TwoFace99

Ah, that makes sense. I guess that’s another reason to stay on top of my weekly 50% water changes lol. Thanks as always.

No problem, I just placed an order for the Seachem Iron and should arrive Friday. As for the stones in the tank, I did not test if they were inert or possess limestone (They are Seiryuu rocks).

Thank you as always @Seattle_Aquarist for your assistance. I’ll look into that Seachem Iron. However, what do I do with the Easy Iron? I’m assuming it would be pointless to use in combination with Seachem Iron. Also, my tap water is currently 13dGH, not 6dGH. When I said 6dGH, I was referring to in the past, I have recorded my tap water reaching as low as 6dGH.

@Seattle_Aquarist I just tested my tap water and my KH is 8dKH (like my aquarium), my GH is 13dGH, and my PH is 7.8 (which has been consistent since I first started this tank). Disclaimer: My tap water has tested as low as 4dKH and 6dGH since this aquarium was started October 14 of last year.

Last time I tested the dGH and dKH from my tap water (about a month ago, when I first started using Equilibrium), and the readings were 10dGH and 6dKH, respectively. However, the dGH of my tap water would sometimes reach 12dGH. I’m on my way home right now, and I’ll test again the G/KH readings of my tap water. I consistently remove 50% of aquarium water, however my 55 gallon tank is more like 52/53 gallons of actual water. I’m assuming the amount of water removed would be roughly 26-27 gallons. My mistake then. I just provided the information with my other reply.

Sorry, I meant was before I had my magnesium issue a month ago, some time before that, I used to have a calcium deficiency most notably with my banana plants (curling leaves/stunted growth of new leaves), in which I overdid with my wonder shell usage that caused my magnesium deficiency issues. The pictures attached are what I was dealing with a month ago with my Java Fern/Water Wisteria. As for the moment, I don’t have any obvious deficiencies that I can make out. I apologize for not being clear. As for DTPA Iron, are there any products you would recommend? Again, for Iron supplements, all I use are Easy Iron/Equilibrium, but I’m not sure if they are more so the DTPA or the ETPA Fe you’re referring to.

Yes, it’s Hygrophila Corymbosa Compacta. I actually performed a WC this Monday and I added Easy Green to which my nirate readings shown were 20ppm. I’m not sure if it helps, but I bought/acquire these plants along with the Ludwigias and Red Tiger Lotus plants you see this past Friday/Saturday. Several of the individual stems have showcased new growth that are somewhat yellow, but haven’t yet fully emerged from the center.

Wouldn’t adding epsom salt throw the concentration of magnesium vs calcium off balance, if I exclusively use the epsom salt with supplementing calcium for my plants? I only ask this, because I used to use Wonder shells for my banana plants (they unfortunately died not too long ago) that had a serious case of curling leaves. I would add them to my aquarium after every WC or when they dissipate (away from the flow of my HOB). However, in doing so, I ended up adding too much calcium to the point that I had a severe magnesium deficiency amongst my plants, which is the situation I’m referring to in the beginning of my post. At least, that’s what others have said on this forum, when I showed them pictures of my Water Wisteria and Cryptocorne Tropica plants, which led to me ditching the Wonder Shells and using Equilibrium to fix the balance between Magnesium and Calcium. It’s always one problem after another with this tank. Also, I’m still somewhat new to planted aquariums, so could you explain what you mean by DTPA micro option? Lastly, would you suggest I get an Iron testing kit, just in case? So far, my plants haven’t shown iron deficiencies, just melting from my Amazon swords (that still were acclimating when I bought them my LFS).

Yes, I only add Equilibrium after my WC (take out and replace the water). I do take some of the tank water and mix the Equilibrium in a cup for a few minutes, then pour the solution into the tank (residue and all). The residue usually disappears in a couple of hours, but the cloudy water goes away 12-24 hours from that point onward. Also, I ALWAYS test my GH levels before adding Equilibrium and it would come out to 13-14dGH, and I would add accordingly. I even tested one time during one of the past weeks, and the GH actually dropped from 15 to 13dGH. I understand your point about calcium and magnesium not evaporating, but I’m still not sure why the reading would jump from 13 to 18dGH using 1 1/2 teaspoon this WC session. The 1 1/2 teaspoon is what I normally add to be exactly in my usual range to your point, but that’s only if my reading drops off to where the GH normally is.

