Help with Anubias and Amazon Sword...

[Alex562]

Need some advice from you experts. I got a couple of plants from the LFS. Anubias and Amazon Sword. They were in little black pots that I removed and then planted in my 20 gallon long. I was told just to plant them into my gravel. Its been a month and they look horrible. They look like there dying, turning yellow and growing algae which my rubber lip pleco wants no part of. I put generic root tabs which I got on eBay in the gravel and they still look bad! What should I do to make them green and nice again???

 

[Woefulrelic]

What lighting are you using? Some lights are much better at growing algae than plants.

 

[Alex562]

I'm using a 10W 6000k LED T8 light bulb I got off eBay.

 

[justarn]

My Anubias always die too, subbed.

 

[convict360]

don't plant anubias, the roots will rot if they are submerged; tie it onto something above the gravel, let the roots spread and watch it take off with no further effort

 

[convict360]

here is my anubias, far above the gravel; held on with suction and magnetic cups

 

[Woefulrelic]

Too much light and/or minerals in the water. Try cutting back the lighting, shorten the lights hours by 2 and cut more if needed. With algae growing on the anubias like that it won't grow normally without taking care of the algae. It also looks like the plants are melting which can happen frequently, usually results in a lot of dead plant matter, so that could further aid an algae bloom. Basically your goal is to limit the amount of growth of algae, and this will hopefully help you get some green back into these plants.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; The amazon sword is a root feeder. It will need some sort of solid fertilizer placed at the roots in the substrate. I have used plant tabs. I am now using fluorish tabs. Stick one tab right into the roots.

 

[Alex562]

Thank you guys for the advice. I have put root tabs by the roots. I will cut back on the light time. Should I just clip all the leaves that look yellow? Will that help new leaves to grow green? I can't grow these plants in just gravel?

 

[skjl47]

Should I just clip all the leaves that look yellow?

hello; Not sure about the anubas as i do not grow it, but should be ok to trim damaged leaves.

I do trim the damaged leaves on amazons. You might wait a few days untill you see some new leaves growing out from the center of the amazon.
By the way how many plant tabs did you use on the plant? I usually do one at a time every few months or when new growth slows down. Some wil depend on the make up of the tab. With some it was closer to one a month.

I can't grow these plants in just gravel?

Hello; Yes you can grow the amazon in just gravel. I have many times.

Good luck