Do78521

Hi guys.. my rotala looks like it has some calcium deficiency. The rotala's new leafs are twisted and leaf doesnt get mature. It stay pretty small and there brown marks on them. My question is that how can i increase calcium in my dosing. I am currently using PPS Pro method. Please help!! thanks alot.

Zapins

Can you post a picture of the plants affected? It sounds like Ca problems, but pictures and a GH test would help confirm.

Calcium nitrate (CaNO3), calcium sulfate (CaSO4) or calcium carbonate (CaCO3) will all raise the calcium levels.

Calcium nitrate (CaNO3) - will also add nitrates so don't add or reduce the nitrates added if you use this for Ca.

Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) - is a good one to add since S is not usually a problem if overdosed a little.

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) - will raise the KH (carbonic hardness) which might raise the pH depending on your CO2. CaCO3 will also dissolve very slowly, so it might be good if you want a long term solution, or if you have soft water. It can be added with crushed coral, shells, or in chemical form.

Site where you can buy these chemicals.
http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html

Do78521

Hey Zapin, thanks for the reply. Here are the pictures.. I do see some deficiency in my staurogyne as well. In term of fertilizers.. I do have all three of the fertilizers u speak of. Which way do you think is the best way for me to approach this problem. and should I mix it with water or dry dose? and how much should i dose?

Lately, I have been double dosing using pps pro system.. my tank is a 10 gal, they rec 1ml a day, I do 2mL. I do see some improvement insome but not all. My rotalas are not as healthy as when i first started my tank.

thanks Zapin

Everybody is welcome to comment if you guys have the same problem.

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JeffyFunk

Did you actually measure the Ca in your aquarium? Or are you simply guessing you have a Ca deficiency based on the physical symptoms? Personally, if you're also seeing problems with the Staurogyne sp, i would bet the problem is not Ca, but rather C. (My experience with Staurogyne sp, esp repens, is that they are CO2 hogs and will melt as soon as there is a dip in the CO2 levels.) What type of CO2 system do you have? What type of injection are you using? I would suggest increasing the CO2 more than anything else.

Typically, unless people have very soft water or are using RO/DI water only, then Ca deficiencies are usually not an issue.

Do78521

Hi Jeffyfunk, I didnt measure the Ca in my aquarium.. its simply based on the physical symptom.
I have a pressurized co2 system that run 24/7 with a diffuser. I used the drop checker as an indicator to see if my tank is getting enough co2 and its always green.. so I am assuming its getting enough co2.

Zapins

Looking at the pictures you posted (nice closeups by the way) it looks like a nitrogen deficiency not a Ca one. You can tell because nitrogen is a mobile nutrient within the plant so when there is no nitrogen available the plant will salvage nitrogen from older leaves and the new leaves will be healthy looking. The veins of the old leaves will look mostly normal (veins are not salvaged until after the tissue is gone) but the tissue between the veins will deteriorate.

Calcium deficiency occurs in new growth only. The old growth is unaffected since calcium cannot be salvaged and transported inside the plant.

This is also not any of the other deficiencies that cause yellowing like magnesium deficiency since the veins on the old growth are not dark, and also not iron because there is a distinct difference in color between the leaf veins and the tissue, iron problems are a general yellowing of all tissue. Phosphate deficiency is not likely since there is a distinct pattern of the tissue changing color from the leaf tip towards the base of the leaf, phosphate deficiency deteriorates the entire leaf tissue without a tip to stem pattern. Sulfur deficiency is very rare so it is unlikely.

Here is a diagram I made a while back that might help you visualize the deficiencies.

K Randall

Really nice chart!

K Randall

I just wanted to add that the Rotala in this tank is really stunted too. My experience is that this type of growth is typically seen when Rotala is grown in tanks with too little light and too little CO2. It will continue to grow like this for ever... it doesn't die, but the leaves are very stunted and you don't get the nice color.

I have a BRIGHT RED Rotala that I have just on a holding pattern in a tank with lower light at the moment until my tanks have been sorted out again after our remodel. In the tank it is in now, it looks like any other homely greenish Rotala from a pet store. The good news is that it is holding on just fine, and I know it will bounce back nicely when I get it in better conditions again.

Do78521

Thanks for the help guys.
@ Randall - my tank is a 10 gal, with eco complete. 36 watts pc 6700k raise about 10 inches above the tank. I dont know if its the lack of light.. I raised my co2 level where the drop checker is almost at the yellowish tint color. Some of my rotalas are doing better but the side that i took the picture, its still looking pretty bad.

Ok guys.. help me with the solution, I just bought some flourish tabs and co2 has been raised. ive also increase micro and macro dosing daily (.5 mL more). Thanks alot for commenting

K Randall

If you've made some changes, you may just have to have some patience, and wait to see if things improve. Also, with your lights hung that high above the tank, you do lose a lot to scatter. So you aren't getting as much light into the tank as you might think.