Sudden die-off of Echinodorus "Kleiner Bar" Swords

[Larry Little]

Hello --

I have a 65 gallon aquarium that has been set up for about 8 months with several species of live plants. In the last two weeks, my Echinodorus "Kleiner Bar" swords have begun to die off. I use liquid plant fertilizers per label instructions. This is the only species that seems to be suddenly dying. The rest of my plants seem to be doing OK.

I have angelfish, swordtails, bloodfins, blue rams, cories, clown plecostomus and otocinclus.

Coincidentally, I noticed about a month ago that all of the snails in my tank "disappeared". I also seem to be experiencing some algae over that same time, but not enough to explain the single species of plants dying.

I'm at a loss to figure this out. Anybody have any ideas, suggestions, etc.?

Thanks.

 

[fishenthusiast]

Do you have root tabs under the swords? They are heavy root feeders and will obtain most of their nutrients through the substrate.

 

[Larry Little]

Thanks fishenthusiast for the reply. I've never used them before, so I have a quick question. the directions say to place tabs one for every 30 square inches of substrate. Do they go close to the plant bases?

Tahnks again

 

[fishenthusiast]

Sudden die-off of Echinodorus "Kleiner Bar" Swords

Thanks fishenthusiast for the reply. I've never used them before, so I have a quick question. the directions say to place tabs one for every 30 square inches of substrate. Do they go close to the plant bases?

Tahnks again

I plant mine every 2" x 2" area where there are heavy root feeders. With some tweezers, I push the root tab as far down as I can so that there is little chance of leaching.