My Ludwigia stopped growing a few weeks ago and started losing it's bottom leaves. It wasn't great before this, but not as bad either. (It used to grow like a weed with no extra KNO3) I normally only add K, CSM, small amounts of KNO3 and Magnesium. I add PO4 when I think to check it. The fish and food usually add enough KNO3 and PO4 for my liking.
When I noticed that the Ludwigia were suffering I tested the PO4 and topped it up to 1 ppm+. The next day the one plant spouted a bunch of new leaves but did not do much else. I also noticed some round holes at the edges of the leaves about this time. Since the PO4 was still good I assumed that the growth spurt was due to extra Potassium in the KH2PO4. So I added some extra Potassium and the leaves seems to fill out and get some of their sheen back. But still no growth, the plants are about as tall as they were three weeks ago. I used to have to top and replant them every week.
My GH test kit seems to be toast (KH is 7) unless GH is over 30.
The only other thing I can think of is that the new lights (Coralife 10K) which replaced some generic 10K are crap. One of the old lights was burned out and another was fading, so I replaced with the Coralife Super Daylight. I also run some 6700K morning and night, but total watts is 400, so I don't run them all at once. I may pump up the light for a while to see what happens.
Other factors, Anubias growing like a weed, Sword is huge although maybe a little pale. CO2 about 30, PH is 6.8, Iron is .25, Calcium is NFI but I have Aragonite in the filter.
I'll be going to an auto-doser one my DIY testing is complete.
When I noticed that the Ludwigia were suffering I tested the PO4 and topped it up to 1 ppm+. The next day the one plant spouted a bunch of new leaves but did not do much else. I also noticed some round holes at the edges of the leaves about this time. Since the PO4 was still good I assumed that the growth spurt was due to extra Potassium in the KH2PO4. So I added some extra Potassium and the leaves seems to fill out and get some of their sheen back. But still no growth, the plants are about as tall as they were three weeks ago. I used to have to top and replant them every week.
My GH test kit seems to be toast (KH is 7) unless GH is over 30.
The only other thing I can think of is that the new lights (Coralife 10K) which replaced some generic 10K are crap. One of the old lights was burned out and another was fading, so I replaced with the Coralife Super Daylight. I also run some 6700K morning and night, but total watts is 400, so I don't run them all at once. I may pump up the light for a while to see what happens.Other factors, Anubias growing like a weed, Sword is huge although maybe a little pale. CO2 about 30, PH is 6.8, Iron is .25, Calcium is NFI but I have Aragonite in the filter.
I'll be going to an auto-doser one my DIY testing is complete.
