sjlchgo

I started my tank about a month ago. Put in some plants and didn't use any fertelizer or food. Since then I've started using "Leaf Zone" and the plants are all doing better and growing like crazy. However, I still have a problem with "transparent leaves"(see photo). I have been battling ammonia issues due to overcrowding the tank too soon. Water changes every other day, etc. What causes this? Can you stop it? Should I remove the affected leaves or leave them? Does this condition effect the water chemistry(i.e.-ammonia, Nitrites, nitrates)?

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atmmachine816

I'm not sure what is causing it, it could be lack of nutrients or that you don't have them planted in the gravel correctly or that they are old and dieing. I do know that you should remove them as far down to the base as possible to allow for new leaves to grow and take their place.

Isabella

The plants are deficient in either: (1) lighting, (2) nutrients, or (3) CO2. Read this: Deficiency list for plants.

By the way, welcome to Fish Lore

sjlchgo

Should I leave the potted plants in the pots/plastic containers?

Isabella

No, it's best to remove them from the pots, very gently (so that you don't damage plant roots). Plants' roots should also be trimmed before planting them in substrate. The length of the root that should stay after the trimming depends on the kinds of plants. Some plants also have more sensitive roots than other plants.

jsalemi

Really? I remeber reading somewhere that keeping the plants in the pots doesn't bother them, since the roots can grow out the sides.

Isabella

Jsalemi, if you want, you can leave the plants in the pots, but the plants won't get enough nutrients this way. This is because the rockwool in the pots has no nutritional value to the plants. Nutrient-rich substrate, or plain gravel full of fish wastes, or plain gravel with plant root tabs, on the other hand, is full of nutrients. The more the roots are exposed to a nutrient-rich medium, the more nutrients the roots are able to absorb, and so - the better the plants grow. I personally always remove my plants from the pots. And they grow just fine. I am also not sure if the plastic pots don't start leaching something into the water after a while, but they probably don't.

P.S. If plant roots start to decay, you need to trim them off. You can't do that with a plant in a plastic pot. The decaying plant root matter can contaminate other plant roots and the substrate itself.

jsalemi

Good points all. Thanks again, Isabella!

Isabella

Welcome

sjlchgo

Thanks for the advise. I've removed all the pots and planted them into the gravel. My Onion plant(bulb) and other bulbs are growing great!