BGA and Nutrient Deficiency?

[Bradders]

You still need a little more biology. That takes time.

This may be just a stage of maturing of your aquarium.

Thank you both.
I guess a lot of this is due to my lack of planted aquarium experience, the requirement of faith in nature and patience! I am sure I will learn a lot from you guys and going through the experience. I get so worried about 'irreversible problems' because I did not react!! Patience Brad! Patience! 😀

 

[PARAGUAY]

You have some tools at your disposal, maintenance, water changes and patience ,sure the last one can be trying but you will get there. I just kept getting algae on a little grow out aquarium moving the light to the rear from the front over the stem plants seemed to have solved it A bit of observing may be needed

 

[MrClockOff]

Thank you both.
I guess a lot of this is due to my lack of planted aquarium experience, the requirement of faith in nature and patience! I am sure I will learn a lot from you guys and going through the experience. I get so worried about 'irreversible problems' because I did not react!! Patience Brad! Patience! 😀

I’ve been there too and back then there was no UKAPS or anything similar, at least nothing I could find in the language I could understand. So I was on my own. Guess what? It was a total disaster. Put me off for good 20 years 😁 Next time I felt like I’m ready to try again my first attempt started as a white murky mess. But I was lucky to discover UKAPS. Tons of information and inspiration. So I thought if they can do then I can do it too. MD tanks Y channel was almost as user guide to how create a nice scape step by step. In the end my plants started growing and I was then ready to upgrade from messy salad into something pleasing my eyes
Post in thread 'From This to This!!!'
From This to This!!!

My confidence started getting rock solid when I could see my plants starting finally growing, I was able to identify nutrients deficiency myself twice and when I understood that if I’m religiously following my maintenance routine I can’t grow algae anymore 😁

I wish I could spend just a little bit more time on my hobby. But I have family too 😁

 

[Bradders]

I have, for my sins, been tinkering a little. Added a little boast or iron, reduced the TNC complete a little but added some nitrogen. I think it’s starting to look a little healthier, but a little too early to tell for sure. Algae still a little problem but cyno is slightly reducing.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I think it’s starting to look a little healthier, but a little too early to tell for sure.

I think you are right, I'd be pretty happy with that as plant growth. If you look at the Anubias barteri plants they are showing new growth and that new growth looks a healthy colour.

cheers Darrel

 

[Bradders]

Hi all,

I think you are right, I'd be pretty happy with that as plant growth. If you look at the Anubias barteri plants they are showing new growth and that new growth looks a healthy colour.

cheers Darrel

Cheers Darrel. Pretty sure that Iron is being helpful here, but some plants were displaying signs of Nitrogen deficiency, too. I think I need another 7-10 days of this routine and come to a conclusion.

 

[dw1305]

Pretty sure that Iron is being helpful here,

The new leaves definitely look healthy green and non-chlorotic, which suggests that the plants are <"getting enough plant available iron (Fe)">.

but some plants were displaying signs of Nitrogen deficiency, too

The good thing with nitrogen (N) deficiency is that it is a quick fix with, pretty much, <"instant greening">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Bradders]

The new leaves definitely look healthy green and non-chlorotic, which suggests that the plants are <"getting enough plant available iron (Fe)">.
The good thing with nitrogen (N) deficiency is that it is a quick fix with, pretty much, <"instant greening">.

Yes, that so far seems to be occurring. But need more time. I took the advice that just increasing the TNC complete to fill a gap was not the right approach - so trying to be more selective, wait and see!

 

[bazz]

Another small thing you could do to assist in the battle is pull your sand back from the wherever it touches the vertical glass for a week or so, Cyano seems to love and proliferate in this area. I personally think light travels down inside of the glass making the taping up method a bit of a waste of time, well, that's what I've experienced in the past.
You might also try temporarily adding a small powerhead down at substrate level, I know some types Cyano that I've had dislike direct flow, but it goes with the caveat that there are probably be some types that do.

 

[Bradders]

Another small thing you could do to assist in the battle is pull your sand back from the wherever it touches the vertical glass for a week or so, Cyano seems to love and proliferate in this area. I personally think light travels down inside of the glass making the taping up method a bit of a waste of time, well, that's what I've experienced in the past.
You might also try temporarily adding a small powerhead down at substrate level, I know some types Cyano that I've had dislike direct flow, but it goes with the caveat that there are probably be some types that do.

Thanks, Bazz. Sterling advice. I'm going to thin out that sand at the front for sure. Good call.

 

[Teleos]

Algae still a little problem but cyno is slightly reducing.

It looks very good for a new tank.

 

[Bradders]

Hi All - a couple of questions for the more experienced. As reminder, tank around 3 months stage.

