I bought this large, gorgeous sword plant from my LFS several months ago. Some of the leaves died back, but it also produced new ones. It rooted like mad. I added root tabs and some easy green. I also have fairly high nitrates in the tank. I often lose plants - they die back and never return. This mostly happens with stem plants. I don’t know if my fish tear them up or if there’s just a deficiency. There’s tons of mulm in the sand.
Details:
RO water with equilibrium, acid buffer and alkaline buffer
Temp 77-82
50gal with 2 turquoise, 3 goyder river, and 2 yellow rainbows. Also 3 Dennison barbs, 1 bn pleco, 7 red phantom tetras and snails.
Very stable parameters:
pH 8
0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 30-40 nitrate
kh 3, gh 6-8
fluval light set according to the picture below. The sword is off to the side where the light is less strong but it was growing fine for awhile there. Light is 48” and doesn’t cover all the way to the edges. However the other plants on the right side in the “shade” seem to flourish.
Photos:
What the plant looked like when I got it (stock photo)
What’s left of the plant
The full tank - the plant is all the way on the left in the back
FluvalSmart light settings
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!