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Is my watersprite OK?

5K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
I have recentally bought some watersprite to sheild my java ferns form too much light. But new growth is white and these leaves do not produce babies. In addition these leaves quickly deteriorate, the leaves die and turn brown with decomposition and fall appart. It starts with the center of the leaf and spreads to the tips.

pH: 7.5 to 8
tank size: 10 gallon
Plants: watersprite, java fern, Brazillian Elodea, Bannana plant
Inhabitants: 3 ghost shrimp, 3 glowlight tetras, snails.
Light: form a kit probally 2 watts a gallon, the elodea is healthy.
subtrate: Plain gravel not soil bottomed.

I am not using fertilizers or CO2
 
#2 ·
Color change that drastic is likely an issue of fertilisers.

Grab some Flourish Comprehensive...
Or, if that's impossible, you could do something I did to test out the soil method.
Simply buy some organic choice potting soil, and add some tablespoons of it to your filter basket/bag.

May help. :)
What kind of light do you have? Is it incandecent (normal bulb) or compact flourescent?
(whiteness could be the plant burning up if you are using incandescent. Get CFLs before you try fertilisers.)
 
#4 ·
A single fluorescent tube that fits your fixture will be fine for light; I had one tube over my 10g years ago. A full spectrum or daylight-type tube is all you need, with a kelvin rating around 6500K. Measure the existing tube end to end (not including the prongs) and that is what you look for in a T8 (smaller diameter than older T12).

Substrate nutrients will not do much to help floating plants, in point of fact it may be a hindrance. Ceratopteris cornuta (assuming that is your Water Sprite) needs nutrients in the water. Flourish Comprehensive will do best.

Byron.
 
#6 ·
In previous threads I have suggested Flourish Comprehensive to those then using FloraPride and they had improvement. I have tried to find out what exactly is in FloraPride, but all I can ascertain from Tetra is potassium and iron. Plants need 17 nutrients, 15 of which are minerals. And while this or that appearance may indicate lack of iron, it may also indicate lack of some other nutrient. Lastly, increasing only one or two minerals can cause plants to shut down assimilation of other nutrients. Plus, iron is a heavy metal and all heavy metals are highly toxic to fish and plants so I do not recommend ad hoc dosing of specific minerals as it can upset the natural balance.

I would suggest Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium. To the best of my knowledge, it is the only preparation containing all essential nutrients (save oxygen, carbon and hydrogen which occur naturally in any aquarium). It takes very little, for a 10g about 1/4 teaspoon once or perhaps twice a week. I would start with once weekly, on the day following a water change (conditioners that detoxify heavy metals will negate iron, copper, manganese, zinc and this usually lasts around 24 hours). I think you will see vast improvement. I use Flourish and my Ceratopteris is growing like a weed.

Byron.
 
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