Crypt Melt - Water Change or Ferts?

[Andy D]

Hi All,

Just after some options (or definite answer) on why my Crypts have melted.

Over this last week I have had Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown melt in 2 different tanks.

Tank 1 has been set up for 2 months. Plant was an established plant from Aquafleur.
Tank 2 has been set up for 4 months. Plant was an In-Vitro pot.

Both tanks have had their usual water change of 50:50 Tap:RO. I also added some EI Macro ferts as my Tropica Spcialised had run out. This dose was probably about 1/2 the recommended daily dose if not lower.

My question is - could the change of ferts have caused this? Could it be that something has been added to my tap water?

Theses are the only 2 things they both shared in common.

 

[matt]

Funnily enough I had this happen to my 3 wendtii tropica about 3 weeks ago.

They had been in my tank about 4 months and growing really well, I don't add ferts and only top up evaporated water about 5-10 L a week.

They started to melt away after I done a filter clean out and replaced maybe 20L max of fresh water, each now have about 3-4 leaves left on them.
The other crypts in the tank on the other hand are perfectly fine, no melt or problems whatsoever, which lead me to believe that they are overly sensitive to change in water conditions or temp too quickly, as that was the only thing I'd done different in that time.

I run a low tech soil tank btw.

 

[matt]

Both tanks have had their usual water change of 50:50 Tap:RO.

Or if this is your usual routine, maybe something has been added to your tap water, as could of mine???
But just the wendtii and nothing else. Weird

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi Andy
I think this is water temperature differential melt or mechanical damage when adding water....or a combination of both of them!
Some crypts are more prone to it than others......had this a couple of times!
Usually when the tap mains tap water temperature drops at this time of year!
Cheers
hoggie

 

[ian_m]

Dechlorinator ? Some plants are very susceptible to chlorinated water especially over a month or two timescale. Remember RO in not guaranteed chlorine free, so must be dechlorinated along with tap water.

 

[Andy D]

Hoggie - temp is matched quite closely as I use the hot water to being temp up if too cold.

Ian - I use Prime on ALL water now after reading your prior posts about this.