Need A Bit Of Knowledge On Deficiencies?

HI all, I'm looking for some advice on plant deficiencies in my freshwater planted tanks. I've noticed on a few of my plants especially the java fern, anubiases, and some of the anacharis, that I have leaves turning yellow. They start out with some black spotting and then turn yellow. I use flourish and flourish root tabs with my crypt, which seem better than the others. I'm just wondering if I should get some flourish trace or get the individual potassium, iron supplement bottles? From some research, I think I may need those two more? But still not sure? Temps are 78 in 3 tankjs and 80 in one, ph is all around 7.4 with a bit of crushed coral. My nitrates are never higher than 20, per water changes. I will admit my tanks are understocked at this time, still deciding on stock. Only inhabitants right now are otos, clown plecos, bn pleco baby, Amano shrimp and nerite snails, spread out in 4 tanks. Anyway, I'm sure when I get some fish it will be better? But for now not sure what try next, as I said prior. Ty for ANY help!

 

HI Rhonda,
I'm by no means an expert, but I can give you my personal experience with this issue. I use Easy Green for macros and root tabs. However, like you, my java ferns started to turn yellow and get holes in their leaves. I found that the problem was potassium. I did a bit of research and found that this is one of the nutrients that plants burn through quickly and, for some reason, isn't in most fertilizers. I also added Iron, which caused my fish some distress. That's when I read the bottle, and saw that Easy Green has iron in it. So I don't use an extra iron supplement any more.

Incidentally, I read a scientific article that discussed that IF the plant is distressed because of a potassium deficiency, leaving the distressed leaves on the plant will help the plant remain strong. It seems that the reason those leaves look "distressed" is because the plant is drawing potassium from those leaves - make sense? If you remove the ugly leaves, the plant will look elsewhere for a potassium source, thus weakening it.
Now I only remove the ugly leaves from my java fern when they pop off easily.

Ps: you have FOUR practically empty tanks? Oh the possibilities are endless!!!!

 

Omg, ty. You helped me immensely. It all makes sense now. That's exactly the problem, and I have had trouble trying to remove the yellow leaves and couldn't understand why...? Bingo. I'm so thankful for your help. And I will be getting some easy green. And as far as stocking, that's the problem I'm having, lol, so many possibilities. They all been cycled since Sept 2018 lol. I'm a very slow decider and I like to be patient and try and do things right. I was so happy to recently get my otos, I've been waiting for them for 3mnths. Love those little fish, they are just so fragile and the way they are collected in wild bothered me. So I had to wait to find some tank bred. And I was told they always die immediately. So I tried to make sure I had mature tanks to feed them well and have the best start. So out of the 6, I have the 5 left and so far (fingers crossed) so good. I'm getting 6 more next week. Ty for your help and time so much.

 

I wasn't having very good luck with any of the plants that were supposed to be low light easy to grow plants. I was using Flourish. I switched to Thrive and Thrive root tabs. All of my plants are thanking me for giving them everything they need now.
My 5.5 gallon tank a month ago...



The same tank yesterday...



The water wisteria on the right had already grown to the top of the tank. I cut it in half and replanted the top part right beside the original. I expect it to look like a jungle in there within another month.

 

I wasn't having very good luck with any of the plants that were supposed to be low light easy to grow plants. I was using Flourish. I switched to Thrive and Thrive root tabs. All of my plants are thanking me for giving them everything they need now.
My 5.5 gallon tank a month ago...
View attachment 622002

The same tank yesterday...
View attachment 622003

The water wisteria on the right had already grown to the top of the tank. I cut it in half and replanted the top part right beside the original. I expect it to look like a jungle in there within another month.

Oh my, how beautiful! I'm jealous. I will be changing my ferts for sure. Ty so much!

 

Oh my, how beautiful! I'm jealous. I will be changing my certs for sure. Ty so much!

I have been struggling with live plants for well over a year now. I killed so many plants due to lack of knowledge. It was also determined that some of my problems stemmed from my very soft water that lacked a lot of the minerals plants thrive in.

