Amazon Sword doesn't look too healthy

**bassboi** · 05-20-2008, 05:54 AM

Ok, where do I begin.

I have been noticing that some of the leaves on my amazon sword are becoming transparent, as well as the veins turning dark on the said leaves.

Not only that, on the tips of 2 of the leaves, they're turning a yellowish color...

The leaves are also starting to look a bit wavy, and developing brown spots.

10g tank stocked with:
5 tiger barbs
1 opaline gourami
i also just added a piece of natural driftwood

pH: 7.5 ish
KH: 120~180ppm
GH: 30~60ppm
no ammonia or nitrites
Nitrates: 20ppm

I also put 1ml of SeaChem Flourish when I put the plants in, and I added a couple bulbs about a week later and added another 1ml.

what am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

**LosC** · 05-20-2008, 05:56 AM

Your Amazon sword is not taking in nutrients well. Try a root tablet fertilizer.

**doug z** · 05-20-2008, 06:58 AM

Sounds like an iron deficiency..

Swords are notorious iron mongers..

They need lots of iron in the substrate, as that's where swords absorb most of their nutrients..

Have you been adding tab ferts, like Seachem Flourish?

**bassboi** · 05-20-2008, 07:15 AM

no i have been using liquid fertilizer, and also i forgot to mention i have 1.5 wpg of lighting

**bassboi** · 05-20-2008, 07:42 AM

here are a couple of pictures, linked because of size:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2/P5190518.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2/P5190520.jpg

i also noticed this stuff sticking to this leaf... i don't know if it's good or not..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2/P5190515.jpg

yes, i'm a newb. these are my first aquatic plants... i'm moderately experienced with fish keeping... now i'm trying my hand at plants...

**doug z** · 05-20-2008, 08:17 AM

1.5 wpg isn't BAD, but they would certainly do better with more light AND an iron-rich substrate ..

Try the tab ferts, and you should see improvement..

What do you have for fish in there? Any algae eaters?

Let us know how it works out!

**Lady Hobbs** · 05-20-2008, 12:10 PM

Your swords are planted too deep, too. They can not be planted with the entire bottom in the gravel. Lift them up so you can see the bottom of the plant where the roots start. I agree with the gravel ferts, too. Your gravel looks a bit large to get plants to grow well in it but it might work.

I've had a hard time with swords, myself.

**PUNISHER VETTE** · 05-20-2008, 12:18 PM

Also cut away the dead leaves. They will never grow back so it would be better for the plant to start putting it's energy into new growth instead of trying to save the old growth. Plus they're just rotting and putting more junk/chemicals into your water.

That and what the others said above(IRON). I had the same problem and still kind of do. Except my sword has about 40 leaves so i only lost about 10 and wasn't too worried. I am just using Seachem Flourish Iron but then i also have the fluorite substrate and 3wpg +CO2 that you don't have so you better get the root tabs.

**bassboi** · 05-20-2008, 06:00 PM

Thanks for all the replies guys... it really helps

When I moved the plants around, I noticed that they were growing quite a few new roots, and the old roots seemed mushy... should I prune these too?

**smaug** · 05-20-2008, 07:30 PM

First off everyones advice is spot on.Next,I only see one thing left out for a problem,a kH that high with most any plant is way high and needs to be addressed,if possible.As for how to plant a sword,you want to trim the roots back to just over an inch and half long and remove any leaves that are not perfect when you replant them.The high KH can be brought down with seachem acid buffer if you wanted to try it.