Signs of deficiencies

[limsteel]

This SITES shows what the specfic lack of neutrient will cause in a planted tank.

There are also many other articles to read.

[Plantbrain]

Is that table useful?
Excess PO4 causes black leaves? At what point is it excessive? For which plants are the tables for? Do all plant species react the same? Deficiencies are difficult to assess for ah species, there are some generalizations but many of the deficicencies look very similar. Some of the table seems unlike anything I've seen with plants and the specific nutrients in question.

But I think rather than trying to guess your way through what is what, why wait till you have a deficency? By then it's too late and takes the plants a while to sprout new growth, recoup. So just keep up on dosing enough nutrients and doing water changes to prevent build up.

You can add good range of nutrients in your tank and maintain that so deficiencies do not happen at all.

It's like brushing your teeth rather than waiting for a cavities......

I've worked a long time with nutrient levels and plants, there's no general rule for every plant for deficiencies.
It's easier to add everything the plant needs and let the plant take care of it's business rather than guessing what it needs after the damage has been done.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[limsteel]

Very much AGREE with you.

Still if things does happen (no matter how you brush, you will still have cavity right?) then we use this as a guide to narrow down the problem.