Why are my red root floaters losing their color

[duskid]

My red root floaters in my 10gal tank used to be this really deep red/purple color, but over the last few weeks they've just lost it. The tank's been up and running for about 4 months now, and my water parameters are still the same. Any ideas what's going on?

[rockyfox]

My red root floaters in my 10gal tank used to be this really deep red/purple color, but over the last few weeks they've just lost it. The tank's been up and running for about 4 months now, and my water parameters are still the same. Any ideas what's going on?

Lighting or ferts changed at all?

[duskid]

No changes in lighting or fertilizer. I've got a Fluval Aquasky set for planted aquariums, same timing and settings for months now. I've been using API leaf zone in small doses during my weekly water changes, that's been consistent too.

The only thing that's really changed is the snail infestation. It was pretty bad for a while, they were eating a lot of the floating plants, but I've gotten their numbers down significantly. Still some in the tank and on the plants, but it's much better now.

[coltin]

I'd recommend checking the tank water and tap water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels - it's possible the water company has changed their source, which could be affecting your plants. Also, if there have been any drastic changes in the aquarium water, like a pH drop, that could be the culprit.

Temperature fluctuations can also impact your plants, so it's worth checking the water temperature to see if there have been any sudden changes.

It's also likely that the snails are causing more harm than just eating the roots - those holes they're chewing can really stress the plants out.

Another thing to consider is that if the plants have grown significantly, they might be using up the fertilizer quickly, leaving them without nutrients for a while. You might want to try adding fertilizer more frequently to see if that helps.

[sSjey]

I'm thinking maybe the fertilizer could be the culprit here. Leaf zone is pretty limited, just potassium and iron, and those red root floaters might be craving something else. I recall boomer recommending Seachem Flourish Comprehensive Supplement and Brightwell Multiflorin - worth giving those a shot, perhaps?

[duskid]

I figured I'd follow up in case it helps someone else down the line. Been pretty hands-on with these plants for a couple weeks now - taking them out of the tank, manually removing snails (hundreds of the tiny ones) 1-2 times a week, and I've bumped up the fertilizer to the max recommended dose (was only doing half strength before). I've also thinned out the plants and leaves that looked too far gone. They're looking way better now - new growth, flowering again, and color's coming back to the roots and leaves.

Looking back, it's pretty clear my plants were under-fertilized and getting hammered by those snails. Didn't realize just how many snails were in there until I took a closer look. Took some elbow grease to get things back on track, but it's moving in the right direction. Always a learning experience, and it's nice when things work out how you want them to.

[WildFins]

I'd recommend taking a closer look at your nitrate levels - I've noticed that when nitrates are running low, the roots tend to take on that deep red color, whereas when nitrates are high, they seem to shift towards a more greenish hue.