iisfaq Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 It looks like my Amazon Sword plant is dying. It has been in the tank about 1 week. This dying leaf is the tallest of the plant so if anything it is getting enough light I would think. Does anyone have any ideas where to look to find the problem? Also some of my other plants appear to be rotting! Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Hi Chris, Water plants are usually grown hydroponically before being taken to the shops for sale. Due to this, when planted properly in an aquarium many (if not all) leaves die off and new ones are grown. It's an ugly process, but something we all have to go through. Just to let you know, the leaves that grow back will actually have a different shape than the leaves you have now. Once again, a completely normal process. Now, if I'm completely off base and these are well-developed aquarium plants, you may have a problem. Plants can lose leaves and sometimes just "melt" for a number of things - too high of temps (this is a discus tank, right?), salt in the water, too much/little fertilizer, etc etc. Good luck, hope that helps! Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 It's not uncommon for swords to die off when they first go into tank. They are often grown with only there roots submerged in water, this makes them grow faster, requires less light, stops algae in the leaves etc. The down side is the leaves produced out of the wtaer are different from submersed leaves (normally small and harder), they will quickly die off and be replaced with new ones. Just keep an eye on the other plants, there will always be bits that are dieing, is it possible that you have only noticed it after looking more closly because of your sword?? If you still think this might be more than just a little normal die off post some more details of your tank, size, lights, substrate, additives, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 SNAP Alan NZKA 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 LOL, too funny. Good advice, suphew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Damn beat me by a minute to! Are you sure the leaf in the picture isn't a new one? Its a bit hard to tell but newer leaves are often reddy brown, there are no holes or different coloured patches etc which makes it look like a new one to me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Hmmm, looks like a "generic amazon sword" (never did ID it) I got from the fish shop last year. Did exactly the same thing... over the next couple of days (weeks) its going to go pale, go soft, holes appear in it, and generally make the tank look horrible and you will get annoyed at the fish shop. My suggestion is cut it back and leave the stem and roots in place and forget it...it will grow back and surprise you. Then you will do this >> :bounce: (sorry guys just had to use it once!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted November 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 Hmmm, looks like a "generic amazon sword" (never did ID it) I got from the fish shop last year. Did exactly the same thing... over the next couple of days (weeks) its going to go pale, go soft, holes appear in it, and generally make the tank look horrible and you will get annoyed at the fish shop. My suggestion is cut it back and leave the stem and roots in place and forget it...it will grow back and surprise you. Thanks John I will try what you say and see what it does. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 27, 2005 Report Share Posted November 27, 2005 I hope I am not too late. It looks like a Melon sword (Echinodorus osiris). The new growth is a straw colour and then turns green , please don't cut me up I am perfectly healthy and may make babies given a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I hope I am not too late. It looks like a Melon sword (Echinodorus osiris). The new growth is a straw colour and then turns green , With respect... I dont think your ID is correct. E. Orisis* dosn't look like that ( certainly not in the submerged form at least ) And if the specimen is the emergent form, then they are going to die of since the plant is now submerged. Also the babies dont look like that either. Babies grown off the stalk look like "Mini Me's" of the parent. *Check out http://www.fnzas.org.nz/plant_survey/aquarium_plants/?user_plants=52&cHash=d098544e42 And some more recent pics: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I have to agree with Alan, it looks alot like the new leafs did on my E. Orisis, hence my post. But either way, iisfaq, it just depends if it is a new leaf or not, which only you can answer. If your not sure you could leave it a few days and see if it grows (and if the condisions are right it will grow really fast) or you do as DJ says and chop the whole top off the plant. Either way its not going to hurt the plant. By the way if it is a red melon sword (and alot of other swords to) it will get quite large I had mine in a 4 foot tank and it took over a 1/4 of it. If you haven't given it lots of room now would be a good time to move it. If you do move it and haven't done so already cut the roots so they are only a couple of inches long, it will take a little longer for it to really start growing strongly again but you will get far better root structure. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I agree with Alan aswell. I too have the sword in question and occasionaly the leaves do die. However it looked nothing like Diverjohns sword picture, as i do have one of those aswell. Shae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I hope I am not too late. It looks like a Melon sword (Echinodorus osiris). The new growth is a straw colour and then turns green , please don't cut me up I am perfectly healthy and may make babies given a chance. The picture below show more of the plant. