Melting Leaves

[VaporFlowers]

It was told to me by one of my coworkers that weak light can make the leaves of stem plants melt off.

I have a 90 watt compact fluorescent on a 30 gallon long tank. This proves a very effective growing system for hornwort, crypts, mondo grass, java ferns, etc. However, could the lighting be too strong for plants such as red ludwigia, moneywort, and other stem plants? Or could it have to do with hard water? Their lower leaves are definitely melting off.

PS- I don't have a CO2 system, because I have a short tank, and because it is small gallon-wise.

[Dwarfpufferfish]

PS- I don't have a CO2 system, because I have a short tank, and because it is small gallon-wise.

30 gallon tank is large enough to support co2 injection. And if you water is hard as you said, a pH crash will not be a problem. Many people on this board inject co2 into much smaller tanks and have great success. I myself inject co2 into a 5 gallon tank!

One reason your plants might be melting is that with 3 WPG your plants are starved for co2 and probably other micros/macros. I would recommend a DIY co2 system and checking all your macro fert levels!

[aquaverde]

CO2 injection into my 30 with 96W PC grows plants like all get-out.
I wouldn't even attempt that light level without CO2 in this tank.