BIZARRE - RED CRYPT MELTED over night after two years of growth

[Beruka]

I have hada planted tank operating for several years mostly algae free.

The tank is loaded with plants. The plant had three bunches in the back
corners and main display in front of tank. Over night in less than 24 hours
the plant competely melted to mush. All other plants are OK. I plan a clean
up and largfe water change. The only change I made lately was using Tropica
Master grow instead of Florish. All other growth is great.

Does anyone have an idea what happened. All fish are doing well.

I runn a 55 gallon with a wet dry sump and a pH controller at 6.8 with 4 kH
and 4 gH. Temperature is usually 75F. pH is run through a hydrologix
canister at the bottom from a Tee. Mag 3 is the only pump ruuning. I use two
55 watt 9700K 8 hrs / day and one 55 watts 7100K 8 hours per day.

Beruka

[WD]

"Beruka" > wrote in message
. com...
> I have hada planted tank operating for several years mostly algae free.
>
> The tank is loaded with plants. The plant had three bunches in the back
> corners and main display in front of tank. Over night in less than 24
hours
> the plant competely melted to mush. All other plants are OK. I plan a
clean
> up and largfe water change. The only change I made lately was using
Tropica
> Master grow instead of Florish. All other growth is great.
>
> Does anyone have an idea what happened. All fish are doing well.
>
> I runn a 55 gallon with a wet dry sump and a pH controller at 6.8 with 4
kH
> and 4 gH. Temperature is usually 75F. pH is run through a hydrologix
> canister at the bottom from a Tee. Mag 3 is the only pump ruuning. I use
two
> 55 watt 9700K 8 hrs / day and one 55 watts 7100K 8 hours per day.
>
> Beruka
>
>

Parasites? Perhaps there is some anaerobic activity and the roots of that
plant found a pocket of it?

just guesses, obviously.

billy.

[LeighMo]

It's not bizarre. Crypts are notorious for doing this. They don't like
change.

Your crypts will probably grow back. You can get rid of the "mush," but don't
disturb their roots, and they will recover.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

[Beruka]

Leigh

I left the back to species but ripped the front central piece out roots and
all. It was taking over. Still seems strange to me that all species would
melt on same day over a 2 year period.

What is the name of the central plant on your display with the red leaves. I
might try that one for a centerpiece. I am moving in three months to a house
so I will pretty much leave everything alone for now.

Beruka


"LeighMo" > wrote in message
...
> It's not bizarre. Crypts are notorious for doing this. They don't like
> change.
>
> Your crypts will probably grow back. You can get rid of the "mush," but
don't
> disturb their roots, and they will recover.
>
>
> Leigh
>
> http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

[LeighMo]

>I left the back to species but ripped the front central piece out roots and
>all. It was taking over. Still seems strange to me that all species would
>melt on same day over a 2 year period.

They were probably all responding to the change in fertilizer. That is typical
of crypts; if there's some kind of change in water chemistry, the entire tank
will melt overnight.

>What is the name of the central plant on your display with the red leaves. I
>might try that one for a centerpiece. I am moving in three months to a house
>so I will pretty much leave everything alone for now.

The ones in the center and in the right front corner are Nymphaea daubenyana.
The one a little further back is Nymphaea zenkeri red. It gets a lot bigger
than the daubenyana.

I like Nymphaea. They need more light than Crypts, but are fairly easy to
maintain. Just prune any surface leaves, so they don't shade the tank. They
send out runners, but they don't go far. (Unlike Crypts, that spring up all
over the tank.) The daubenyana continually puts out buds, but so far, none
have actually bloomed.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/