What causes "meltdown" of freshwater plants?
Has anyone ever studied this often reported "experience" or tried to/succeeding in replicating it in the lab? What factors or triggers or common conditions were observed?
Has this phenomenon been covered in a past Barr Report?
Background Info:
I have had more than a few Crypto's wendtii "crash" on me. I've also had one Hygrophila corymbosa 'compacta' "melt." Yesterday I had a stand of Ludwigia arcuata collapse as well. In each case, these were isolated plants that wilted away overnight/in one day. No other plants were affected.
In none of these cases did either of us note any obvious nutrient deficiency signs before the crash (2 sets of planted tank keeper eyes). Some tanks were not CO2-injected. All were regularly dosed with other ferts.
The tanks substrate in each case was standard gravel (pea, Eco-Complete) or RedSea "clay" nodules, and the tanks were all well established with a good number of thriving plants [NOTE: I've never had a plant melt in any tank with the SeaChem (Red) chip gravel.].
All tanks were well lighted (2.5-5 WPG).
I look forward to your answers or additional questions/feedback. Thanks!
Has anyone ever studied this often reported "experience" or tried to/succeeding in replicating it in the lab? What factors or triggers or common conditions were observed?
Has this phenomenon been covered in a past Barr Report?
Background Info:
I have had more than a few Crypto's wendtii "crash" on me. I've also had one Hygrophila corymbosa 'compacta' "melt." Yesterday I had a stand of Ludwigia arcuata collapse as well. In each case, these were isolated plants that wilted away overnight/in one day. No other plants were affected.
In none of these cases did either of us note any obvious nutrient deficiency signs before the crash (2 sets of planted tank keeper eyes). Some tanks were not CO2-injected. All were regularly dosed with other ferts.
The tanks substrate in each case was standard gravel (pea, Eco-Complete) or RedSea "clay" nodules, and the tanks were all well established with a good number of thriving plants [NOTE: I've never had a plant melt in any tank with the SeaChem (Red) chip gravel.].
All tanks were well lighted (2.5-5 WPG).
I look forward to your answers or additional questions/feedback. Thanks!