1. The big echinodorus leaves (far left and far right) have been there from planting and never trimmed - maybe emersed growth. They are starting to look thin, leaf breakdown, algea prone and generally not lush green. If you zoom in on pictures, you can see some of the issues.
   1. I have read that this can happen (i.e. die over the course of several months) as the plant sheds its emersed growth and shoots up submerged growth. Is that correct?
   2. Is there anyone with an eagle eye that can show me new echinodorus growth in the below picture? I have also read the leave may change shape but not sure if that is correct either!
   3. Do I need to think about removing these leaves now that obviously look weak and struggling?
2. The Siamensis 53B (centre left and right) seem to be lighter green than others, but images online make them out a lot greener. Any insights on these plants?

Thanks as always - really appreciate the advice.

 

[Teleos]

Hi All - a couple of questions for the more experienced. As reminder, tank around 3 months stage.

1. The big echinodorus leaves (far left and far right) have been there from planting and never trimmed - maybe emersed growth. They are starting to look thin, leaf breakdown, algea prone and generally not lush green. If you zoom in on pictures, you can see some of the issues.
   1. I have read that this can happen (i.e. die over the course of several months) as the plant sheds its emersed growth and shoots up submerged growth. Is that correct?

Yes. The plants will probably first put their energy into new roots and then start to form new leaves.

1. 1. Is there anyone with an eagle eye that can show me new echinodorus growth in the below picture? I have also read the leave may change shape but not sure if that is correct either!

New leaves will take on a different shape.

1. 1. Do I need to think about removing these leaves now that obviously look weak and struggling?

I would only remove the algae-infested leaves at the moment. It is also sufficient to only remove the algae if possible. I wouldn't remove too many leaves at the moment. They still serve as a store for sugar and all mobile nutrients. This helps the plant to form new roots and of course to form new leaves.

 

[Bradders]

Thanks @Teleos . Appreciated! I have so many leaves with algae at the moment I am not quite sure which ones are classed as infested!

I am assuming at least some of these (aerial shot of tank) are good candidates? Only worried as there are quite a few!

 

[Teleos]

@ Bradders,
I would remove the most algae-infested leaves that can be seen in the pictures. These leaves feed the algae rather than being of any use to the plant. Rotting leaves gradually lose all their components. It's like a compost heap under water. The algae are happy about it.

Your bladder snails will also help you with this.

 

[Sanniejop]

but added some nitrogen

Hi Bradder, i am following this topic with attention. I was wondering how you solely increased the nitrogen ?
Nice tank by the way.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I was wondering how you solely increased the nitrogen ?

You only really have two options:

• Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) - 34.5% nitrogen, or
• urea (CO(NH2)2) - 46% nitrogen.

And ammonium nitrate isn't really an option if you have livestock, unless you micro-dose it, because of the TAN content. Urea is also an ammonia source, but it this case it needs a microbe, or plant, with the <"urease enzyme">, before free TAN (<"ammonia / ammonium (NH3 / NH4)">) <"is released">.

The reaction is: CO(NH2)2 + H2O urease→ CO2 + 2NH3

cheers Darrel

 

[Sanniejop]

urea (CO(NH2)2) - 46% nitrogen.

Hi Darrel,
Thanks for your explanation. I have also fish so urea will be the way to go. Now where to get this stuff. Is something like this suitable.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Is something like this suitable.

It should be OK, but probably fairly expensive.

I've never actually bought urea (CO(NH2)2) "off the shelf", I've only added it as a constituent of <"horticultural fertilisers">.

I know that @Zeus. has bought urea prills <"'Pot' scape - one WC in 2 months !!!!">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Connswater]

so many leaves with algae

I think your tank looks great, really good.

I personally am sceptical that you have any nutrient deficiency in your tank (from what I can see) but the key is to look at new leaves (and the 'Duckweed' index, floating plants almost 'talk'). Old leaves become algae magnets, and leaves grown in the atmosphere and then plunged in water, as you know, will be lost in time, and as they are gradually fading colonised by algae.
My main tank is rear access (silly me) so well targeted pruning is a challenge, but your set-up is ideal for selective regular pruning, remove all dead, dying and even slightly weak or damaged leaves, as you would on a houseplant. That way, the plant puts energy into new fresh healthy leaves.

If you have 10-20 ppm of Nitrate in the water column plants will have access to more than enough, I am also sceptical about how low (how low is low but?) Nitrate helps any algae grow. Unpolluted rivers are often low Nitrate, below 1 ppm, and high light, plants do fine. Though of course the Nitrate is effectively inexhaustible in natural waters even if in low concentration. Others will have other observations. Lots of folk believe that lower light levels help control algae, I think, and I may be wrong, that apart from shade loving plants, all low light does is slow down photosynthesis - in plants and algae. George Farmer had a lovely little experiment with high light and no CO2 not long ago, certainly made me think. If you didn't catch it and are interested here is the link: