[Axelrodi202]

It seems as if though I just can't grow swordplants to full size in my 46 gallon tank. The tank has inert gravel, but with a good amount of mulm and fish waste as it's been set up for almost a decade. The crypt wendtii I have in the tank also seem to be smaller than the huge ones I see in other people's tanks, but I do have one very large crypt and some very tall vals in the tank.

I have red rubin, amazon, and tropica swords in the tank, and they're all stunted. For instance the tropica sword is only around 2 inches in diameter. I've had them all for around 2 years. At this point is it worth trying some root tabs to get them to grow to full size, or are they permanently stunted and should I just get new plants and give those root tabs? Could there be another cause for the stunted growth besides insufficient nutrients in the substrate?

 

[Monster Fish]

I'd get some root tabs before tossing out the swords.

 

[Indian fern]

I have a dirt tank with weak natiural sunshine and in just a month it grow like crazy and occupied half of my tank.

 

[tinkerpuppet]

Still a newb here, so I say only from research, not experience, but I understand that swords can be very heavy root feeders. Definitely try out some root tabs!

 

[HybridHerp]

it is surprising what a sword will bounce back from

 

[Patriot]

Root tabs. You could push some iron next to the roots also. Next time you tear down that tank dirt the baby.

 

[wicca27]

my swords grow huge in my 55 had to even sell one cause it took up half the tank. with that said i use miracle grow organic potting soil (brown bag) and a pool filter cap. i bet like the others said they need food for the roots. i dont use root tabs i use JOBES plant food spike. i cut a slice off the end of the stick and push it under the plant. it worked for all kinds of plant including my hc since i didnt use co2

 

[Hmoobthor]

sword are the most fast growing plant i kept...they grow so fast and new growth emerge very fast...use root tabs...