[ben100]

my l. aromatica keeps melting from the bottom up i even cut the melting part off and replanted and its still doing it. only one stem at first now like three or four? what causes this? I have 2 t5ho lights, diy co2, seachem comprehensive fert., no excel for a couple weeks now. the tank is 21" deep

 

[chad320]

What substrate are you using and how are you planting it?

 

[ben100]

tahitian moon sand with root tabs. i pushed it down in the sand

 

[chad320]

L. aromatica seems to one of the stems thats picky about how its planted. Try using tweezers and dont crush the stem. Trim it close as possible to an internode. I suspect rotting stem undergravel promotes more rotting. If the stem produces aerial roots you definately shouldnt have a problem.

 

[ben100]

i was gentle with it. even when the rot is cut off its doing it again. it keeps moving up the stem farther too until its cut

 

[HolyAngel]

Mine melted for the first 3 weeks after I bought it, but then it finally rooted and grows like a weed now. I would stop messing with it and just let it be, it'll pick up.

 

[ben100]

ive had it for over a month and it was doing great, grew like three to four inches now this.
it cant root if its all rotted half way up the stem though....

 

[chad320]

Let it grow some aerial roots then and try planting it after those develop a bit.

 

[ben100]

ill try haha it hasnt produced hardly any so we'll see

 

[ben100]

I think i found the culprit. My heater was in the same corner as the aromatica and i think the warm water was just settling at the bottom because my macandra grew up so much the flow of the water was being diverted. So i moved the heater and we'll see!