I have a crypt garden at one end of my tank.... Probably about four or five varieties. Early on I tried Seachem root tabs only to have them start to wilt. I immediately removed the tabs and they bounced right back. Some seem to have good results with these, some don't.

Be sure not to bury the rhizome too deep either... if they are fine everywhere else that probably isn't the problem anyway, but worth mentioning.

Jeff

 

GAH! Stories like this make me so nervous! My tank is mostly crypts, and if they ever decide to melt on me I'm gonna seriously cry!!! *grumbles at crypts*

It doesn't sound like you made any changes that would have caused your little 'Bermuda Triangle'. . . unless either the WaterSprite or the stems in that area had a sudden growth spurt that shaded that particular spot more than the rest of the tank? Otherwise, I'm at a loss, too. I wish I could help.

On the brighter side of things, what YOU see as a a "massive hole" in your scape, I see as a little peek-a-boo window to that pretty piece of driftwood behind! If it really bothers you, you could attach a rhizome plant to the driftwood, but I like it just the way it is right now! I'd just leave it alone, honestly. . .

The C.Spiralis just to the side of the 'triangle' (Erik cracks me up) looks happy enough - and if the way mine behave is any indication, you'll probably find a little daughter plants popping up in the not-too-distant future to fill things in perfectly!

The tank looks good girl! Sorry I have nothing more to offer, hopefully someone around here will be able to shed some light (no pun intended) on your cryptic crypts. . .

 

Just a thought when the first melt happened did you recently place root tabs in that area? Had there been root tabs placed there before the melt, and if so how long of a time period before placing more tabs in that area? Also what type of root tabs did you use?

 

I did place root tabs shortly after I noticed the melt. There were root tabs there prior to the melt. I basically placed a root tab per crypt there. The brand is the Seachem brand. I'm thinking about switching brands to API root tabs and seeing if that helps. I've also had osmocote + recommended to me.

Jes, the issue with the massive hole is that there isn't as much space for the female gourami to hide anymore. And the tank just doesn't look as "full" anymore. I like my lush green paradise.

 

I just used some root tabs in my Crypt area yesterday! Is this bad? By the way I like the look of the OPs tank!

 

Nah, I wouldnt' worry - as a general rule, Crypts need either root tabs or a nutrient-rich substrate. I doubt Koi's problem was from the root tabs - you're right, though - her tank is gorgeous! (see! TOLDJA!)

I've also read that crypts can get fussy when they're crowded - they don't like it when their roots bump into others - maybe that particular spot has too many roots beneath the substrate? With Crypts, who knows!!!?

 

Very true, JDM. I DO keep my substrate clean, so while I know there's some mulm that settles below the surface, it's not likely to be as much as in yours - there's a balance in every tank, and in every tank. . . it's unique! Bonus is that with Crypts. . . *shakes head* It could really go either way! *grumbles at melty crypts AGAIN*

 

Poor little honey!!! No good when it affects the fish, :-? I hope you get The Mystery of the Melting Crypts solved soon! *hugs*

 

Personally, I'd recommend against the osmocote, especially with black sand. I've use the rootmedic tabs and they work great, but eventually all those little osmocote-like slow dissolving pellets ended up sitting on the substrate surface - very unappealing aesthetic.

 

I've had Rootmedic + recommended to me several times in the past, Haven't tried them yet. Just out of curiousity, why do you prefer those over the other types - specifically the brand-name tabs like API and Seachem?

 

I don't necessarily recommend them over anything else like the Flourish tabs, but I do support the idea of buying from a fellow hobbyist (Rootmedic) rather than a company like Seachem. After trying the Rootmedic, I went back to Flourish tabs (I can buy them locally)! I didn't see any difference in plant growth and I still have those darn tiny fertilizer pellets sitting on my substrate when I disrupt it by moving plants around...

Don't miss-understand. The Rootmedic was inexpensive (Justin@Rootmedic has great sales periodically), they work a long time, and worked as advertised. I just didn't like the aesthetic outcome after 6 months. Oh, the extra capsules also melted in their plastic bags in my very humid workshop (where my fry grow-out tanks are). The Rootmedic tabs need to be stored in a low-humidity environment!