Like any other living organisms, aquarium plants become susceptible to disease. In aquarium condition, diseases may occur due to many reasons such as inappropriate maintenance of aquarium, improper supply of nutrient substrates; lack of lighting, composition of water, its temperature etc lead to diseases of plants. To make your aquarium plants disease free, it is necessary to use balanced fertilizers. In aquarium condition, nutrient substances influence the growth of plants. In this case, pH plays great role than fertilizers to keep your plants healthy. Besides these, the chemical composition of water, temperature, lighting, quality and quantity of substrates, fertilizers, the presence of parasites of animal origin etc factors adversely affect on your aquarium plants.
Symptoms of Diseased Plants
- Plant changes its natural color, usually leaves turn yellow;
- Leaf blades become rotten and damage;
- Root system becomes spoil;
- The plant ceases to grow and slowly dies;
Some General Causes of Diseases
- Lack or excess of lighting;
- Insufficient temperature supply;
- Improperly soil selection;
- Insufficient filtering system;
- Inadequate chemical composition of water;
- Imbalance of micro and macro elements;
- Other aquarium inhabitants such as snails, aphids, algae, parasites, etc;
- Improper tank management;
The Main Signs of Diseases of Aquarium Plants and Their Control Measures:
Stopping plant growth: It is occurred due to lack of carbon dioxide (CO2) or unbalanced acid-base balance of water; it may also occur due to soil composition, such as very compact small soil which poorly passes the air.
Control measure: In this case, you should add CO2 to the water. If the problem is associated with pH, you should transfer the plant into another tank. If the problem is associated with soil, you should add crushed stone or pebbles to the ground of the tank.
Small areas of leaves die, after which the leaves fall off: It is occurred due to lack of phosphorus.
Control measures: In this case, you should purchase special aquarium plants fertilizers. This type of plant fertilizers is available in the online aquarium pet shops with sensible cost.
Small plant leaves with excess long internodes, plants become pale with thin stems; the leaves in the lower part of the plants fall off: They are occurred due to lack of insufficient of lighting.
Control measure: In this case, adjust the temperature and light mode; you should extend the day light, put the aquarium in front of the window.
Increasing upper part of the plants length: It is due to increase of radiation from the red spectrum of lamps
Control measure: In this case, you should hang the lighting systen above just closer to the lid of the aquarium or purchase less powerful lamp;
Damage to the leaves, developed root system and small stem: They can be caused by excessively dense soil condition.
Control measure: In this case, you should regularly siphonize the soil, dilute it with gravel, pebbles, tuff and make it loose.
Lime coating on the leaves: This type of phenomenon is seen due to shortage of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Control measure: In this case, CO2 is necessary for the normal development of plants, so you should gradually increase CO2 into water;
Too small leaves in plants: It is occurred due to lack of nutrients, or vice versa or too much lighting condition.
Control measure: In this case, you should reduce the light time, and top dressing of the plants should be done.
Plants leaves turn red or yellowish in color: This is due to lack of sulfur or nitrogen.
Control measure: In this case, you should feed the plant with appropriate nutrients.
Yellowish edges are seen on the leaves of the plant: This is occurred due to lack of calcium.
Control measure: In this case, you should add carbonate, shells of mollusks, ready-mix for fertilizing plants;
Yellowish spots appear between the veins of the leaf: This is occurred due to lack of magnesium.
Control measure: In this case, you should add MgSO4 in the aquarium. It is available in the fertilizer store or at nearby pharmacy.
Yellowish leaves and it becomes vitreous: It is occurred due to a lack of important element, such as iron.
Control measure: In this case, you should add compounds of ferrous iron. But the concentration of ferrous iron in the water should not exceed 0.1 mg per liter of water.
The leaves become yellowish in color and the veins remain green: This phenomenon may be due to lack of manganese and a surplus of iron.
Control measure: In this case, you should need to make a nutrient mixture with manganese and iron. During respiration and photosynthesis, manganese plays an important role.
Leaves start to fade on the edges and yellow spots are seen on the surface: It is occurred due to lack of potassium.
Control measure: In this case, you should prepare a solution of potassium sulfate, mixing it with distilled water and boiling; add it in small portions in your aquarium.
General Preventive Measures of Plant Diseases
- It is necessary to observe optimal conditions for the growth of aquarium plants;
- Regularly clean the soil and make partial water changes;
- Damaged parts of the plant must be removed immediately;
- Aquarium should be placed in such a place where appropriate lighting conditions are available;
- Always purchase healthy plants from recognized aquarium plants sellers;
- Always maintain suitable water quality parameters such as pH, hardness, temperature etc;
You may also read: Marsilea Minuta Care Facts
Concluding Remarks
Some beginner’s fish keepers pay more attention to fish and they completely overlook about the care of plants. To prevent death of your aquarium plants, it is better to determine and treat the disease in a timely manner. For each type of plant, you should offer special living conditions that are very close to natural environment. Well, You can also go for Artificial Plants.
