Effects of Live Plants on Water quality

[bob1957j]

I have a 55 gallon plant - 2 angels - silver dollars and 1 small pleco, I have some live plants in the tank. Some of the leaves are dying and get hooked in the filter and decay. What effect will this have on the water chemistry ?

Thanks Bob - Toledo Ohio

 

[BrianNY]

Over the long haul any decaying organic matter will act to bring the pH down. I remove any dead or dying leaves as part of my regular maintenance. I'm surprised you can keep any live plants with silver dollars. They are notorious plant eaters.

 

[bob1957j]

Thanks for the info



Thanks that answers my question, and I have never had any problem with the silver dollars nibbling plants. I only have a pair and they behave themselves.

 

[cdawson]

It's possbile that's what is happening, the silver dollars are nibbling the plants and killing them. How big are they? My scats did this when I tried to add java fern to my 135g a couple years ago. They just nibbled it and didn't eat the whole thing.

 

[Umberle]

Aren't there a few plants that fish just won't eat? I seem to remember reading 'herbevores won't eat' tagged on descriptions a lot but I'm not sure how accurate that is...but if it is, you might try switching to less tasty plants.

 

[FishLover14]

Ger fake plants or no plants.

Dan

 

[chrism]

Crinum thaianum is said to with stand cichlids, not sure about silver dollars tho, but the leaves are very tough!