Hello, I’ve been using Seachem Equilibrium for about a month now, because I had a really bad magnesium deficiency that wiped out most of the plants in my tank. I have recently bought a new host of plants (arrived Aug. 24th and 25th), and so far they seem to be adjusting/growing. However, I waited for the surviving plants to either show signs of thriving or dying from my new nutrient supplements (I also bought/used Easy Iron around the same time, on advice of my LFS, if the problem was indeed Iron deficiency instead). My GH before using Equilibrium was 10dGH, but I bumped up the GH to 15dGH by mistake. However, my fish seem to be unaffected by the sudden rise, and my Amano shrimp seem to be more active exploring the tank, so I stayed consistent with that amount. Overall, I been consistent with the Equilibrium usage (my GH would be 13dGH after a WC, then I would bump that number up to 15dGH). -Lastly, I can’t help but notice my GH was sitting at 13dGH, after I performed my WC, but after adding a 1 1/2 teaspoon of Seachem Equilibrium, like I have been normally doing it is now sitting at 18dGH. I thought GH is supposed to dip from the plants consuming the calcium and magnesium in the water column, not increase? Should I be worry about my fish? Here are pictures of the tank and water parameters artached below: pH: 7.8 Ammonia: 0ppm Nirite: 0ppm Nirate: 20ppm (usage of Easy Green) KH: 8dKH GH: 18dGH ( usage of Seachem Equilibrium/ tested yesterday) Phosphate: 2.0mg/L I dose about 10 squirts of Easy Iron with all the plants I have now.

Anubias are also good options for goldfish. However, I’m not sure about Bacopa plants.

Hello, I’m just reporting in once again updates for my aquarium: April 9th-30th, 2024 - I did get rid of my banana plants and a sword plant as they were too far gone and falling apart (stems, leaves, and roots mainly for the banana plants). -I recently purchased a new cast of plants that arrived April 25th and 26th (Ludwigia Arcuata and Natans Super Red, a couple of Amazon Swords, Cormybosa Compacta, Bacopa Green/Moneywort, Anubias Barteri Round coin, Hygrophila Angustofolia, Bucephalandra Lamandau Mini, and Red Tiger Lotus, as well as Bolbitis Heteroclita). -All the new plants are doing well and growing their submerged leaves, except for the Bucephalandra and Anubias of course. The Ludwigia Super Red came to me in rough shape, so BucePlant was nice enough to extend the DOA protection by 2 weeks to see if they bounce back or not. -There’s been much less diatoms on the glass now seemingly with my new addition of stem plants, as opposed to how much it covered the tank with just my few Amazon Swords, Crypts and Anubias in the tank. -Phosphate levels are now at 2.0 mg/L with this past WC/testing I do every Monday. -Cryptocorne Tropica plant is still growing and developing leaves that are curled and browning along the edges. I did give the plant a root tabs a couple of times during this period. I’m not sure if I should keep this plant or not. -Lastly, I can’t help but notice my GH was sitting at 13dGH, after I performed my WC, but after adding a 1 1/2 teaspoon of Seachem Equilibrium it is now sitting at 18dGH. I thought GH is supposed to dip from the plants consuming the calcium and magnesium in the water column, not increase? Should I be worry about my fish? @Seattle_Aquarist Here are pictures of the tank attached:

Hello, I just wanted to give a weekly update of my situation, as I try to correct the magnesium deficiency of my aquarium amongst other things: April 1st-April 8th, 2024 -Unfortunately, I managed to put a little too much Equilibrium in the tank and raised the GH to 15. However, when I tested the GH before my 50% WC yesterday, it was at 13dGH, so I’m assuming this is proof that my plants are actively consuming the added calcium and magnesium? -I trimmed off a lot of Water Wisteria/Crypt. plants (Tropica, Wendtii Green, and Lucens) of their leaves, as well as threw away a few Water Wisteria stems as they were no good/not recovering. -The Water Wisteria themselves have shown some healthy growth emerging from their center and some root formation (white-colored, not brown or black) closer to the stem top. -My Bucephalandra Black Pearl and Anubias Barteri/Golden Nana seem to be unaffected by the deficiencies that plagued my tank are still growing, but I did trim off a few leaves of the Black Pearl and Anubias Golden Nana. -Had to throw away one of my Banana plants as the tubers were now beginning to shed, and the plant itself had no roots or any more leaves, so it would have disintegrate anyway. -My nitrate levels actually dipped from 20ppm to 10ppm (before the water change/added Easy Green). Again, I’m assuming like the dip in GH, that my plants are more actively consuming the nutrients I’m feeding them. -Fish inhabitants are doing fine/ no change in behavior -No change in Phosphate levels (1.0mg/L) -Amazon Sword plants, in general, have shed a couple of the rough-looking leaves, and I clipped some off, but are doing good. However, one of my regular Sword plants is still growing short new leaves. I did stick in a root tab yesterday, so I’ll give it more time to recover. -Almost all of my Java Fern is gone (the plant most affected by my lack of knowledge concerning nutrient deficiencies). Many of the ones I threw out recently had a bunch of holes all over their leaves, while the bad batch before was pale/yellow/browning spots. The only Java Fern left are a decent patch glued onto one of my rocks that was largely unaffected, outside of a few. -Overall, I’m still waiting til the end of May to give my plants the recovery time they need, before I get rid of any more, which are mainly my Crypt plants, as I have a hard time telling if they are adjusting/growing new leaves, despite being a rosette plant like Swords.

Yea, that how most of my Java Fern spawned, yet only a patch of Java Fern remain that I have glued to one of my rocks.

Thank you very much again @Seattle_Aquarist 🙏

Hey @Seattle_Aquarist I hate to bother you again, but after the initial dosage, do I keep dosing the same/lowered amount of Equilibrium every water change or every month to keep a good supply of magnesium for my plants?

