Rotala

[manifresh006]

:evil: My Rotala are getting black stems and splitting like if they were dead :?
any help???

[HoustonFishFanatic]

Re: Rotala

What type of Rotala are you talking about. What are your tank Parameters?
Is it the lower part of the stem turning black? DO you use lead weights to weigh it down?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Rotala

Sounds like they are dieing.

More tank specs?

[manifresh006]

Re: Rotala

Don't know what type but is the one that is sold more in almost all LFS.

50gal
DIY co2
sand bottom top Flourite
odessea light
12000K day-light lamp +plant bulb

[Mzungu]

Re: Rotala

Probably Rotala rotundifolia. (aka R. indica)

That's still not enough info for us to help. Is this an Odyssea fixture with 2 Odyssea bulbs? Are they PC bulbs? How many watts? How old? How long has the rotala been in your tank? Are you dosing any ferts? Like HFF asked, are you using weights at the bottom? Do the stems have any type of root system? Do you have any other plants in there? If so, how are they doing?

R. rotundifolia's usually not that demanding, but we need a lot more info from you to try to determine what's going on.  :)

[HoustonFishFanatic]

Re: Rotala

Rotala Indica is not same as R.rotundifolia.  

[manifresh006]

Re: Rotala

Well I think 54w each

They have been there for a while 6 months or so
Not the first time it has happened no ferts and no weights
The steams do have roots a lot but about an inch or less form the floor
Are these black looking stains on the plant and start to break apart!!
have
Java moss
HYGRO DIFFORMIS(I think which is growing a lot w/out a problem all over the place
And some valls
Amazon plant too.

No problems with any of them except Rotala 8O

[HoustonFishFanatic]

Re: Rotala

The problem I think is the bottom part of the rotala stem is not getting enough light. And with about 110W over 50G I would say the plants would need enough CO2.
Also fast growing stem plants like Rotala Rotundifolia need a good amount of Potassium and Micros lack of which leads to sever stunting.
This is assuming there is enough fish load to supply Nitrogen and Phosphorus.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Rotala

What HFF said.

[manifresh006]

Re: Rotala

Would some of those root tabs or other kind of medicine tabs help?

[HoustonFishFanatic]

Re: Rotala

Instead of tabs I would recommend using Column Fertilization ( adding liquid fertilizer to water column) as most of the stem plants obtain their nutrition from the water column.
Adding root tabs would help your Echinodorus Sword plants and Valls a lot.

[Mzungu]

Re: Rotala

Rotala Indica is not same as R.rotundifolia.  

But it's often sold as indica, hence the "aka." :bigrazz:

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Rotala

Common misconception, happens a lot with the LFS.

Again, I agree with HFF...the root tabs will really help the swords and other heavy root feeders and really help

[HoustonFishFanatic]

Re: Rotala

Rotala Indica is not same as R.rotundifolia.  

But it's often sold as indica, hence the "aka." :bigrazz:

[Mzungu]

Re: Rotala



But yes, your swords will love you for the root tabs.

Good luck, let us know how they're doing!