[pauliosa]

Hi

My Echinnodorus leaves started browning/yellowing from the leaf base last week. When I was cleaning up the leaves fell of as I brushed up against them. I lifted the plant and the roots were mostly just black stubs.

Any ideas why anyone?

Substrate is fine sand. I put in a Kugeln clay ball a week after planting, which was seven weeks ago. was dosing weekly with liquid fertiliser but I stopped about 4 weeks ago.

Thanks for any input.

 

[KC1994]

Compact substrate


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[pauliosa]

Thanks

Any suggestions on how to remedy this ??

 

[natemcnutty]

Thanks

Any suggestions on how to remedy this ??

What about adding fish / inverts that stir up the sand? My nerite snails often dig into my substrate.

 

[pauliosa]

I have 3 assassin snails and a red lizard cat which is always shoveling around in the top layer. I might add some more clay balls to that area of the tank then.

Is there anything else I could add to open it up I wonder ???

 

[KC1994]

Fine grain sand is too compact and does not allow adequate water flow around the roots so they will rot. Replace the substrate, or drain some water and make a hole. Fill the hole with another substrate that has larger grain size and replant then cap with the sand.


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[pauliosa]

Ok, would 5mm gravel work here.

Also, would all plants rot in this substrate? I have Rotala die and the roots smelt bad now I think of it but my large Crypt seems fine.