Some people when starting out encounter the situation where the plants lose leaves at the base or more specifically, the lower part of the stem near the base rots. It may seem serious, but in fact, this is a normal occurrence that anyone faces when setting up an aquascape.
You may be interested in:
→ Pests in the aquascape: causes and solutions
→ Don’t overplant and ruin the layout
→ Cleaning In-out pipes in the aquascape
There will be 2 cases of leaf drop and root rot:
Case 1: Root rot when just setting up the tank.
Most of you who encounter this situation tend to use too many nutrients right at the beginning to set up the tank. This happens because when the substrate is newly set up, the microorganisms in the tank start to work vigorously! Especially in the substrate, this causes a phenomenon called substrate leaching, making it difficult for plants to absorb too many nutrients at once, leading to root rot or leaf drop! However, after a while, once the tank stabilizes, this issue will no longer occur as the components in the tank have balanced themselves.
The solution for this case is that when you first set up the tank, you should soak it for a few days, continuously changing the water in and out! Or if you don’t have time for such care, you should change the water for the tank 3 times a week; this will help limit harmful algae and the excess nutrients when setting up the tank.
Case 2: Root rot and leaf drop while the tank is still stabilizing
In this case, you should consider various factors in the tank, such as whether there are any animals that might nibble on these plants. If not, another possibility is that the temperature in the tank is too high, breaking down the cellulose structure in the plant stems, leading to decay. Additionally, if the substrate has been used for a long time, the plants may have exhausted the nutrients, and it is natural for them to become stunted and drop leaves, so don’t worry too much about this!
The solution in this case is to examine the circumstances; if there are animals in the tank, use traps to catch them to avoid ruining the layout! Lower the temperature if the tank exceeds the ideal temperature. Additionally, supplement nutrients for the tank if the substrate has been used for many years.
Case 3: Water flow in the tank
When the tank is too large, the water flow regulated by the filter may not reach all areas of the tank, leading to some areas not being circulated, resulting in stagnant water that can dirty the tank and cause leaf washout! In this case, you should use stronger filters or adjust the layout so that water can flow evenly throughout the tank.
Above are the issues that beginners often encounter. I hope these shares will help you resolve the problems of root rot and leaf washout in your tank.
Wishing you success
Tag: Aqua Plants Hub,
Aqua Plants Hub Editorial
