[Tetrabetta12]

Hello Everyone, Im having a small problem with my plants. I have a Lutea Crypt and Had a Banana sword, but they both have started dying all of a sudden. The Banana Sword just rotted away completely, so i got rid of it, and then a week later my huge Crypt started dying. The leaves on both appeared to just melt away and get holes in them. I fertilize with API Leaf zone and the tank is slightly over stocked so there is plenty of fish waste in the tank to feed the plants. Also, both these plants are established and have a very solid root structure. I also keep up on my fluorescent bulb changes, and both bulbs are 20 Watts in a 10 gallon so lighting should be good. Anyone have an idea to what the problem might be? They both were flourishing and then all of a sudden this happened. I also do 30% water changes twice a week due to the over stocking.

 

[fish keeper 2013]

Hello Everyone, Im having a small problem with my plants. I have a Lutea Crypt and Had a Banana sword, but they both have started dying all of a sudden. The Banana Sword just rotted away completely, so i got rid of it, and then a week later my huge Crypt started dying. The leaves on both appeared to just melt away and get holes in them. I fertilize with API Leaf zone and the tank is slightly over stocked so there is plenty of fish waste in the tank to feed the plants. Also, both these plants are established and have a very solid root structure. I also keep up on my fluorescent bulb changes, and both bulbs are 20 Watts in a 10 gallon so lighting should be good. Anyone have an idea to what the problem might be? They both were flourishing and then all of a sudden this happened. I also do 30% water changes twice a week due to the over stocking.

I don't know anything about your plants... but I do know that the low-light java fern's leaves will burn in high light, maybe this is what is happening?

 

[Tetrabetta12]

I heard something about that, but what's weird is that they have lived in the same conditions for almost a year :-?

 

[ZivaD]

For clarity's sake - you are saying you are running two, 20 watt, bulbs - correct? So a total of 40 watts = 4 watts per gallon?

 

[Tetrabetta12]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant 20 combined watts. Each bulb is 10 watts, which i think puts it at 2 watts per gallon.

 

[JDM]

Water parameters changed? what were they and what are they now? Other tank details?

Jeff.

 

[Byron]

Just to clarify, the light are two 10w screw-in Compact Fluorescent bulbs. And are they "Daylight" with 6500K?

The so-called Banana Plant is not an easy plant to grow. Every source says it often dies after (or within) one year. I would move on to other plants.

As for the crypt, a thriving plant suddenly "melting" as this is called will occur if there is some significant environmental change. Some species are worse than others for this; and sometimes they do not melt. But when they do, it is due to a change which can be light (new bulbs replacing old weaker bulbs, or different spectrum bulbs, or a significant change in the daily duration), temperature, pH, or GH. Changing nutrient fertilizers or amounts. Disturbing the roots such as moving the plant can cause a meltdown. Shading the plant or removing shade. Again, I am not saying any of these will always cause a melt, but they can.

Byron.

 

[MoneyMitch]

For clarity's sake - you are saying you are running two, 20 watt, bulbs - correct? So a total of 40 watts = 4 watts per gallon?

watt per gallon isnt nessicarly a vaild rule of thumb anymroe and only applies to t12's really. about your crypt, could be too high nitrogen levels, or any of what B mentioned. if you can keep the enviro stable with w/c it may grow back after the melt.

 

[JDM]

Yes, melt doesn't necessarily mean dead.

Jeff.

 

[Boredomb]

C. Lutea is a crypt I couldn't keep alive. When all other crypts in the tank at the time were fine this one would melt know me. LoL It didn't do anything but melt for me and eventually died. I have some crypts now. C. Tropica and C. Mi Oya that are going through some melting after being newly planted a week ago or so. I know something changed to make my C. Lutea melt and eventually die but I never could fugue it with that crypt.
I hope yours comes back as they are pretty plants!
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[MoneyMitch]

im actually going through a melting issue with a ambulia species right now, it is melting but but it showing new growth which tells me its going to be ok. but the new growth only started showing today, it has been melting slowly for about the past week or so.

 

[Tetrabetta12]

The Banana Sword was doing great up until I had a mad Algae Breakout, but even after that it still looked healthy for a month or two. Then within a course of two weeks it died. I change my fluorescent compacts every 1-2 months so i know they are not loosing their intensity. Since my tank is overstocked i do twice a week water changes of around 20% each... I just don't know what the problem is...

 

[Tetrabetta12]

The Crypt is showing new growth but it has stopped growing as well...

 

[MoneyMitch]

showing new growth but has stopped growing? that sounds like a oxymoron. the growth may be slower then you like. what is lighting dose schedule filter media etc etc? it could be lacking somewhere resulting in slow growth. pretty sure crypots arent known for their rate of growth either though

 

[Tetrabetta12]

Lol I just confused myself! It was showing new growth, but the new "buds" have stopped are not looking too good, im going to do a water change tonight and add some fertilizer to the tank. My lighting schedule is 6 am to 10 pm. Yeah i know it's a long schedule but Its what time i get up and get home. :-?