• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Heteranthera zosterifolia problems

andy

Member
Joined
14 Sep 2007
Messages
261
Location
Lewes, East Sussex
I have....sorry had, a gorgeous clump of HZ...growing really nicely and a major focal point in my tank.

But in the last week, it has gone black and melted away....almost like a tender terrestrial plant goes when it gets frosted.

This has coincided with me using Tetra Easy Balance.

It is right under 3 x 18w triplus T8 tubes and all other plants are doing well. However someone suggested that the plant needs high nitrates/nitrites or it will go black. I'm pretty sure Easy Balance claims to reduce nitrates too.

Any suggestions and if it is a nitrate deficiency, how do i "cure" it apart from chucking loads of food at my 50 odd cardinals ?

Many thanks

Andy
 
HZ requires strong light and frequent pruning in order to make sure enough light reaches the lower leaves or they will blacken and die.

Not sure of size of tank so can not say wether you have enough lighting.

To add N you can use dry salts- KNO3 or pre-mixed like tpn+ both available from AE.
 
If you do add N then forget about easy balance as like you say it will remove nitrate. I've not heard of adding nitrite. Sorry about the delayed reply it seems to have gone unnoticed.
 
andy said:
36 views and no one can help me :?

Oh well....maybe i'm asking too many questions :oops:

No, not really. Everyone is out Christmas shopping :lol:

From what I'm able ascertain about Tetra Easy Balance, It appears to be one of the "liquid zeolite" products with trace elements added. Zeolite is a mineral which has the property of attracting and holding ammonia. I'm just guessing that's what it is though but regardless, if you are running a low tech planted tank, meaning that you are using low light, are not injecting CO2 and are not supplementing Nitrates, Phosphates and Potassium, then any product which removes N, P or K from the water column is bad news for plants. :(

If you were not already supplementing Nitrates then the only means for the plants to obtain their nitrogen is through the ammonia generated by waste, and nitrates generated by the oxidation of ammonia by bacteria.

Check these threads which also discuss deficiencies and they will give you an idea of how and what to dose:

http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=595
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=537
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=564


Cheers
 
Back
Top