I started adding Equilibrium to add missing minerals and switched my ferts to the Thrive line and am FINALLY having some success. Right now I am battling some black beard algae. I am using flourish Excel to battle it and it seems to be working so buying it along with the Flourish wasn't a total waste of money. The algae turns red and then dies so some of the Flourish line of products will work for certain things. For ease of dosing all the necessary ferts the Thrive line works for me.

 

I wasn't having very good luck with any of the plants that were supposed to be low light easy to grow plants. I was using Flourish. I switched to Thrive and Thrive root tabs. All of my plants are thanking me for giving them everything they need now.
My 5.5 gallon tank a month ago...
View attachment 622002

The same tank yesterday...
View attachment 622003

The water wisteria on the right had already grown to the top of the tank. I cut it in half and replanted the top part right beside the original. I expect it to look like a jungle in there within another month.

Wow great growth. Nice Job! I think I might recognize a couple of those plants . I also second using Thrive. I was getting mediocre growth at best using a couple seachem ferts then when I switched to Thrive my plants have completely exploded.

 

Wow great growth. Nice Job! I think I might recognize a couple of those plants . I also second using Thrive. I was getting mediocre growth at best using a couple seachem ferts then when I switched to Thrive my plants have completely exploded.

I bet you do The water wisteria struggled at first while getting used to my water but now it is growing really well. I love the fact that new plants grow at the base of the leaves that come off. When they do I just let them float until the new plant gets roots and then I bury the leaf. Burying the leaf anchors the new plant.

Thank you for recommending Thrive. It is just what my plants needed.

 

I wasn't having very good luck with any of the plants that were supposed to be low light easy to grow plants. I was using Flourish. I switched to Thrive and Thrive root tabs. All of my plants are thanking me for giving them everything they need now.
My 5.5 gallon tank a month ago...
View attachment 622002

The same tank yesterday...
View attachment 622003

The water wisteria on the right had already grown to the top of the tank. I cut it in half and replanted the top part right beside the original. I expect it to look like a jungle in there within another month.

Beautiful tank! Is that a caladium in the background?

Oh my, how beautiful! I'm jealous. I will be changing my ferts for sure. Ty so much!

I've heard the Seachem products (like flourish) are very diluted. The benefit of this is that there is less opportunity to overdose. So, while I still use their potassium product, I've transitioned to other ferts for my macros. I've wanted to try Thrive, but it seems expensive! OTH, pouring money into ferts that don't work is expensive too!

 

Beautiful tank! Is that a caladium in the background?

Thank you. The plants in the background are actually the vinyl background so not real plants I took it off after I snapped the last photo and now the background is a solid black. The sponge filter doesn't stand out as much with it like this. I may change it back after the plants grow a bit more I there.

I've heard the Seachem products (like flourish) are very diluted. The benefit of this is that there is less opportunity to overdose. So, while I still use their potassium product, I've transitioned to other ferts for my macros. I've wanted to try Thrive, but it seems expensive! OTH, pouring money into ferts that don't work is expensive too!

The Thrive does seem a bit expensive but then so are plants so well worth the price to me.

 

Thank you. The plants in the background are actually the vinyl background so not real plants I took it off after I snapped the last photo and now the background is a solid black. The sponge filter doesn't stand out as much with it like this. I may change it back after the plants grow a bit more I there.

The Thrive does seem a bit expensive but then so are plants so well worth the price to me.

Oh that makes sense about the caladium! I’d thought the plants had grown in and covered it up!
Your nano tank is beautiful, BTW! I totally agree that the “effort” to keep live plants is worth it. Now that you have a schedule, I’m sure it’s not even an effort.
This seems relevant to the OP’s dilemma: The advice I would give people wanting to take the plunge into live plants is to do your research, take your time, and get to know some of the easier plants first (ps I’m still in this phase). Also, don’t get discouraged when things go awry. For instance, I’ve learned that Potassium is the nutrient that my plants seem to burn through. I don't use a potassium test kit, and I don’t know my KH etc. I do, however, carefully observe my plants. My java ferns look SO MUCH nicer now that I dose this nutrient.

