Quote:
Originally Posted by kekon  These were Micranthemum umbrosum, alternatera reineckii and Rotala Indica. The pictures attached show how the plants looked like under EI fertilization. At a rough guess one might say it was Ca deficiency but it wasn't. GH was 4..5. Raising Ca only up to 45 ppm didn't help. The plants began to grow healthy when the following things were changed:
1. NO3 decreased to max. 5 ppm
2. K raised from 10 to 20 ppm
3. Mg raised from 5 to 10 ppm
The most important thing is 1. When only 2. and 3. were done - nothing happened. So it was NO3 excess. NO ONE BUT NO ONE was able to tell me precisely why the plants in the pictures looked so horribly under EI. I was told over and over again that the cause was too low CO2 but believe me - i had high CO2: KH = 3, pH = 6.0 and some of fish were suffocating from lack of oxygen ! It was a clear sign that there was plenty of CO2 but it didn't help any of the plants i've mentioned to grow norlmally. The breakthrough occured only after lowering NO3. In harder water i was able to grow affected plants with lesser problems so it seems to me there is a link between water hardness and allowable NO3 levels. On the other hand i noticed rosette plants (and some stem plants) are not sensitive to NO3-GH ratios/levels. Also, i know some people are able to grow the species i've described here in low GH and high NO3 - but i can't understand how this happens. So, if one is able not to have issues with the species in the pictures i posted here in lower GH and under EI fertilization - please send me a water sample from his tank and i will take it to a laboratory and measure for K, NO3, Ca and Mg and perhaps other elements too  (this could explain to us what other elements are important against stunting) |
Hi Kekon, I have the same problem and same algae on my Alternanthera. I reduced the NO3 level close to 5 mg/L. Now it looks healthier a bit, but I can get rid this green, soft algae. This is your picture what I'm talking about :
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...4&d=1186400181
My water has abut GH 4-6, KH 3. My general plant health is not the best, and I can't improve their growth.
I use soil under the gavel, maybe I shouldn't...
Can I ask you how can get rid that algae on alternanthera ?
Best regards, Aquamaniac