Hygrophila Corymbosa var Compact

[Aquatic Delight]

okay so i've had this plant as long as i have been in the planted tank world, about 8 months, and in the last month or so my compacts have been getting pin hole leaves, and losing leaves with and without the pinholes. i know that generally this means nutrient defecency, but i am doubting this as the issue, i use flourish root tabs, and do dose my tanks with liquid ferts (on occasion).

what confuses me is that it is happening to them in two seperate tanks. in my 29g they are under LED lights with sand and in my 20l they are under a corallife t5no with eco-complete. not sure what could be the issue.

[@marko@]

all types of h. corymbosa need high K to thrive. its a very common issue.
add some extra K and youll see the deficiency symptoms start to go away.

[Patriot]

Dose that Potassium!!

[Aquatic Delight]

So I should start giving them bananas for breakfast?


What can having to much k in the tank cause?

[Patriot]

No you just need to up the k. If your not dosing buy ada special k, its just K. I used it just for those plants. I don't think you have to worry abouy over dosing with hygro in your tank. They will use it all.

Look at my hygro with loads of K and no algae. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...24&postcount=8

[Bear Sage]

With as many tanks as you have might want to consider ordering a package off someone here or from GLA.

[Aquatic Delight]

those look fantastic. i realized that i have a bottle of leafZone which has K, will that work, am i better off just dosing straight K?

Bear, i moved all my compacts to one tank so really its gonna be alot easier to care for them.

[@marko@]

while that would give them more K, it may drive up the nitrates and phosphates higher than your fish would appreciate. i would get some flourish potassium, alternative brand potassium (i had one that came in a black bottle, cant remember the brand), or dry dose KSO4 (or make into a solution first and dose that)

[Aquatic Delight]

Originally Posted by @marko@

while that would give them more K, it may drive up the nitrates and phosphates higher than your fish would appreciate. i would get some flourish potassium, alternative brand potassium (i had one that came in a black bottle, cant remember the brand), or dry dose KSO4 (or make into a solution first and dose that)

forgive me as I don't fully understand fertilizers, but what about leafzone would drive nitrates and phosphates up?

[Darkblade48]

The MSDS for API Leafzone shows that it is 6.2% potassium sulfate and 1.2% EDTA chelated iron salts.

http://cms.marsfishcare.com/files/ms...one_122309.pdf

It will not increase your nitrate nor your phosphate levels.

[@marko@]

im sorry, it wouldnt. just looked up the ingredients.
i thought it was a different brand analog to flourish comprehensive, which has N, P, K, and micros.

since it has just K and Fe, you can use that and youll be just fine. in theory you could overdose Fe, but i doubt youll need that much K that it would drive you overboard with Fe; especially if your doing 50% daily WCs.

[Aquatic Delight]

okay, thanks guys! maybe i'll want to keep them after they start looking good again