I look at my aquarium as an indoor water garden. And a garden is an ecosystem - once we learn that, we can learn how to keep nutrients in balance. I think most of the troubles people have with their aquariums is not understanding this balance act. When we balance, sometimes we fall- but we get right back up and try again!

 

HI all, I'm looking for some advice on plant deficiencies in my freshwater planted tanks. I've noticed on a few of my plants especially the java fern, anubiases, and some of the anacharis, that I have leaves turning yellow. Ty for ANY help!

HI Rhonda, have you read the stickied thread?
Deficiency List for Plants
It may be of some help for you

 

When starting a new planted aquarium the best thing to do is leave it alone for like a month and just let it adapt. Dosing it with un-needed chemicals will just cause a algae bloom.

 

HI Rhonda, have you read the stickied thread?
Deficiency List for Plants
It may be of some help for you

Actually, yes I did. Ty . It was helpful.

Oh that makes sense about the caladium! I’d thought the plants had grown in and covered it up!
Your nano tank is beautiful, BTW! I totally agree that the “effort” to keep live plants is worth it. Now that you have a schedule, I’m sure it’s not even an effort.
This seems relevant to the OP’s dilemma: The advice I would give people wanting to take the plunge into live plants is to do your research, take your time, and get to know some of the easier plants first (ps I’m still in this phase). Also, don’t get discouraged when things go awry. For instance, I’ve learned that Potassium is the nutrient that my plants seem to burn through. I don't use a potassium test kit, and I don’t know my KH etc. I do, however, carefully observe my plants. My java ferns look SO MUCH nicer now that I dose this nutrient.

I look at my aquarium as an indoor water garden. And a garden is an ecosystem - once we learn that, we can learn how to keep nutrients in balance. I think most of the troubles people have with their aquariums is not understanding this balance act. When we balance, sometimes we fall- but we get right back up and try again!

Well said.

By the way all, I did order the nilocg thrive and easy green. I'll start there and if I need to, will go with potassium and iron next? Ty all so much. And like you said, it's all a learning curve individually. I hope to get beautiful water gardens like you all.

 

By the way all, I did order the nilocg thrive and easy green. I'll start there and if I need to, will go with potassium and iron next? Ty all so much. And like you said, it's all a learning curve individually. I hope to get beautiful water gardens like you all.

Have you tested the GH/KH of your source water? In my case it took adding Equilibrium to my very soft water along with the Thrive ferts to finally start having some success with plants. I bought a TDS meter and discovered my tap water has close to the same readings as RO water, meaning almost no minerals.

I accidentally discovered my soft water may have had something to do with my lackluster success with live plants. I was actually researching shrimp for my established 2.5 gallon planted bowl. I was having some success with plants in the bowl but it was mostly dwarf sag in it. Other plants didn't do well in there.

 

By the way all, I did order the nilocg thrive and easy green. I'll start there and if I need to, will go with potassium and iron next? Ty all so much. And like you said, it's all a learning curve individually. I hope to get beautiful water gardens like you all.

HI Rhonda,
I think Thrive and Easy Green are redundant. You should probably use one OR the other, but not both. I hope others will jump in, but I believe You'd run the risk of over-dosing if you use both. Does that make sense?

HI Rhonda,
I think Thrive and Easy Green are redundant. You should probably use one OR the other, but not both. I hope others will jump in, but I believe You'd run the risk of over-dosing if you use both. Does that make sense?

Here is a pic of Easy Green ingredients - I’m not advocating this over Thrive, I’m just posting it as info about what I use.

 

Oh yes, of course. I should have made it clearer, I don't intend on using them together, but ty for heads up just in case. I'm very very particular what goes 8n my tanks. Ty though.

Just to add. Why I'm getting both. I plan on trying each in a separate tank and see which works better, or not? Thanks again guys.

Have you tested the GH/KH of your source water? In my case it took adding Equilibrium to my very soft water along with the Thrive ferts to finally start having some success with plants. I bought a TDS meter and discovered my tap water has close to the same readings as RO water, meaning almost no minerals.

