Every aquarium plant needs “food” and optimal living conditions in order to grow he althily. However, always providing her with all the elements she needs in exactly the right amount is a challenge. If there is an acute deficiency, the plant reacts with significant changes in its appearance.
What do I do if aquarium plants show deficiency symptoms?
Find out exactly which deficiency exists based on the symptoms. If a certain nutrient is missing,fertilize specifically If an aquarium plant has too little light, provide more light sources or longer lighting times. You can compensate for a lack of co2 through targeted intake.
What deficiencies can aquatic plants suffer in the aquarium?
Aquatic plants can mainly have too little of the following growth factors:
- Light
- co2
- Macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium
- Micronutrients and trace elements, mainly iron (Fe)
If you have identified a nutrient deficiency, you can counteract it accordingly when fertilizing. Poor lighting conditions can be improved with more lamps and longer lighting times. The co2 concentration can also be increased in a targeted manner.
How do I recognize a nutrient deficiency in aquarium plants?
Aquarium plants that suffer from nutrient deficiency show the following deficiency symptoms:
Iron deficiency
- chlorosis occurs
- New growth forms less chlorophyll
- Leaf veins of old leaves remain green
- the rest becomes paler
- Necrosis and short stature are also possible
Nitrogen deficiency (nitrate)
- Plant turns yellow
- especially older leaves
- new leaves can stay smaller
- stunted growth
- some plants take on a reddish tone
Phosphorus deficiency (phosphate)
- can be easily recognized by fast-growing stem plants
- slower growth, smaller shoot tips
- sometimes dark to purple coloring
- Increased occurrence of spot algae possible
Magnesium deficiency
- older leaves turn yellow
- Leaf veins usually stay green
Potassium deficiency
- only small dots appear on the leaves
- then become larger holes
- yellow leaves and reduced growth possible
How do I know if a plant needs more light?
Lack of light is rare, but sometimes it happens that particularly light-hungry aquarium plants don't get enough light. The following symptoms indicate this:
- very slow growth
- Stem plants and ground coververgilten
Keep in mind that greater lighting results in greater nutrient requirements. You must adjust the regular fertilizer doses accordingly.
How do I bring more Co2 into the aquarium?
To bring more co2 into the aquarium water, you need aco2 system A liquid carbon fertilizer also provides more carbon dioxide or a mixture of citric acid and baking soda, but outside the tank and must be made exactly according to the instructions.
Tip
Many aquarium plants do not need additional co2
If you don't want to buy a co2 system to regularly compensate for the co2 deficiency of certain aquatic plants, you can also optimize the planting. Because there are some aquarium plants that only need a little co2.
