilization in place. In a nutrient-rich substrate it will quickly reach a height of 30-50 cm so spacious aquariums are recommended. To ensure maintenance specific to the species, the tubers have to be stored outside the aquarium at room temperature in a rather drier than moist environment because they would otherwise exhaust relatively quickly.

[thebaldingaquarist]

hmmm..
i have this plant as well. it out grew my 2ft.. When i had this plant the moment i see yellowing leaves, i cut them off from the base.

After like 2 or 3 trimmings, all the leaves had no browning or yellowing. Not sure if it will help you.

my own personal theory is that since this plant has no adaptation period when going between states in its natural environment, its strategy for survival could be that it sprouts out new leaves quickly and those leaves die off in order to recover nutrients for newer ones. in the meantime, its tuber grows to establish its root system. After a while, the leaves do not die off that quickly and flowering will begin.

[smwhang]

Interesting observation, I'll trim the badly affected one's leaves from it's stalk. Problem is it'll be almost Botak!
I'll leave 3 behind and monitor it's progress.

The other healthier one, there's only about 4 stalks to trim, leaving about 3 behind. This one should fare better.

Worse comes to worse, I'll just keep the healthy one and substitute the other for another sword variety; the type with holes throughout the leaves...not good on plants ID but I hope I can find the picture...hehehe.

Besides, plants here are actually cheap, S$2 to S$3 each..lots of choices but limited tank space.

[smwhang]

One more question though, do you think it'll be helpful to raise it's crown toward the surface? Right now they're both embedded into the substrate; not too deep mind you but deep enough that only the stalks prutrude out.

[Dodofish]

You can try to increase your dosage for trace elements. I notice the leaves has darker veins not sure whether this is normal for this plant. I have not kept this plant before so I am just guessing from the picture that it might be a form of trace deficiency.

I doubt you have a npk issue, based on what you have shared.

also so I think it may take quite a while for it to recover depending on the characteristic of this plant. So it won't be instant results.