09-10-2011, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Kelley  I have a crypt wendtii that I planted on August 6th. I did loose some leaves when I first planed it, but not too many. During last week's water change I cleanded some of the brown algae off it's leaves just by using my fingers and now more leaves are melting. I thought it would only melt if it was move. Is this normal behavior? I also have a crypto balansaet hat lost more of it's leaves when first planted but it is growing great now. | This was taken out of a profile written by Byron
"Crypt Melt: All species in the Cryptocoryne genus require stable water parameters/conditions and light, and once planted, crypts should not be moved. It generally takes up to 30 days for a crypt to become established. Within a couple of days of any significant change in temperature, pH, hardness, light intensity or duration, nutrient availability or disturbance to the roots by moving (either within the aquarium or to a different aquarium), the plant may "melt." This condition involves the leaves disintegrating into a pile of mush, sometimes within a day or two. The roots usually remain alive, and if not disturbed (siphon away the "mush" but do not disturb the roots) new leaves tend to appear within a matter of a few days or sometimes longer, even up to several weeks or (more rarely) months. Some authorities report that introducing plants to an established aquarium (3+ months) can reduce the occurrence of a melt. C. walkeri 'lutea' does not like being moved once it is established."
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), I would look to the possibility that the water change caused a "significant" (to the plant) environmental change. Has the pH (or hardness, though this latter is unlikely) altered in the tap water for instance? I had this occur several years ago.
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