problems with amazon swords

[bathawk]

I have a problem witIh my amazon swords in one particular tank . I have 3 tanks with them in .The leaves on the largest plant turn brown and pratically disentigrate on the smaller plants some leaves are particalt transparent .I have put root tabs under the roots of all the swords about 2 months ago the thing is the crypts in the are growing like mad this is a channa snake head tank so is unheated and the temp is 16 c my other channa tank also unheated has a temp of 19-20 c
there are no problems there.Could the cooler water temp be affecting the swords .The crypts are a more fragile plant but they are doing fine so wondering what is causing this problem.

 

[Hendre]

The lower temperatures may be the issue. I had success keeping mine above 24 degrees Celsius

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Another guess is the light. That the crypts are doing well may be a clue. I have a similar situation in that my crypts out grow the swords which I believe is due to a somewhat short lights on period. My swords have healthy leaves however.
A few years ago I had a problem with "slime algae" ( cyanobacter algae) in my planted tanks. After trying a way to get rid of that which has worked for about three years, I have used a shorter photoperiod of around 12 hours. The algae has not returned but my swords do not thrive in terms of growth while the crypts do.

You might try a longer light on period or stronger (more lumens) lights. I also use lights rated as "daylight" which are near the 6000 kelvin range.

Hendre's idea about temperature may be on point but is not something I have much experience with, having never kept an unheated planted tank.

How thick is your substrate?

 

[bathawk]

My substrate is about 4 inches thick but like you I had a slime algae problem up until august last year I did cut the lighting down to six hours I managed to get rid of the slime algae with chemiclean but then my other tank's lighting is on for the same period of time I have day light led lights I think I may increase the lighting period rthen

 

[Hendre]

4 Inches? How often is it cleaned? Because anaerobic conditions may also cause rootong issues..

 

[HarleyK]

You may have to increase (or start) fertilization with iron.

 

[skjl47]

4 Inches? How often is it cleaned? Because anaerobic conditions may also cause rootong issues..

Hello; Good point Hendre. This is one reason I use a medium coarse gravel, less dense. Never had gas pockets form. I do like a depth of 4 inches or more of substrate.