new tank set-up

[Stuart Phoon]

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tank when first set up on 2nd nov

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tank today 5th nov

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my red lotus seems to be melting. there is one severely melting leaf...totally crumped and all.. and the stem have white flakes like its having eczema... and one big leaf at the top left hand corner has expanding translucent green areas spreading... should i cut off those melting leaves? do i cut off the stem as well?

thanks in advance

[Stuart Phoon]

oh ya fertilisation regime is as follow.

co2 1bps (thereabout) on from 3pm to 10pm

light on at 4pm to 11pm

tues thurs sat - iron and potassium and excel ( all seachem)

wed - lushgro aqua and lushgro aqua micro


Any other advice on what i should do? thanks

[Urban Aquaria]

Yes, just cut away any melting leaves and stems, those are either damaged during transport/planting or just weak leaves... its just the transition process to the new tank environment.

Btw, do install the drop checker to monitor if the Co2 is at optimal levels, then can adjust the injection rate accordingly.

[Stuart Phoon]

haha yeah.. wanted to get the one from gush but oos

Yes, just cut away any melting leaves and stems, those are either damaged during transport/planting or just weak leaves... its just the transition process to the new tank environment.

Btw, do install the drop checker to monitor if the Co2 is at optimal levels, then can adjust the injection rate accordingly.

[grandweapon]

Nymphaeas don't hold up well with re-planting. It is very common for them to melt when first introduced to a new tank or even after shifting location in the same tank. I have one Nymphaea that came with 6 leaves. 5 of them melted within the first 2 weeks. Only 1 stalk of leaf survived. But it slowly started recovering and growing new leaves after stabilising. You should definitely trim off all melting parts including the melting stem to keep the rest of the plant healthy. I have also heard that they don't like Seachem Excel. In fact, there really is no need for you to dose Excel if you are already injecting pressurised CO2.

[Stuart Phoon]

Nymphaeas don't hold up well with re-planting. It is very common for them to melt when first introduced to a new tank or even after shifting location in the same tank. I have one Nymphaea that came with 6 leaves. 5 of them melted within the first 2 weeks. Only 1 stalk of leaf survived. But it slowly started recovering and growing new leaves after stabilising. You should definitely trim off all melting parts including the melting stem to keep the rest of the plant healthy. I have also heard that they don't like Seachem Excel. In fact, there really is no need for you to dose Excel if you are already injecting pressurised CO2.

oh.. i tot excel can be used to prevent algae.. thats why i am adding it.. i have one leaf that is turning translucent green.. i dk if its melting anot coz its photosynthesizing ( pearling) can see bubbles of oxygen beneath it.. should i cut that leaf?

[grandweapon]

I've also read that Excel can combat algae. From what I understand, the carbon (which is already provided by CO2) will allow your plants to use up the nutrients in the water more efficiently, leaving less for the algae to use and propagate. Excel may also contain some ingredients that can act as a mild algaecide, but this is usually not required unless you have a serious algae problem. The best way to prevent algae is to manage the lighting (too many hours or direct sunlight will lead to algae bloom), provide adequate water flow (so that every part of the tank receives the injected CO2) and proper feeding (not overfeeding and not leaving food inside for too long).

Generally, you don't want to have to add too many chemicals into your tank. It has a tendency to cause fluctuations in the water parameters and is also expensive. Only add what you have to to maintain a healthy environment for your plants and fish.

[Urban Aquaria]

For the translucent leaf, just trim it off, its already in the process of melting... trimming away weak leaves will allow the plant to redirect resources into growing new healthier leaves.

As for Excel, although its a liquid carbon source and has algecide capabilities, certain plants may tend to be more sensitive to its active chemical so they might react negatively when exposed to it. The effects do depend on dosage concentrations and its circulation in the tank though (ie. higher concentrations pooling at dead spots), so you just have to experiement and see.