Plants are turning brown

[potterfish]

Has anyone every had this issue, I have several types of plants in my tank(corkscrew val is the main plant) and I have noticed that over the last 4-6 months the green is fading and they have brown spots. There has not been any of the plants that have died but they all look like they have the "flu". I use Flourish to supplement them twice a week and also have used the tablets. Can the substrate go bad? I may need to mention I have replaced my T5 bulbs after about 6 months cause they was loosing there output but there has been no change. I'm about to go nuts and pull all of the plants out and start over but one I have so many it would be costly and two if there is an issue with the tank I don't want to end up in the same place again. If you need more information let me know and any and all comments would be great. Thanks all!!!!!

[ScottFish]

What is the total wattage of your T5s and the size of your tank? Also, are you Val.'s producing offspring --runners coming from the base?

[lou zello]

allso do you just use flourish or do you allso use excel or are you dosing co2 ?

[Crazygar]

If you just changed your bulbs, your plants are going through an adjustment period. Also, I've noticed that some plants are quite sensitive to Flourish Excel. What type of plants are you experiencing this with? Vals?

Gary

[ScottFish]

How about an update Potterfish?

[essabee]

Now your plants have neither nose or eyes which are running, they don't have a mouth which is sneezing or coughing, they don't have throat which could be raw !!!! What symptom of 'flu' did you observe potterfish ??? Please describe the browning in detail so that we can help you.

[potterfish]

Sorry everyone I have been away for a bit so I couldn't update my post.

I have a 36 gallon bow front tank with a 30" coralife dual T5 bulbs, one 31 watt daylight 6700k and a 31 watt daylight 10000k. I have checked the plants and the roots seem to be doing fine they are well rooted and trying to spread out but I do not have and new shoots. As far as a c02 system I don't have one
The vals are about the same size as when I planted them many months ago( close to a year) and they have brown spots almost like a fungus, I even removed a piece to see if I could wipe it off but it is into the plant. I have very few pieces that will die off and float so I believe they are somewhat healthy. I don't know if this may help but after I installed the new bulbs I have started to notice a lot more algae building up. If it would help I would be willing to take a picture and try to post it so you can see the condition, I'm just not sure how to do so. Any ideas would be wonderful, thanks everyone

[Crazygar]

Diatom Algae.

You've changed bulbs, the tank is readjusting itself to the new output. You say you can wipe it off, and it's brownish in color, that sounds like Diatom Algae to me. If you could post a picture so I can definitely ID it I would appreciate it.

Gary

[essabee]

The 30" coralife dual T5 bulbs that you are using is hardly suitable for a planted freshwater aquarium. Further we would like to know more about the substrate and also what nutrients you are providing to the plants. The algae growth and those un-wipe-able brown spots in your plant points directly to malnutrition.

[potterfish]

I'm still trying to post a picture for starters. I would love to tell everyone what kind of substrate I have but I purchased it when I first set the tank up about two years ago. I would like to know what you would suggest for lighting and also what kind of substrate I should have. That also brings up another question can I change the substrate without draining the tank? Thanks again for all the help

[Crazygar]

First let's tackle your plant issue Potterfish, too many things at once well, it's not all that good. We will await pics but it does sound like Diatom Algae.

Gary

[potterfish]

Ok I think I'm just a little tec challanged I have taken several pictures on my I-phone but I can't get them to transfer to the page? I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, sorry I haven't posted here before. If your can give me some advise I will send them your way. If it helps I have the new Windows 8 and an I-phone 4.

[Crazygar]

I don't use or own a mobile phone so my guess would be to email them to yourself and attach them here when you respond. Click the upload attachment tab and follow the directions and you'll have that picture up in no time.

Gary

[potterfish]

photo.JPG

I hope all three comes out ok and you can see the area infected. Thank you for the information now I can download more pictures of more positive thing like the fish!!!!

[Crazygar]

Can you rub this algae off with your fingers and does it come off in "sheets"?

Looks like Diatom.

Gary