I accidentally discovered my soft water may have had something to do with my lackluster success with live plants. I was actually researching shrimp for my established 2.5 gallon planted bowl. I was having some success with plants in the bowl but it was mostly dwarf sag in it. Other plants didn't do well in there.

I forgot to answer this question, sorry for that. Yes I also ordered a phosphate test kit and gh/oh kit. Ty my tap seems to be hard, but not really sure yet. I'll let you know soon ty.

 

Oh yes, of course. I should have made it clearer, I don't intend on using them together, but ty for heads up just in case. I'm very very particular what goes 8n my tanks. Ty though.

Just to add. Why I'm getting both. I plan on trying each in a separate tank and see which works better, or not? Thanks again guys.

That is a very good idea. I do kinda the same thing. I am always experimenting. We can't know what works best for us without trying different things.

I forgot to answer this question, sorry for that. Yes I also ordered a phosphate test kit and gh/oh kit. Ty my tap seems to be hard, but not really sure yet. I'll let you know soon ty.

Knowing our source water goes a long way toward understanding what is happening in our tanks. It is good that you are getting these tests. I've never checked the phosphate level in my tanks but I guess I need to get the test for it.

I had never in all my years in this hobby even thought about the TDS (total dissolved solids) either but once I learned a little bit about them I bought a meter to test them. I now understand a little bit about that aspect too and how it effects my tanks. I knew my water was soft but didn't understand just how soft it actually is. I found that it is lacking the amount or kind of minerals present on other folks water.

My fish thrived in my soft water but the plants need more than my water offered them. Once I understood that and did something about it I finally started having success with plants. Ferts alone weren't enough.

It took a lot of experimenting to finally start having success. Having a planted tank initially takes a lot of work but in the long run it is well worth all the time it takes to get it right.

 

That is a very good idea. I do kinda the same thing. I am always experimenting. We can't know what works best for us without trying different things.


Knowing our source water goes a long way toward understanding what is happening in our tanks. It is good that you are getting these tests. I've never checked the phosphate level in my tanks but I guess I need to get the test for it.

I had never in all my years in this hobby even thought about the TDS (total dissolved solids) either but once I learned a little bit about them I bought a meter to test them. I now understand a little bit about that aspect too and how it effects my tanks. I knew my water was soft but didn't understand just how soft it actually is. I found that it is lacking the amount or kind of minerals present on other folks water.

My fish thrived in my soft water but the plants need more than my water offered them. Once I understood that and did something about it I finally started having success with plants. Ferts alone weren't enough.

It took a lot of experimenting to finally start having success. Having a planted tank initially takes a lot of work but in the long run it is well worth all the time it takes to get it right.

Well, this is odd, to say the least! I did the phosphate test kit from API, and it says barely detectable phosphates...? Now I'm confused. Going to redo and do the kh/gh test next. I'll keep you updated. I'll tell which I'm sure you know, test kits (not cheap) so I'm befuddled at this time...hmm.

 

I did a tds meter reading awhile ago. But it's not easy really, because you don't know exactly what solids are involved?

 

I meant to tell you one more thing, sorry if I'm being a pest? I added more plants. So I'll post some pics in a bit. And I ordered more vallisanaria (italian).

 

Well, this is odd, to say the least! I did the phosphate test kit from API, and it says barely detectable phosphates...? Now I'm confused. Going to redo and do the kh/gh test next. I'll keep you updated. I'll tell which I'm sure you know, test kits (not cheap) so I'm befuddled at this time...hmm.

I don't have a phosphate test kit. I've never even tested for them so I wouldn't even know what to expect if I tested for them. Guess I need to do some reading

I did a tds meter reading awhile ago. But it's not easy really, because you don't know exactly what solids are involved?

I don't totally understand exactly what the numbers are telling me. I just know that my tap water is almost devoid of any minerals. At this point I am trusting that the equilibrium and the Thrive ferts are giving my plants what they need.

The water straight from my tap has a TDS reading of 21. Folks that know more than I do tell me that is close to RO water. If I understand what RO water is it is water that has had the minerals stripped from it. I add enough equilibrium to get the number close to 100 in my main tank. I have it up to 125 in the 5.5 gallon tank I posted picture of. I get them up a bit higher in my molly tank.

