[sprmankalel]

My swords are suddenly looking very weird. Just yesterday (Sunday) I did a water change and had taken 2 of my 7 swords and pruned a heck of a lot of leaves off them. They start very subtly then quickly move to only shells of what they were. They used to thrive very well. 50 gallon...Flourite Dark substrate...6 Seachem Flourish tabs in substrate. Any advice?

 

[SeaHorse]

I'm not an expert but can you describe your lighting... ie bulb numbers and times on and off.
What HEIGHT is the tank? Do you have floating plants above blocking the lighting?

 

[sprmankalel]

I'm not an expert but can you describe your lighting... ie bulb numbers and times on and off.

2 bulbs in my fixture. They are on for 9.5 hours a day. On at 3pm and off at 12:30am.

What HEIGHT is the tank? Do you have floating plants above blocking the lighting?

Height is 20 inches. No floating plants. Full image of tank before I noticed the issue with swords. This was after a water change of about 50% and adding some of the plants in the back as well as adding 6 flourish tabs. This picture was taken on January 19th.

 

[sprmankalel]

Noticed 1 teeny tiny snail. Now I can't see it but where there's one there have to be more. This could not be that cause of the plants looking like they do. At least I hope. I really don't want to deal with snails. Ugggh!

 

[beaslbob]

Noticed 1 teeny tiny snail. Now I can't see it but where there's one there have to be more. This could not be that cause of the plants looking like they do. At least I hope. I really don't want to deal with snails. Ugggh!

IMHO you had better get used to snails.

every tank (all planted) I have started had a large snail bloom the first few weeks/months. Then a year later there was only a few left.

I just do nothing.

But having snails IME is just part of having a planted tank.


my .02

 

[sprmankalel]

Never had snails and not really opposed to having them if they aren't harmful to my fish or plants.

 

[sprmankalel]

So now I notice that the rotalas are turning black from the point of the substrate down and then not staying planted. What could be the issue?

 

[Flear]

snails are harmless, they'll eat excess food, they'll otherwise leave your plants alone (contrary to some opinions)

personally i think those who think snails are eating their plants are experiencing potassium deficiencies (also known to cause holes in leaves - but they look different from what your plants are going through)

 

[Boredomb]

It looks like a nutrient deficiency to me,
Do you dose any liquid/dry fertilizers at all? Do you know the hardness of you water?

 

[sprmankalel]

I don't know the hardness of the water. I was using FlourinMulti and discontinued but have started again. I have put 5 flourish tabs in the gravel. I have also increased light to 12 hours.