Plant help

[yes_i_like_pie]

Hi there, 

I’m having a few issues with my plants. Tank is set up for a few months now and maybe it’s still not quite balanced. My crypt and Java ferns are both struggling. Java is browning and melting and the crypt is getting more and more brown too. 
 

any suggestions would be awesome.

 

[lefty o]

any fertilizers?

[Isaac M]

Hello, I like pie too, but thats besides the point, it looks to me like you have diatom algae which is common for newer aquariums.

You can check by just rubbing one of the leaves, if the leaf falls apart, then the plant is brown and has a deficiency.

If the brown is slimy and comes off, it is diatom algae.

Your java fern may also still be acclimating to your tank conditions, they are very slow growing plants. 

[yes_i_like_pie]

@lefty o yes, easy green! 

[yes_i_like_pie]

@Isaac Mthabks! I just rubbed the leaves to check. Sadly no dust or slime came off. The leaves themselves are discolored 😞. 

[Isaac M]

@yes_i_like_pie wow really? It looks a lot like diatom algae to me. Even the rocks seem to have some growing on it. Maybe it is just difficult to remove.

Anyways, for plant deficiencies, I would use this link here. It is an article by the co-op discussing nutrient deficiencies. 

Please correct me if I am wrong but it looks like your substrate is black diamond blasting sand? Do you add any root tabs for the crypts? 

If you could provide your water parameters that would be great too (pH, nitrate, gh, kh). A picture of the entire aquarium would also be helpful. 

[yes_i_like_pie]

@Isaac Mthanks! Here are my tank stats

 

nitrate 20

nitrite 0

amonia 0

GH 75

clorine 0

Kh 0

Ph 6.8

[Isaac M]

Wow your water has very low hardness and buffering capacity. I would recommend getting some crushed coral at a minimum. 

Do you have any pictures of the entire aquarium? 

[yes_i_like_pie]

@Isaac M ok sorry for the delay. I added crushed coral and wonder shell. Tank stats are:

nitrate25

nitrite 0

GH75

KH 40

PH 6.4

and here’s a pic of the whole tank.

 

[Isaac M]

@yes_i_like_pie no worries, take your time. Just mention me in the post and I will see it no matter when you post it haha 

Your parameters look like they are improving. Your pH may have dropped a little due to the nitrogen cycle but the crushed coral will help with that by increasing your kH slowly over time. 

I know you mentioned you use easy green but I would also use root tabs for the crypts as they prefer to feed at the roots. 

Some of the rocks do look brown to me in this picture as well. Do the rocks have a similar brown substance growing on them like the java fern and crypts? 

[yes_i_like_pie]

@Isaac M

sweet. I’ll keep an eye on my kh. 
 

yes, the rocks are gradually getting browner. No level of scrubbing seems to get it off though 😞

i also noticed some green type of algae in little dots on the glass today. 
 

i just tested my iron and calcium too. Calcium was 40 ppm and iron didn’t seem to yield any result with the test. So maybe I’m also low on iron?

[Isaac M]

Yeah so I think you have diatom algae and that is why your plants are getting that brown substance on the leaves (especially the crypts). Diatoms typically grow in new aquariums and go away with time(unless you have high silicates, usually plants once established will consume this as well though). Also, just another fact for you to know, diatom algae is actually not an algae but a single-celled organism. Diatom can actually grow as a green color as well. 

I would look up pictures of green spot algae as well and compare it to what you have in your aquarium. 

What range does the iron test kit test for? 0 to 1ppm?

[yes_i_like_pie]

@Isaac M great. My tank has only been running since March so it could easily still be adjusting. 

I added some root tabs about a month ago so it’s likely time for some new ones.

and yes, the iron test does 0-1mg

[Isaac M]

@yes_i_like_pie yeah, it is still very very new so diatom algae is likely what the brown substance that is hard to remove is. 

Yeah, most root tabs should be replaced every month or so. However, the size of the plants and growth rate can increase the need. If the plant growth slows or a nutrient deficiency occurs, this is a sign that you need to add more root tabs. 

Please see the following link for an article on iron. https://www.aquariumcoop.com/blogs/aquarium/iron-fertilizer

Given that you are using root tabs on the root feeder plants(root tabs typically have iron), using easy green and the other plants are slower growing (java fern), I think your aquarium will be ok without additional iron. 

If you are dosing easy green at a pump per 10 gallons, then the easy green is providing about .03 ppm of iron. This is likely why it may not be registering on your test kit. The iron may be lower than what it can register (less than .1 ppm). 

If you begin seeing an iron deficiency, then I would go ahead and supplement with an additional iron fertilizer. Start slowly however to minimize a hair algae outbreak. 

[yes_i_like_pie]

@Isaac M thanks for all your help!