[JRotala]

Hello, I am relatively new to the planted tank scene, but have done lots of research. I have had overwhelming success with my first tank, a 20 long but recently noticed my S. Repens leaves drooping. Ive looked around and cant seem to find any solid information on why this happens! Any help is sincerely appreciated!

Specs:
-Tank: 20 Long
-Lighting: Current USA+
-Filter: Fluval 206+hydor koralia nano 240 for extra flow
-Substrate: Altum Aquasoil
-CO2: Excel 3ml daily
-Ferts: 1/8 tsp. Kno3 2x a week (Macros)
1/16 KH2PO4 2x per week (Macros)
2ml Seachem flourish 2x per week (micros)
-WC Schedule: 50% water changes (tap water)+1/8 tsp. equillibrium
(Dosing system based off Tom Barr's excel EI)

Attached are the photos of the drooping S. Repens

 

[Bananableps]

Would it be possible for you to post bigger photos? Can't quite make out the detail of the leaves.

 

[JRotala]

sorry about that!

 

[Bananableps]

How recently did you add them? S. repens often takes awhile to get established. I still can't make things out very well in the photo, but it looks like the new growth is coming in OK. If the new growth is good, it's possible that the old leaves are in the process of shedding. This is normal. Commercial s. repens is usually grown in emergently, so it needs time to adapt to submerged conditions.

 

[BettaBettas]

im kind of having the same issue, where the plant doesn't grow at all! ive had mine for several months now, hasn't done anything.

 

[Willcooper]

I received about a 1/3rd of the amount that you see when I planted and it tripled in about two months. Trim the top and replant. This was being hit with about 50 par (medium light in my opinion) with ei dosing and a 1.2 ph drop from co2 in inert sand with root tabs. So it doesn't need a ton of light but it does need nutrients which it sounds like you are providing and good co2. You have good substrate and it seems like dosing and light are good. How's the co2? How long have the plants been in the tank? Mine took about a week to send up new growth but after that it took off. This was in a 40 breeder for perspective.


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[JRotala]

Ive gotten all my S. Repens from TC sources so I dont think its emersed growth, but may be melting from a period of shading/bad flow (too big hardscape in too litttle of a tank, which I recently removed when I realized the problem). I am also not running preassurized co2, only 3ml of flourish daily (trying to kickstart growth with my main goal being to switch back to low tech once the desired growth is achieved). My problem is that other stems, even those that had never been affected by the aforementioned conditions are drooping. The lower leaves are also constantly getting GSA even with my PO4 levels, which I thought was adequate. I recently added some root tabs to them because of their large root system so hopefully that helps. Long story short is Drooping leaves a sign of any greater problem I may have over looked? Thank you very much for your help, this is my first time posting on this forum (Though Ive read probably thousands) and Its definately a step up from "FishLore"
By the way- Beautiful tank, Jealous of the dense S. Repens

here is a picture off of google that shows how my leaves look (shape wise)

Bump:

 

[Willcooper]

Not a deficiency expert by any means but the spaces between each leaf node seems long and if I'm not mistaken is a sign of lower light (is that just the growth from when you received it?). Could be way off base though. Do you know the rough par that is reaching them? Drooping leaves is also a possible indicator of too little nitrogen. Mine seemed to start sending roots and then slowly started sending up new growth as the old growth slowly started wilting and collecting gsa. Keep in mind gsa and gda are fairly common in ei dosed tanks and will attack the glass, hard scape and older/slower growth.

Do you have the satellite plus pro or the satellite plus? The pro seems to have a lot of light output but couldn't find info for just the satellite plus.


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[JRotala]

I received the plants with the large length between each node, I dont think its a lighting issue because S. repens Ive had the longest are very dense, almost hugging the substrate. Also from the Par readings Ive seen I think I should be getting around 40 Par at the substrate. Any thoughts on upping Kno3/Kh2po4? Also the last photo I sent was not mine, but one I found off of google to show the drooping of the leaves I am experiencing.

 

[Willcooper]

Yeah mine hugged the substrate too and sent shoots sideways and they were getting prob 45ish par. I wouldn't want to be the one to recommend specific nutrient dosing changes as I don't have enough experience to be confident. Hopefully someone on here can offer some educated help or that you can find the proper resources on the Internet.

Edit: how long has this plant been in your aquarium? Is the drooping growth the old growth from when you first planted the plants? If so it's normal. Are you getting any new growth? And if so what does it look like?


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[JRotala]

New growth seems to be normal, but I'm wondering if the drooping leaves is a sign of something else, if not It seems I may be just overthinking a bit of melting. If that is the case, any thoughts on the GSA and melting of old leaves?

 

[Willcooper]

Well if the old leaves are all that are drooping then you don't have a problem. Only the new growth will be using your tanks current conditions. Once this plant settles it goes crazy if you give it room to do so.


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[JRotala]

Thats what I've heard, once its rooted it takes off! Thanks for your help, Im definitely an over thinker when It comes to my tank!

 

[Willcooper]

Thats what I've heard, once its rooted it takes off! Thanks for your help, Im definitely an over thinker when It comes to my tank!

Most of us are especially in the beginning.


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[ed.junior]

You can up the PO4 to prevent GSA. I dose 3ppm of PO4 3x per week.

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