What's going on with this plant (pics)?

[coolfishguy12]

I've got four of these sword plants, they were doing fine when I first put them in the tank. But now new leaves grow in distorted (ravelled edges, small, orange/red tint on the edges). The existing leaves seems to be thriving but new growth looks weak?

I'm not sure if this had anything to do with it but it seemed like the issues started after putting Seachem Flourish Root Tabs in my gravel. I cannot confirm there is any correlation between the two. Other than the root tabs, I don't dose any other fertilizers or CO2. I use a single Sun-Glo (by Hagen) 14W 4200k fluorescent tube.

It's a 10 gallon tank, plants include:
- Hornwort
- Moneywort
- Corkscrew Val
- Water Wisteria
- Red Ludwigia
- Ocelot Green
- Swords (not sure exactly what type these are the only one’s I’m having issues with)

 

[coolfishguy12]

After doing a little research, I think they are in fact crypts (cryptocoryne lutea to be specific). See the better photos below, note that the second one was from when they were fairly juvenile.

 

[Chesmok]

Yup they're crypts. Crypts take a while to get established they tend to look weird when placed in a new tank with new water parameters.


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[Brookster123]

Using root tabs?

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[coolfishguy12]

Yup they're crypts. Crypts take a while to get established they tend to look weird when placed in a new tank with new water parameters.

They were growing fine when I first put them in, the distorted growth only recently started happening. All new growth on the crypts is now distorted, but other species in the tank seem to be growing fine.

Using root tabs?

I've got Seachem Flourish Root Tabs. They were growing fine, then after I put the root tabs in is when I noticed distorted growth. My tap water also has plenty of micros in it and I do several large water changes per week (intentionally overstocked and sensitive fish that need low nitrates maintained) so it really shouldn't be a nutrient deficiency given my low lighting.

 

[PerfectDepth]

They were growing fine when I first put them in, the distorted growth only recently started happening. All new growth on the crypts is now distorted, but other species in the tank seem to be growing fine.



I've got Seachem Flourish Root Tabs. They were growing fine, then after I put the root tabs in is when I noticed distorted growth. My tap water also has plenty of micros in it and I do several large water changes per week (intentionally overstocked and sensitive fish that need low nitrates maintained) so it really shouldn't be a nutrient deficiency given my low lighting.

Actually it does seem like it could be a nutrient deficiency since those Flourish root tabs are not meant to supply macro ferts, and crypts will need macros in the substrate since they are heavy root feeders. If it's heavily stocked like you said you might get away with just relying on fish waste (as long as you're not vacuuming the substrate), otherwise you'll need to use different root tabs.

 

[coolfishguy12]

Actually it does seem like it could be a nutrient deficiency since those Flourish root tabs are not meant to supply macro ferts, and crypts will need macros in the substrate since they are heavy root feeders. If it's heavily stocked like you said you might get away with just relying on fish waste (as long as you're not vacuuming the substrate), otherwise you'll need to use different root tabs.

Wouldn't a nutrient deficiency affect all the species in the tank, not just one?

 

[Coursair]

No, Crypts are nutrient hogs. I buy DIY Root Tabs. Osmocote Plus.

I just bought 50 for $8 including Shipping off of the Planted Tank forum. Free to join, sales are in Members only section. Won't show on Tapatalk, use a browser.


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[Coursair]

There are also threads on this site about making your own.


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[Caliban07]

No, Crypts are nutrient hogs. I buy DIY Root Tabs. Osmocote Plus.

I just bought 50 for $8 including Shipping off of the Planted Tank forum. Free to join, sales are in Members only section. Won't show on Tapatalk, use a browser.


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What nutrients do those tabs contain?


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[Coursair]

http://www.myaquariumclub.com/a-quick-run-down-on-osmocote-root-tabs-6167.html

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS FOR Osmocote 15-9-12

TOTAL NITROGEN (N)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15%

8.4% Ammoniacal Nitrogen

6.6% Nitrate Nitrogen

AVAILABLE PHOSPHATE (P2O5)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9%

SOLUBLE POTASH (K2O)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12%

MAGNESIUM (Mg)* (Total) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3%

0.9% Water Soluble Magnesium (Mg)

SULFUR (S)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0%

6.0% Combined Sulfur (S)

BORON (B)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02%

COPPER (Cu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05%

0.05% Water Soluble Copper (Cu)

IRON (Fe)* (Total) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.46%

0.09% Water Soluble Iron (Fe)

0.01% Chelated Iron (Fe)

MANGANESE (Mn)* (Total) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.06%

0.06% Water Soluble Manganese (Mn)

MOLYBDENUM (Mo)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02%

ZINC (Zn) (Total) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05%

0.019% Water Soluble Zinc (Zn)*

* The nitrogen, phosphate, potash, magnesium, sulfur, boron, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc sources have been coated to provide 12.7% coated slow-release nitrogen (N), 7.6% coated slow-release available phosphate (P2O5), 10.2% coated slow-release soluble potash (K2O), 1.1% coated slow-release magnesium (Mg), 5.1% coated slow-release sulfur (S), 0.015% coated slow-release boron (B), 0.35% coated slow-release iron (Fe), 0.05% coated slow-release manganese (Mn), 0.015% coated slow-release molybdenum (Mo), and 0.015% coated slow-release zinc (Zn)


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[coolfishguy12]

Sounds good, ive seen those never tried em though


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[Coursair]

You can DIY them yourself. You can buy them online. I just bought 50 for $8 incl shipping from nilocg on The Planted Tank forum


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