Flooded Dsm Resulting In Mold & Melt

cdaJiv

Member
Oct 3, 2017
35
3
8
Douglasville
For the last four months I have been growing my plants are using the dry start method, I was growing Dwarf baby tears, several types of Eriocaulon, and many different species of buces. I flooded my tank about two weeks ago and set my CO2 on high (30ppm), with high lighting on a 8 hour schedule peaking midday, my drop checker (which I don’t usually use because of lack of accuracy) has always bright yellow in this tank since flooding.

I use Seachem flourish tabs & API root tabs and Tropica plant growth fertilizer. I dose for the amount of water that is in the tank (22L), not the tank volume (30L) and water change once a week with DI water which I add GH Booster to keep it as 5-6dH before I do the water change.

This last week I have seen lots of leaves die off and several of my buces stems have a white mold growing off of them. I can’t tell if the mold is caused from the plants dying, or if the mold is what is causing the buces to die.

HC are also melting in some areas and pearling in others, but it’s randomized, there isn’t anything blocking the light in the places where the HC is dying, it’s happening right next to each other.

Another issue that puzzles me is that a majority of the buces melting were not in the tank during the DSM... they were in a cycled & matured tank that doesn’t run CO2. So I’m confused about why plants are melting and dying after being introduced to a tank that offers proper CO2 levels as apposed to have been being in a low light tank, all the parameters are similar as well as using the same brand of farts, the only difference is the CO2 and higher levels of light.

D21C148C-E555-4DB1-A2C5-C0DD8B4DE6A4.jpeg


B4D65C72-71F4-4929-82AE-26FA687B57AF.jpeg



https://flickr.com/photos/155018004@N03/sets/72157696771957480
 

Tim Harrison

Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Jul 7, 2017
386
340
63
UK
Too much light too soon and for too long. Cut the photoperiod to 6hrs a day and reduce the intensity.
Plants need time to transition from emersed to immersed growth. The mold will be feeding off the dying plants as they release organics.
Buces can sometimes be a bit temperamental and sulk if they are moved. Each tank is different with different environmental conditions.
Either way plants need time to adjust to different conditions and bombarding them with photons will usually exacerbate any problems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: burr740

cdaJiv

Member
Oct 3, 2017
35
3
8
Douglasville
I’ll give it a shot, I feel like in in the back of my mind I had a feeling that my light intensity being to high was the problem. But I weighed the idea of them not having enough light vs have to much.

As for the buces, is it possible for a plant to heal, if it has started to die and mold has began to grow? I think if a leaf has structural issues it cannot be corrected once it’s fully developed, is that the case for the rest of the plant too? Correct me if I’m wrong about this...

Also could this be the issue with the HC melt also?
 

Tim Harrison

Lifetime Member
Lifetime Member
Jul 7, 2017
386
340
63
UK
Plants like Buces grow leaves from a rhizome, so it should grow new leaves once it adapts, given favourable environmental conditions.