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Your other plant looks pretty healthy considering some of it is still in flower from being grown emersed. My melon sword is like Diverjohn's and has a runner as well. The plantlets have leaves a little more stalky to start with then take the more mature form. I was going by the colour mainly but looking at it again it may be a young E. cordifolius. In either case I would just leave it to become established. Plants grown emersed and with hydroponics usually have an under developed root system as well as emersed leaves and the plant will actually look pretty dormant while it establishes a good root system, then it will take off with a rush. What leaves are there will give it some support while growing roots. That is my penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Wow thats a really nice looking setup. Have you done lots of research on plant requirements? Some of the plants you have in there are going to need a lot of light and proberly, fertilizer and CO2 to do well. General rule of thumb is if a plant has red leaves it will need very strong light, and you will have to balance the other two (fert/co2) to match or the plants still wont grow and you will get algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Wow thats a really nice looking setup. Have you done lots of research on plant requirements? Some of the plants you have in there are going to need a lot of light and proberly, fertilizer and CO2 to do well. General rule of thumb is if a plant has red leaves it will need very strong light, and you will have to balance the other two (fert/co2) to match or the plants still wont grow and you will get algae. Lots of research no - since the pet shop doesn't even have names for most of the plants. I would like to get into CO/2 but I am not sure of the route to take. DIY or proper bottle. Bottle is my preference but I need to do more research as it can be costly to setup. The tank has 3 tubes approx 30w each (approx 36" long) - probablly pretty average tubes - they were provided with the tank. The hard thing is how do I actually know the lights are good or not? Animates has 25% off two of its range of lighs til the end of the month. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Hey, nice pics! Different angle on them shows what i call a "wavey" stem. The plant I thought it was (the unidentified one) has a very characterist straight stem with a single leaf at the end. Alan may be right, I have no idea what E. cordifolius looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Your other plant looks pretty healthy considering some of it is still in flower from being grown emersed. Plants grown emersed and with hydroponics usually have an under developed root system as well as emersed leaves and the plant will actually look pretty dormant while it establishes a good root system, then it will take off with a rush. What leaves are there will give it some support while growing roots. Those photos were taken a few days ago and the sword was looking good then and even the Harigrass which has since rotted and been thown out. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Oh bugger, thats a shame you chucked it out... If conditions are right most plants are quite resilient and come back... sometimes stronger than what you buy at the shop! I sometimes wonder how much the LFS's look after their plants "instore". I guess they order them in weekly, they only have to look good for a few days and then they order in fresh stuff. Meantime they have been in the dark for two days very little water & nutrients in transit. Its no wonder they kark it after a week in your tank. Just my thoughts tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I sometimes wonder how much the LFS's look after their plants "instore". I guess they order them in weekly, they only have to look good for a few days and then they order in fresh stuff. Meantime they have been in the dark for two days very little water & nutrients in transit. Its no wonder they kark it after a week in your tank. Just my thoughts tho... I would agree with that. Also remember that most are just cuttings, not even plants just a bit of a plant with no roots. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 The hard thing is how do I actually know the lights are good or not? What are the number(s) description on the tubes, will know pretty quick once i have that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I see you are in Christchurch. Go to lamp specialists 10 Steven St (close to where the Crusaders beat the Aucks at rugby). I bought a whole light and tubes for less than 1 tube in the pet shop. No Eftpos-- cash only but cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 What are the number(s) description on the tubes, will know pretty quick once i have that. The details I got from the bulbs are: #1 - Approx 34" ATMAN Super Light 10000K 30w #2 - Approx 34" ATMAN TRI Power Light 15000K 30W #3 - Approx 22" ATMAN Super Light 10000K 20W #1 and #3 are White Light #2 is a purple colour Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iisfaq Posted November 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 I see you are in Christchurch. Go to lamp specialists 10 Steven St (close to where the Crusaders beat the Aucks at rugby). I bought a whole light and tubes for less than 1 tube in the pet shop. No Eftpos-- cash only but cheap Because the tank is a corner tank I am sort of limited in what I can do unless I replace the whole top. This shows the lights in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 There will be nothing wrong with the light fittings. What I was meaning was that it is good place to get new tubes if you felt you wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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