Common Problems with Aquarium Plants

Plant Leaves Turning Yellow

Most of the live aquarium has green color although there are a variety of colors. Once they start to turn yellow, the condition in your tank may get a problem. As you know, plants need light as an energy source for the photosynthetic. If you keep them without adequate lighting, they can’t thrive. Moreover, they also can begin turning yellow. If your aquarium plants don’t get enough nutrients to facilitate healthy growth, this can also make them turning yellow. If you want to keep more than one or two live plants in the fish tank, it’s essential to definitely consider using fertilizer under your substrate. By this way, you can provide your plants with nutrients they need. If you want, you can also use root fertilizer plants in order to stimulate healthy growth. We recommend you to use planted tanks is Eco-Complete. This is one of the most common substrates. It contains live beneficial bacteria that are great for turning fish waste into usable food for plants.

Problems with Growth Rate

For growth rate, your plants can be growing too slowly or too quickly. However, the most common problem is slow growth rate because of a lack of nutrients, adequate lighting, or carbon dioxide (CO2). So, you need to determine the exact issue in these three factors. In fact, your lighting system needs to offer about 3 to 5 watts per gallon of full-spectrum light. In addition, consider whether there is a layer of fertilizer in place under your aquarium substrate. Also, you have to know the CO2 level in your tank. It may be very easy to install extra lighting, but it’s not easy to increase the CO2level in your tank. Indeed, it can be related to the use of a CO2 injector

For aquarium plants that are growing too quickly, they can limit your fish free-swimming space. In order to control the growth of your aquarium plants, you need to trim them back once in a while. Sometimes, you even have to replace fast-growing species with other species that grow slowly. Also, it’s essential to check your tank setup. This step purposes to know if your lighting is more intense than necessary or not.

Brown or Black Leaves

Once your plants begin to turn brown or black, it may be the result of excess phosphate levels in the tank. In order to handle it, you need to perform a large water change. This can help to improve water quality in your tank. Keep in mind it’s important to change water weekly in order to prevent the problem from happening again. This also is essential for controlling your phosphate levels.

Holes in the Leaves

If you see there are small holes in the leaves and end up with the total disintegration of the plant, you may have to solve a case of Crypt rot. It can be the result of the quick change of water parameters in the tank. These plants cannot be able to do well with sudden changes in lighting, temperature, and water chemistry. In order to encourage this, you need to change the water in the tank regularly. This helps to maintain high water quality in your tank. In addition, it’s important to keep the water parameters. Then, your plants can grow back eventually. You also should vacuum your gravel in order to remove excess wastes.

Brittle Leaves

If your plants have a sign of beginning to yellow and turning brittle, the reason may be an iron deficiency. It also is caused by a potassium deficiency. Even, a too high PH level can also lead to this issue. To deal with this problem, it’s best to use an iron-rich fertilizer to fertilizing your substrate. At the same time, reduce the carbonate hardness of the water in your tank.

Growth Stoppage

If your plants stop growing and end up with a death, it may because of the too low water temperature in your tank. The only way to deal with this problem is to replace your heater. Also, you can add another one to suit the size of your tank.

Nutritional and trace element imbalances

Carbon Dioxide Deficiency

If your plants are lack of carbon dioxide, they may grow more slowly than other plants that are provided with CO2. In order to remedy this problem, you need to fertilize with CO2 regularly. Besides, you need to also limit the amount of aeration in your tank.

Manganese deficiency

Your plants begin to turn yellow while the Veins stay Green because of the unbalanced Iron Fertilization. In order to remedy this issue, it’s essential to use a fertilizer with all compounds needed by plants.

Iron Deficiency

Your plants fall off or rot away after turning yellow. The cause of this problem is a lack of Potassium. So, you should use of an Iron rich fertilizer compound regularly. Sometimes, you also need to consider reducing the Carbonate hardness of the water.

Incorrect care

Problems in the substrate

For this problem, you can notice gas bubbles on the surface anytime because of the disturbed substrate. As a result, the plants grow slowly. The cause may be too fine bottom material. To remedy this problem, consider adding some heavier grade material. Also, you should add a substrate fertilizer like Laterite.

Wrong water temperature

Your plants can stop to grow because of the too cold water temperature. That the aquarium heater is broken may be a cause of this problem. So, it’s time to buy a new aquarium heater that suits the size of your tank.

Insufficient light

Your plants will become weak and spindly. There are only a few leaves with long spaces between them. It’s the result of not using enough wattage for your aquarium. So, consider adding more lighting. If necessary, you replace your tubes. It’s best to shop for the right full spectrum bulbs instead of the so-called plant bulbs.