My 4 year old red crypt is losing whole leaves that have lost color
and the stems are white and "mushy". Similar problem with very long
"hair" grass that is turning brown in the middle of leaf and white
mush at base. However, the hornwort, water wysteria, sag, and bacopa
are doing fine!

I have a heavily stocked 29 gallon tank with 60 watts of light, ph is
7, ammonia and nitrates read fine, KH and GH both about 3. I have an
Aquaclear 150 filter with carbon, "green"(brand name) anti
phosphate/nitrate filter and sponge. Gravel bed with Flourish tabs,
about 1 month old tabs, tank temp is 75. Water changes every 2 weeks
about 15%, vacing only the front non planted areas. Kent Freshwater
food, liquid, once a month or so.

Any ideas what is wrong? I am stumped. Thanks for any help!

what kind of fish do you have?

"Beth Kosterich" wrote in message
om...
My 4 year old red crypt is losing whole leaves that have lost color
and the stems are white and "mushy". Similar problem with very long
"hair" grass that is turning brown in the middle of leaf and white
mush at base. However, the hornwort, water wysteria, sag, and bacopa
are doing fine!

I have a heavily stocked 29 gallon tank with 60 watts of light, ph is
7, ammonia and nitrates read fine, KH and GH both about 3. I have an
Aquaclear 150 filter with carbon, "green"(brand name) anti
phosphate/nitrate filter and sponge. Gravel bed with Flourish tabs,
about 1 month old tabs, tank temp is 75. Water changes every 2 weeks
about 15%, vacing only the front non planted areas. Kent Freshwater
food, liquid, once a month or so.

Any ideas what is wrong? I am stumped. Thanks for any help!

"SteveG" wrote in message ...
what kind of fish do you have?

"Beth Kosterich" wrote in message
om...
My 4 year old red crypt is losing whole leaves that have lost color
and the stems are white and "mushy". Similar problem with very long
"hair" grass that is turning brown in the middle of leaf and white
mush at base. However, the hornwort, water wysteria, sag, and bacopa
are doing fine!

I have a heavily stocked 29 gallon tank with 60 watts of light, ph is
7, ammonia and nitrates read fine, KH and GH both about 3. I have an
Aquaclear 150 filter with carbon, "green"(brand name) anti
phosphate/nitrate filter and sponge. Gravel bed with Flourish tabs,
about 1 month old tabs, tank temp is 75. Water changes every 2 weeks
about 15%, vacing only the front non planted areas. Kent Freshwater
food, liquid, once a month or so.

Any ideas what is wrong? I am stumped. Thanks for any help!


I have 3-Hatchets / 4 Neon Tetra / 2 male Guppies / 1 clown loach / 4
cories / 1 pleco / 1 serpa treta / 1 danio / 3 flame tetras. Hope that
helps.

Thanks

Beth Kosterich wrote:

My 4 year old red crypt is losing whole leaves that have lost color
and the stems are white and "mushy". Similar problem with very long
"hair" grass that is turning brown in the middle of leaf and white
mush at base. However, the hornwort, water wysteria, sag, and bacopa
are doing fine!

I have a heavily stocked 29 gallon tank with 60 watts of light, ph is
7, ammonia and nitrates read fine, KH and GH both about 3.

What is "fine" ammonia and nitrate? Ammonia should be zero, nitrate must
be nonzero to support plant life. Coud you specify?

I have an
Aquaclear 150 filter with carbon, "green"(brand name) anti
phosphate/nitrate filter and sponge.

The three macro nutrients necessary for plant growth are Nitrogen,
Phosphorus and Potassium. If you are removing Nitrates and Phosphates
with 100% efficiency, you will not be able to grow plants.

So the question becomes, why the "anti phosphate-nitrate filter"?

Gravel bed with Flourish tabs,
about 1 month old tabs, tank temp is 75. Water changes every 2 weeks
about 15%, vacing only the front non planted areas. Kent Freshwater
food, liquid, once a month or so.

Any ideas what is wrong? I am stumped. Thanks for any help!

Dave Millman wrote in message ...
Beth Kosterich wrote:

My 4 year old red crypt is losing whole leaves that have lost color
and the stems are white and "mushy". Similar problem with very long
"hair" grass that is turning brown in the middle of leaf and white
mush at base. However, the hornwort, water wysteria, sag, and bacopa
are doing fine!

I have a heavily stocked 29 gallon tank with 60 watts of light, ph is
7, ammonia and nitrates read fine, KH and GH both about 3.

What is "fine" ammonia and nitrate? Ammonia should be zero, nitrate must
be nonzero to support plant life. Coud you specify?

Ammonia is zero, nitrates are also zero, that is, test show none of
either

I have an
Aquaclear 150 filter with carbon, "green"(brand name) anti
phosphate/nitrate filter and sponge.

The three macro nutrients necessary for plant growth are Nitrogen,
Phosphorus and Potassium. If you are removing Nitrates and Phosphates
with 100% efficiency, you will not be able to grow plants.

So the question becomes, why the "anti phosphate-nitrate filter"?

Had a very bad phosphate problem about a year ago trying a CO2 tablet
product, used a peat filter for a while, then was told by aquarium
store to use the green filter regularly to keep tank in balance. Not
using the CO product since problem.

Gravel bed with Flourish tabs,
about 1 month old tabs, tank temp is 75. Water changes every 2 weeks
about 15%, vacing only the front non planted areas. Kent Freshwater
food, liquid, once a month or so.

Any ideas what is wrong? I am stumped. Thanks for any help!

Beth Kosterich wrote:

Ammonia is zero, nitrates are also zero, that is, test show none of
either

Since Nitrates are zero, plants cannot grow. What has probably happened is that your fish were producing
sufficient nitrates initially, but your plants grew to the point where they are sucking 100% of the
nitrates out of the water. Now plants are dying as a result.

Solution? Add nitrate or fish. Adding fish just postones the problem and could lead to overcrowding.


Had a very bad phosphate problem about a year ago trying a CO2 tablet
product, used a peat filter for a while, then was told by aquarium
store to use the green filter regularly to keep tank in balance. Not
using the CO product since problem.

I cannot comment on this one. I'm not sure I see the connection between CO2 tablets, peat filtration, and
the phosphate/nitrate removal filter. It is possible they are unconnected except to create a revenue source
for the LFS.

Recall that phosphate is also a necessary nutrient, although an excess of phosphate coupled with the lack
of other nutrients (nitrate?) can cause algae.

My guess is that you are out of Nitrate and will soon be out of Potassium and traces, if you are not
already. Start reading here and come back with more questions!

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_p...izer_intro.htm
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_nitrate.htm