Growing anubis in pale conditions
Growing anubis in pale conditions
One possibility that comes to mind is excessive light exposure - I noticed one of the leaves had a distinct half-and-half coloration, almost as if a line had been drawn across its width, with one side pale and the other green. It's an interesting observation, but it doesn't fully explain the variation in colors I'm seeing with Fluxx, where some leaves are green and others yellow, despite the green ones showing signs of yellowing.
Re: Growing anubis in pale conditions
I'm pretty sure you're dealing with an iron deficiency. I've seen it before - add some iron glutamate and watch the improvement. Seachem's product is reliable, I've had good results with it. If you want a more affordable option, you could try the generic version from Walgreens, although I've never used it personally. I have used potassium glutamate pills, and they worked wonders on my Java fern, which had a similar issue with straight-line discoloration. Now those ferns are thriving and a solid green color.
Re: Growing anubis in pale conditions
Here's what I've been using for ferts over the past fortnight.
The plants had a nasty dark algae on them, especially the Anubis, but my otos have done a great job cleaning them off and this is the first time in ages I've seen them looking green.
That being said, they're still yellowing and the main leaves have got yellow mottling.
I've been a bit cautious with the dosing, only using about half the recommended amount, so maybe I need to step it up a bit.
The plants had a nasty dark algae on them, especially the Anubis, but my otos have done a great job cleaning them off and this is the first time in ages I've seen them looking green.
That being said, they're still yellowing and the main leaves have got yellow mottling.
I've been a bit cautious with the dosing, only using about half the recommended amount, so maybe I need to step it up a bit.
Re: Growing anubis in pale conditions
Not entirely convinced that's an Anubias. I've seen those plants thrive in low-light conditions, yet yours is struggling. The algae covering the leaves and the yellowing could be a sign the plant's not a true aquatic, possibly grown out of water.
Re: Growing anubis in pale conditions
I agree with coltin about the algae issue - it's likely related to the lighting and those fertilizers. Iron, being a micronutrient, is probably causing more harm than good here, especially if it's in excess. This could lead to algae growth and plant decline. As for the plant species, I'm not an expert on Anubias, but the structure of these plants does resemble Anubias.
I checked the JBL site, but they don't seem to provide a detailed list of nutrients in their product, except for potassium. I'm assuming "mcoraelements" refers to micronutrients, but I'm not sure. Nitrogen was mentioned, which is a nutrient that shouldn't be added unless you're running a high-tech system with intense lighting and CO2. I wouldn't recommend using this product.
Microb-lift Iron is not a good choice. Their "All in One" would be a better option, as it contains 14 nutrients in balanced proportions. Excessive levels of certain nutrients can be just as detrimental as deficiencies. Iron is included in this product, so it should be present in sufficient amounts.
The Flourish Potassium might not cause harm, but it's unnecessary if you use a comprehensive supplement like the All in One. Another good option is the Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium.
To better understand the issue, we need to know the GH of the water, which affects the calcium and magnesium levels. Lighting also plays a role, as Anubias is a slow-growing plant that requires less light and nutrients. It's prone to algae growth under direct lighting, but this can vary depending on the setup.
I checked the JBL site, but they don't seem to provide a detailed list of nutrients in their product, except for potassium. I'm assuming "mcoraelements" refers to micronutrients, but I'm not sure. Nitrogen was mentioned, which is a nutrient that shouldn't be added unless you're running a high-tech system with intense lighting and CO2. I wouldn't recommend using this product.
Microb-lift Iron is not a good choice. Their "All in One" would be a better option, as it contains 14 nutrients in balanced proportions. Excessive levels of certain nutrients can be just as detrimental as deficiencies. Iron is included in this product, so it should be present in sufficient amounts.
The Flourish Potassium might not cause harm, but it's unnecessary if you use a comprehensive supplement like the All in One. Another good option is the Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium.
To better understand the issue, we need to know the GH of the water, which affects the calcium and magnesium levels. Lighting also plays a role, as Anubias is a slow-growing plant that requires less light and nutrients. It's prone to algae growth under direct lighting, but this can vary depending on the setup.
Re: Growing anubis in pale conditions
Cheers for the replies guys. I'm starting to think it's a fert issue, not the plant itself. It's a low-tech tank with strong lighting, and I only started using ferts recently when I saw the sessiliflora turning brown - probably algae, looking back. The plant's 100% aquatic, Tropica 1-2 Grow, and it's been in the tank over a year. Always had algae on the leaves, but it's been growing, albeit slowly. The other plants are thriving, but I'd hate to lose this one - it's been with me since the start. I'll test the water hardness and post the results. Scottish Water just says it's very soft, but I need the exact numbers. Five out of six plants are doing great, so it's weird this one's struggling. Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated.
Re: Growing anubis in pale conditions
Just got the results from the API test strip. Not sure how reliable these are, but the pH matches what I got with the master test kit. Hopefully this helps figure out what's going on.