Thank you very much @Seattle_Aquarist, you and @Pepere have been a great help, and I’ll get back to you guys when I have updates on my aquarium plants. Enjoy the rest of your day.

That makes sense. However, my pH is pretty hard stuck at 7.8 (KH is consistently at 5-6dKH), and my GH for my tap water is higher than my aquarium water (12dGH compared to 10dGH), so do I still try to lower my PH/GH or just work with what I have with your plan? Lastly, do you have any good test kit recommendations for Calcium and/or Magnesium? I see that Fluval has test kits for Calcium as well as Iron.

@Seattle_Aquarist Also, I know you recommended Seachem Equilibrium, but since I am having only a Magnesium deficiency, would you advise in my case to get just magnesium salts like you or get Equilibrium to correct the Ca:Mg:K ratio of my aquarium, in addition to increasing magnesium content? Additionally, I didn’t really find any straightforward directions online, if I should keep dosing Equilibrium every water change or simply until the magnesium deficiency is no longer present in my aquarium (ex: My Water Wisteria no longer curl downward with no paleness to their coloring). Lastly, I didn’t know Magnesium was vital in the absorption of Phosphorus for plants. I hope that doesn’t mean my dosing of Phosphate was being wasted, since my plants were suffering from low Magnesium levels in the water.

I’m referring to my aquarium water being 10-11dGH with the Wonder Shell usage. Without the Wonder shell, it stays at 10dGH, but for how long, I never truly tested. My tap water itself is 12dGH (last time I tested was 8dGH). Additionally, I didn’t realize iron uptake by plants is reduced at higher pH levels. Interesting.

My mistake. I meant Aquarium Co-Op customer support. I live in Chicago where the water is very hard, instead of soft. They did suggest besides the obvious phosphate issue my plants were dealing with the next likely nutrient deficiencies could be either iron or magnesium. I did buy some Easy Iron this past Monday (6 squirts since the tank is a 55 gallon). As for Magnesium, that makes sense, since I just got done earlier removing some Water Wisteria leaves that were curling downward. My GH is currently at 10 dkGH. Are you asking me to raise my GH up 4 degrees with the usage of Equilibrium, and can I add the product directly to the tank, or must I perform a water change first? As for the diatom it is pretty much gone now, except for a few specks. I’m not sure if the plants were able to outcompete with the algae/diatom in the nutrient uptake with the phosphorus boost, but I’m not sure, but I’m not complaining either. Lol.

Water Wisteria for you can float or plant them in the substrate, and they aren’t sensitive to PH nor lightning levels. Water Wisteria grows very quickly and suck up nitrates pretty readily. Personally, I float Water Wisteria, as I like to provide shade for my plants below that are more susceptible to algae growth like my Swords/Java Fern, even though I have Reticulated SAEs and Panda Garra to personally deal with that, as well as shade for my fish themselves. Not to mention, the roots look pretty cool growing down when the Water Wisteria is floating.

That’s unfortunate as I was hoping that wasn’t going to be the answer with my Cyprtocorne Tropica and Java Fern. The Tropica plant, because it’s going to lose ALOT more leaves than I have trimmed off already, and some of the younger Java Fern (that has spawned from my original Java Fern) are already down to one or two leaves on their rhizomes. However, it makes sense.

Because a few months ago, my Banana plants’ leaves were coming out extremely gnarly and twisted with stunted growth, so I was advised by Aquarium Co-Op to use Wonder shells or other calcium-supplement products. Wonder shells definitely helped with the Banana plants, so I can’t argue the results.

Hello, since almost two weeks ago (March 16), I’ve been dosing Seachem flourish phosphorus to increase the phosphate levels of my aquarium (It is at 1.0 mg/L) on the advice of Aquarium Co-Op support. I did this course of action because my Water Wisteria and Java Fern were having both their old and new leaves turning yellow/pale with brown patches, with some of them turning almost completely brown or black, but it became widespread amongst my other plants (Swords/Crypts/Bucephalandra/etc). I even grabbed and started dosing Easy Iron off my LFS’ suggestion this past Monday. At the moment, I have pruned a lot of leaves off my plants that looked too far gone and threw away a couple of them. Some of them like my Water Wisteria and Java Fern still have leaves with a couple of brown patches, but nothing as bad as they used to look. Additionally, I noticed the diatom algae that used to be consistently present are almost nonexistent on the glass of the tank now (the Panda Garra I acquired on Monday possibly helped as well). My main concern now is whether or not the leaves of these plants in my photos attached can be saved, or should I cut my losses? My Cryptocorne Tropica, especially has been experiencing more blackening of its leaves since my phosphate/iron dosing. Water parameters: pH: 7.8 Ammonia: 0ppm Nitrite: 0ppm Nirate: 20ppm KH: 5dKH GH: 10dGH Phosphate level: 1.0mg/L Easy Green/Iron dosing (weekly), Wonder shells (calcium supplement), and Seachem Flourish Phosphate dosing (as needed).