Cycling Low tech new tank with epiphytes only

[Bpd1]

Week 3 of plants. 2 week since ammonia added for fishless cycle. Have leaves dying (melting) on most plants. Have been dosing with flourish every second day. Is this normal in these circumstances and will the plants regrow after shedding leaves or is there actions I need to take now? They were bought from a shop where they were partially submerged. Thanks for any help

[Aiken Drum]

My understanding of the term epiphytes is plants that grow attached to rock or driftwood. Is that correct? The most common types of these plants are anubias and java fern.

Aquarium plants are cultivated emersed, ie partially out of the water. This means they have easy access to atmospheric CO2, can grow quicker, and makes it a more commercially viable proposition. You take those plants, put them completely underwater, cut off that atmospheric CO2 and the plant needs to adjust to its new environment. Its leaf structure needs to change to one that can better take up CO2 from the water. It does this by using up the stored carbon in the leafs to stay alive, hence the melt, while growing new leafs that are more suited to its environment. Its possible you may lose all your original growth, but its new growth you should look for. 3 weeks isnt really enough time to judge if your plants are going to be OK. Remove dead and dying growth so the plant can concentrate its efforts on new growth.

[Bpd1]

Originally Posted by Aiken Drum

My understanding of the term epiphytes is plants that grow attached to rock or driftwood. Is that correct? The most common types of these plants are anubias and java fern.

Aquarium plants are cultivated emersed, ie partially out of the water. This means they have easy access to atmospheric CO2, can grow quicker, and makes it a more commercially viable proposition. You take those plants, put them completely underwater, cut off that atmospheric CO2 and the plant needs to adjust to its new environment. Its leaf structure needs to change to one that can better take up CO2 from the water. It does this by using up the stored carbon in the leafs to stay alive, hence the melt, while growing new leafs that are more suited to its environment. Its possible you may lose all your original growth, but its new growth you should look for. 3 weeks isnt really enough time to judge if your plants are going to be OK. Remove dead and dying growth so the plant can concentrate its efforts on new growth.

I was trying to leave you alone Aiken. Yes theyre the ones. Thanks again. Ill name a fish after you😀