If I am understanding it correctly the equilibrium contains the proper amounts of the minerals that are normally in tap water but missing from mine.

I meant to tell you one more thing, sorry if I'm being a pest? I added more plants. So I'll post some pics in a bit. And I ordered more vallisanaria (italian).

Never ever a pest Looking forward to the pictures.

 

Oh yes, of course. I should have made it clearer, I don't intend on using them together, but ty for heads up just in case. I'm very very particular what goes 8n my tanks. Ty though.

Just to add. Why I'm getting both. I plan on trying each in a separate tank and see which works better, or not? Thanks again guys.


I forgot to answer this question, sorry for that. Yes I also ordered a phosphate test kit and gh/oh kit. Ty my tap seems to be hard, but not really sure yet. I'll let you know soon ty.

Now, I want to buy the other products that were recommended, too. I've got extra tanks to conduct side by side tests.
I've been dosing with the Seachem line(flourish, flourish advanced) twice a week, and root tabs occassionally.

 

I don't have a phosphate test kit. I've never even tested for them so I wouldn't even know what to expect if I tested for them. Guess I need to do some reading


I don't totally understand exactly what the numbers are telling me. I just know that my tap water is almost devoid of any minerals. At this point I am trusting that the equilibrium and the Thrive ferts are giving my plants what they need.

The water straight from my tap has a TDS reading of 21. Folks that know more than I do tell me that is close to RO water. If I understand what RO water is it is water that has had the minerals stripped from it. I add enough equilibrium to get the number close to 100 in my main tank. I have it up to 125 in the 5.5 gallon tank I posted picture of. I get them up a bit higher in my molly tank.

If I am understanding it correctly the equilibrium contains the proper amounts of the minerals that are normally in tap water but missing from mine.


Never ever a pest Looking forward to the pictures.

Yea, I agree. My tds is about 38 out of tap, and my total hardness is about 150. So believe me, I get so confused with the numbers...? From what I understand and have read, it's all a guessing game. Because all the numbers don't matter if I don't get specific reading on my iron, potassium, magnesium, etc..They make these test kits, and I'm sorry but it just leads me to buying more test kits, meters, etc...lol. crazy. So that's why 8m going to do what you said in the first place and do a side by side comparison of niclogc and easy green. And as I mentioned before the phosphate test kit is saying I have no trace of phosphate??? Really...okay. for the price they charge and all the hype about testing, so far I'm just getting more confused!

 

I have decided I am not going to buy anymore testing kits. I don't need more confusion. I bought the gh/kh test kit shortly after getting back into the hobby. I used it exactly one time. For me it was actually a waste of money.

All one needs really is the master test kit and for many years I didn't even feel the need to have that. Before all I ever had was a PH and an ammonia test kit. It is nice to be able to keep an eye on PH, ammonia and nitrites while cycling and nitrates once the cycle is done. Even the nitrates test isn't all that necessary once ones water change schedule is determined.

I am glad I got the TDS meter. It doesn't tell me exactly what is missing from my water but it lets me know where I want the number to be. I trust that the equilibrium is adding the necessary minerals in the proper proportions. My plants are telling me that it is. As I said, ferts alone weren't all the plants needed.

 

Ditto to that girl!

 

I just got few pics of my new baby otos and omg, I lov lov them. I hope the continue to get bigger bellies. So far it's been 10days. 5 of the 6 are still going. One died 24hrs after purchase. I hope the odds stay in my favor. I'm getting 6 more this week. I'm going to post couple of pics and some of the dying leaves on plants and the yellowing. I'm battling a bit of baba in one tank right now, so try not to look, lol.

 

Mine.

 

Last one is my baby bn, she's doubled in size in a month!

 

Wish I had a better camera! And more plants coming for all 4 tanks next week.

 

Of course couldn't get 1 good pic of any 3 of my baby clown plecos. They hate, the spotlight!

 

My amanos weren't to camera ready tonight either. They usually all out.