I'm no plant expert, but I have 2 small swords & 1 large one. I run a single 20w Aqua-Glo lamp 9 hours a day. My Java Ferns are doing great, but some of my sword leaves keep turning clearish, then they disintegrate. Any ideas why this is happening?
Why do my Amazon Swords Turn Clear?
- Thread starter JakeH
- Start date
Tank is a 20G long & lamp is 24". I have sand, so I just pin the large plants between a rock & the driftwood, leaving the roots exposed. When I first started planting java ferns in the sand, they would die pretty quick so I figured they weren't getting enough flow. My ferns do great now, but the swords still go clear. Some are also superglued to rocks, but they seem fine. I do use Tetra Flora-Pride & Hagen Plant Gro every few days.
they need more light. plus they are grown emersed which takes time to change to the submersed growth.
sword plants are heavy root feeders plant them in the substrate, if that doesnt help add some root tabs, if that doesnt help upgrade your lighting to 2 watts per gallon.
the reason your having success with java fern is, its a very low light plant, and its roots should be in the water column, like you found out they can rot if planted.
the reason your having success with java fern is, its a very low light plant, and its roots should be in the water column, like you found out they can rot if planted.
More light in what way? More lumens total? More of a certain spectrum than the Aqua-Glo gives off?
Plant them in the sand?
Plant them in the sand?
yes more lumens most people go by watts though as its hard to predict or find the lumens of every bulb and fixture. im guessing the aqua-glo you bought is a plant bulb so its the right spectrum. i would just add another fixture behind the one you haveJakeH;3420076; said:
plant them in the substrate, what ever material is covering the bottom of the tank. if yours is sand, then yes sand. swords are a plant that roots in dirt or gravel.
your java fern naturally roots to a log or rocks, so thats why you dont put them in substrate.
your java fern naturally roots to a log or rocks, so thats why you dont put them in substrate.
Gotcha. I'll try planting them. I dont know about adding another fixture, though. The tank is in my office & has a full black hood, so I would have to switch to a glass canopy or something to do that. Plus, I dont think my Loaches want it any brighter. Would a Power-Glo lamp tube be better? Its a lot more lumens...
by that do you mean t5 ho bulb?JakeH;3420235; said:
yes that would help. also realize any increase in lumens actually means a increase in light, lumens=illumination. personally i dont think the loaches will care much i have a weather loach under some, didnt seem to matter to it when i switched to double the wattage.