Roots turned black

[leafhorn]

The roots of my crinum turned black, is it because of anaerobic zones? This is not the first time already, I just replaced the crinum weeks back, now its like that again. The leaves also dropped off.

[theodore]

If it is due to anaerobic substrate, try putting a fast-growing plant (e.g. Hygrophila difformis) in that location for a few weeks before getting another crinum.

Btw, how are you planting the bulbs?

[David]

Hi leafhorn

I believe that you buried the whole bulb into the substrate which you should not. You only need to bury half to two thirds of the bulb.

Which ever it is now, you need to uproot the plant. if the bulb is rotting, its more or less game over for that plant. If its just the roots, you need to prune it away.

Use a tweezer and plunge around the area where the bulb was. if there are bubbles of Hydrogen Sulphide (smell like rotten eggs), your substrate has gone anaerobic. You chould either leave that area unplanted for a week or so, or you could just stir the gravel of the infect area and execute a good water change.

[theodore]

David,

How will leaving the area unplanted for a week help? Won't the absence of new roots (that can help oxygenate the substrate) cause the anaerobic region to spread?

From what I've seen in my tank so far, the anaerobic regions were either (1) where my riccia meshes used to cover or (2) where a rosette plant died.

[leafhorn]

I planted the whole bulb out of substrate, only the roots are in. My ADA aquasoil it's turning to aquamud at some places, could that be the problem? Too compact liao?