My 65 Gallon Low Tech Planted Tank Journal

[Billbug68]

Ok, it's a good thing that the quad light has the capability of turning off two of the lights. i understand the nutrient depletion overtime, but it's only been two months and there's already potassium depletion? i find that incredulous.

I don't find it at all unlikely, seeing as your plants are showing obvious signs of a deficiency. You can wait for Janis to chime in if you trust her more, but I know for a fact, even she uses root tabs in her dirted tank.

 

[dragonfisher33]

Looks like a fairly young plant, the growth may still be too new to really tell... I'm sure you have more experience with crypts than me, but it looks exactly like the c. wendtii I used to have... looks nothing like lutea to me... agree to disagree, bud.

so i did stop by at the lfs today and plant specialist told me that's a crypt dewitt (he remembers selling it to me)

 

[dragonfisher33]

I don't find it at all unlikely, seeing as your plants are showing obvious signs of a deficiency. You can wait for Janis to chime in if you trust her more, but I know for a fact, even she uses root tabs in her dirted tank.

bill, are you referring to the user with account name fiferjanis? i can always PM her once i find out who you r referring to

 

[Billbug68]

bill, are you referring to the user with account name fiferjanis? i can always PM her once i find out who you r referring to

No, Rivercats. My apologies, I thought you knew who that was.

 

[dragonfisher33]

No, Rivercats. My apologies, I thought you knew who that was.

ah i see. i hope she chimes in as well

 

[Rivercats]

I didn't read much but from your PM I can tell you this, Swords, especially Amazon Swords need a ton more nutrients than soil or any commercial substrate can provide. They especially use a lot of phosphates and iron. I always use root tabs plus root tabs that are just phosphate root tabs and ones that are just iron root tabs from AquariumPlants.com. And you need to almost use double the amount of root tabs especially if the Sword is large.

 

[dragonfisher33]

thanks Rivercats, i will go get some root tabs i suppose. are there any leafy plants that don't require as much root tabs?

 

[Rivercats]

The only plants that do need them are Swords, Crypts, and Bulb plants. Other plants use ferts from the water so need different ferts.

 

[jetajockey]

By looking at those photos it seems that those are emersed leaves on the swords so that's probably the culprit.

Stem plants are primarily column feeders but still use substrate ferts, otherwise they wouldn't be putting roots into the substrate.

 

[dragonfisher33]

The only plants that do need them are Swords, Crypts, and Bulb plants. Other plants use ferts from the water so need different ferts.

maybe because they're different plant species but you can see that the red tiger is growing exponentially without root tabs, which is the reason why i didn't expect potassium deficiency on the amazon swords AND aponogeton. i never knew aponogeton to be a heavy root feeder. i have had aponogeton and it never required root tabs. as a matter of fact, there's two aponogetons in the tank. the one on the right is doing exceptionally well and the aponogeton on the left is having pores all over the places and withering leaves. scratching my head here

 

[dragonfisher33]

By looking at those photos it seems that those are emersed leaves on the swords so that's probably the culprit.

Stem plants are primarily column feeders but still use substrate ferts, otherwise they wouldn't be putting roots into the substrate.

sorry i'm not sure what you meant by "emersed leaves". the amazon sword's leaves are under the water.

 

[Rivercats]

Over time bulbs need nutrients and since they can store them unlike non bulb plants their needs are different. I have the same tiger lotus, Nymphaea pubescens, and it's about 2 years old now and I regularly have to add root tabs to it or leaves regularly show nutrient deficiencies when the tabs are exhausted. I also add plain iron root tabs around it as this actually gives a better red color to leaves. All your bulbs are new so give them time but eventually they will need supplemental feeding. Swords literally are nutrient hogs and use tons of nutrients. My 220g is dirted and I was using root tabs around my swords and crypts within a month. I also find that I get better growth when I supply them with root tabs.

 

[Rivercats]

Emersed leaves means the plants was grown with its leaves above water but it's roots in water. Once submerged in a tank the leaves on plants change into their immersed growth form.

 

[dragonfisher33]

Emersed leaves means the plants was grown with its leaves above water but it's roots in water. Once submerged in a tank the leaves on plants change into their immersed growth form.

yes, that's what i thought he meant. but my amazons have always been underwater

 

[dragonfisher33]

so, this might be a stupid question but i am willing to ask it. some plants benefit from iron rich substrates, so would it be beneficial to add tiny pieces of pure iron throughout my substrate? is there a natural source of potassium that i can use instead of root tabs?i understand some potassium are found in rocks. i'm thinking what type of rocks they are, how to get them, and if they're fish safe.

 

[jetajockey]

What I meant was those leaves look like 'above water' leaves.

These are emersed leaves. Submersed growth leaves don't have the long skinny stems on them.

 

[dragonfisher33]

What I meant was those leaves look like 'above water' leaves.

These are emersed leaves. Submersed growth leaves don't have the long skinny stems on them.

i see, but no. all my plants have been underwater the whole time. my tank is 24inches deep and the skinny stem is actually the new growth i have since i put the sword in the tank. i'm wondering if this skinny stem will give rise to plantlets, something i have seen before.

 

[jetajockey]

so, this might be a stupid question but i am willing to ask it. some plants benefit from iron rich substrates, so would it be beneficial to add tiny pieces of pure iron throughout my substrate? is there a natural source of potassium that i can use instead of root tabs?

Assuming you need iron, you need it to be in a soluble form. You have to be careful, though, because too much iron can inhibit growth. Some tabs already have some insoluble iron (that's why some are red, iron oxide in the clay), and from what I understand it does become available somewhat over time through bacterial action, but to get a measurable effect it needs to be in chelated form.