Hello my plants are having some weird issues lately

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Rhiannamal

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
40
Java
Anubias
Swords
All have weird things going on all different.
My subwassertang is growing strong just a little dirty right now. My floaters have to take out a bucket load a week so I thinned them out a ton.
Java has brown stuff on it, Anubis’s it’s like white and grey and yellow and swords I think it’s roots? But also yellowing. Any advice?
I have a lot of snails but no chewing on the Anubias.
 

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The yellowing looks like iron or nitrogen deficiency. Are you dosing any fertiliser? What are your water parameters? Particularly nitrate.

How long are your lights on for?

Plants get their nitrogen from ammonia and nitrate in the water. The nitrogen cycle should be removing any ammonia that isnt taken up by the plants, but you want a decent nitrate level for healthy plant growth. While low nitrate is good for fish (zero is better), plants need nitrate.

Floating plants are huge nutrient absorbers. They are sat at the top of the aquarium with maximum light and access to atmospheric CO2 and to utilise that excess they need a ton of nutrients, which can leave a deficiency in other plants less able to take them up.

And the amount of light effects growth rate. More light leads to more growth, which requires more nutrients. If the nutrients aren't available then the growth is unhealthy. Counter intuitive, reducing the lighting will slow down growth rate which often results in healthier growth.

its all about finding a balance between nutrients, light and CO2. Without injected CO2, you can only adjust lighting and nutrients. Change the lighting period, see what effect that has over a couple of months. That way you know that any effect, good or bad, came from adjusting the lighting adjustment because thats all you changed. Then adjust the lighting informed by your previous change. Or change something else and see what effect that has over a couple of months. Maybe look at your nutrient dosing regime, or remove nutrient hungry plants. Not every plant will do well in every aquarium. Keep the ones that do well, get rid of the ones that don't. One thing at a time, see what happens over an extended period. Fiddle with things.

The fuzzyness looks like fungal growth from decomposing uneaten food.
 
The yellowing looks like iron or nitrogen deficiency. Are you dosing any fertiliser? What are your water parameters? Particularly nitrate.

How long are your lights on for?

Plants get their nitrogen from ammonia and nitrate in the water. The nitrogen cycle should be removing any ammonia that isnt taken up by the plants, but you want a decent nitrate level for healthy plant growth. While low nitrate is good for fish (zero is better), plants need nitrate.

Floating plants are huge nutrient absorbers. They are sat at the top of the aquarium with maximum light and access to atmospheric CO2 and to utilise that excess they need a ton of nutrients, which can leave a deficiency in other plants less able to take them up.

And the amount of light effects growth rate. More light leads to more growth, which requires more nutrients. If the nutrients aren't available then the growth is unhealthy. Counter intuitive, reducing the lighting will slow down growth rate which often results in healthier growth.

its all about finding a balance between nutrients, light and CO2. Without injected CO2, you can only adjust lighting and nutrients. Change the lighting period, see what effect that has over a couple of months. That way you know that any effect, good or bad, came from adjusting the lighting adjustment because thats all you changed. Then adjust the lighting informed by your previous change. Or change something else and see what effect that has over a couple of months. Maybe look at your nutrient dosing regime, or remove nutrient hungry plants. Not every plant will do well in every aquarium. Keep the ones that do well, get rid of the ones that don't. One thing at a time, see what happens over an extended period. Fiddle with things.

The fuzzyness looks like fungal growth from decomposing uneaten food.
Thank you, some one said the little fingers on the Val is black beard algae do you think that’s right?
I weeded out a lot of my floaters so the other plants get light but I’m worried it might make that bba worse if that’s what it is. My Anubias grew like crazy I’ve had them for years super healthy until now these weird white n grey texture on them.
 
Thank you, some one said the little fingers on the Val is black beard algae do you think that’s right?
I weeded out a lot of my floaters so the other plants get light but I’m worried it might make that bba worse if that’s what it is. My Anubias grew like crazy I’ve had them for years super healthy until now these weird white n grey texture on them.
Yes, you've convinced me. Black beard algae is more likely. I'd look at lighting and nutrient levels.

There are chemical treatments for blackbeard algae, spot treatment of Seachem Excel for instance, but vallisneria tends to react badly to these products.
 
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