plants dying, ugh

[Janmitch22]

I have borneo (malaysian) swords and they just aren't doing well. They're browning and just falling off slowly. What should I do? Is it that they need gravel? They're in sand currently. Do they need a chemical pick-me-up?

 

[Janmitch22]

I was tired when I wrote that post. The culprit is probably my low wpg.

 

[Isabella]

In which one of your tanks are the sword plants? And what is the wattage over that tank? Could well that it's lighting that is too low. I don't know whether swords "love" gravel, but my guess would be that they prefer finer substrates, and substrates that are generally set up for a planted tank. My swords also don't do too well. They're alive but I also have some leaves decaying over time. I remove them regularly. Somehow the plants are still alive. It must be luck because they're rather at least moderate light plants and my light is VERY low!

 

[Gunnie]

It's probably your lighting. I don't think the gravel would be an issue. I have seen them in all types of tanks. Lighting is usually the problem with these plants since most tanks have only standard lighting which is usually not enough for swords.

 

[Butterfly]

this it

The top is aquatic and the bottom is not. They are both called Borneo swords. The bottom is frequently sold as aquatic.
Carol

 

[Janmitch22]

The top one, aglaonema simplex. I saw a guy walking around WalMart with "aquarium lighting for plants" or something like that. It was a strip light and I probably could use what he had. I wonder what section that'd be in...I should have asked.

 

[Butterfly]

They have them in the lighting aisle
Carol

 

[Janmitch22]

Sweet. I checked the fish aisle; they have 20 watt lights, but that's lower than what I have...sheesh. Lighting aisle it is!