Rotala Indica

[Cinnebuns]

It's very possible this is normal melt but I keep losing plants like this so I want to make sure. I have had this rotala indica for about a month. I planted a couple of pieces and floated the rest initially. The ones I planted have died. At first I was thinking normal melt but I haven't seen it come back and i think it should within a month. Yesterday I decided to plant the rest that had been floating. Already today it looks like it's lost some color. It used to have some slight pink coloring on some of the leaves but it's barely there now. I'm worried I'm doing something wrong because I have had a similar experience now with a few other plants. 

Substrate is fine gravel. I use dose easy green, potassium and iron and use root tabs. Recently, I noticed my nitrate levels were slightly lower than usual (10) when it was time for weekly maintenance but I have since been dosing more easy green for that. 

All other plants in the tank are doing great. The other plants include:  amazon sword, pogostemon stellatus, tiger lotus, anubias Nana petite, buce wavy green, crypt wendetii, water lettuce and water sprite. Live stock is over stocked. 

Ideas?

[Fish Folk]

What size tank? Mine does Ok in a 20 long or 33 gal long, but in a 29 gal tall or 55 gal, it doesn’t get the light it needs from my system. It gets very “leggy.”

[Cinnebuns]

On 6/10/2022 at 1:22 PM, Fish Folk said:

What size tank? Mine does Ok in a 20 long or 33 gal long, but in a 29 gal tall or 55 gal, it doesn’t get the light it needs from my system. It gets very “leggy.”

That's exactly what the problem might be from what someone on fb was telling me. It is a 29 with this light 

https://www.amazon.com/Aquaneat-Aquarium-Spectrum-Multi-Color-Marine/dp/B07G91L6FV?pd_rd_w=Cb8lM&content-id=amzn1.sym.94349326-ca8a-4b0d-94f0-6931485b8573&pf_rd_p=94349326-ca8a-4b0d-94f0-6931485b8573&pf_rd_r=X34YFW74SXSS1JKWBD01&pd_rd_wg=3YmeT&pd_rd_r=042dbbc2-df09-44f3-9ca6-d28fe960d3a2&pd_rd_i=B07G91L6FV&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_37_sc

He also said I might be ok if i find a way to raise the plant a little like. I might try that or just get a different plant. I do really like this plant tho. Maybe I should have invested in a better light but at the time I didn't need it and all my other plants are doing great. 

[Torrey]

I combatted that issue with a side light:

 

This is submersible, and can be mounted inside the tank. outside the tank. or added to the hood.

Tank on the left has one half mounted under the lid. Other half is mounted at an angle between the two tanks, giving more light to both sets of plants. Most reds need a LOT of light.

Hope this helps!

[Cinnebuns]

On 6/10/2022 at 9:57 PM, Torrey said:

I combatted that issue with a side light:

 

This is submersible, and can be mounted inside the tank. outside the tank. or added to the hood.

Tank on the left has one half mounted under the lid. Other half is mounted at an angle between the two tanks, giving more light to both sets of plants. Most reds need a LOT of light.

Hope this helps!

You read my mind. I actually was wondering if that was a solution today. Ty that's huge!