Here is the situation. I have been using the EI method for exactly one month. Things have been going fabulously. I have gotten great growth with little to no algae. Now I have observed two things in the last couple days.
The first is brownish leaves on my crypts. I have two types of crypts, one was sold to me as a "green wendtii" and I'm not sure what the other is. It is a small type of crypt (about 3-4 inches tall). Anyway, most of the leaves grown in the last week or two on the wedntii"s are brown. And the smaller crypts leaves are streaked with brown as well. Other than the color they seem healthy, they aren't rotting. Is it just adjusting to the new parameters of the water?? Or is it a deficiency of some kind?
The second thing I have observed is some stunted growth. My water sprite initially put forth tall stems that reached the top of the aquarium (and beyond) the last couple have been rather short. They still look very healthy, but they are shorter with wider (more leafy) growth. Also the brown leaves on the Wendtii's are not getting as big as the leaves that were on the plant when I bought it. It should be noted that both of these plants are fairly new to the tank (one month).
All other growth in the other plants (rotala, dwarf saggitaria, dwarf lily) has been very healthy. In fact the Sag has over doubled in size and number.
Here are the stats:
20 Gal Long
2-20 watts flourescent bulbs
moderate fish load
not heavily planted (but getting there)
ph-6.6
gh-4
kh-6
PO4- 2.0 ppm according to a not so great kit
I haven't measured NO3 lately
Here is the dosing sched
Day 1 - 50% water change, 1/4 tsp KNO3, 1/4 tsp K2SO4, 1/16 tsp KH2PO4, I also add baking soda to raise KH to 5-6, CaCL2 & MgSO4 (4:1 ratio) until Gh is around 3-5.
Day 2 - 5 ml CSM+B (1 Tblspn per 250 ml water), 1 ml Fe (1 Tblspn per 250 ml water)
Day 3 - Day one minus water change and hardeners
Day 4- same as 2
Day 5 - same as day 3
Day 6 - same as day 2
Day 7 - same as day 3
So are there any suggestions?
Thank you all for your help.
Derek
The first is brownish leaves on my crypts. I have two types of crypts, one was sold to me as a "green wendtii" and I'm not sure what the other is. It is a small type of crypt (about 3-4 inches tall). Anyway, most of the leaves grown in the last week or two on the wedntii"s are brown. And the smaller crypts leaves are streaked with brown as well. Other than the color they seem healthy, they aren't rotting. Is it just adjusting to the new parameters of the water?? Or is it a deficiency of some kind?
The second thing I have observed is some stunted growth. My water sprite initially put forth tall stems that reached the top of the aquarium (and beyond) the last couple have been rather short. They still look very healthy, but they are shorter with wider (more leafy) growth. Also the brown leaves on the Wendtii's are not getting as big as the leaves that were on the plant when I bought it. It should be noted that both of these plants are fairly new to the tank (one month).
All other growth in the other plants (rotala, dwarf saggitaria, dwarf lily) has been very healthy. In fact the Sag has over doubled in size and number.
Here are the stats:
20 Gal Long
2-20 watts flourescent bulbs
moderate fish load
not heavily planted (but getting there)
ph-6.6
gh-4
kh-6
PO4- 2.0 ppm according to a not so great kit
I haven't measured NO3 lately
Here is the dosing sched
Day 1 - 50% water change, 1/4 tsp KNO3, 1/4 tsp K2SO4, 1/16 tsp KH2PO4, I also add baking soda to raise KH to 5-6, CaCL2 & MgSO4 (4:1 ratio) until Gh is around 3-5.
Day 2 - 5 ml CSM+B (1 Tblspn per 250 ml water), 1 ml Fe (1 Tblspn per 250 ml water)
Day 3 - Day one minus water change and hardeners
Day 4- same as 2
Day 5 - same as day 3
Day 6 - same as day 2
Day 7 - same as day 3
So are there any suggestions?
Thank you all for your help.
Derek
