somethings eating my plants

[morphlizard]

I am seeing something similar (holes) as well:


(Flickr)

I have had these plants (Anubis nana) for several years in this tank (my RiverTank) but at least I have the benefit of knowing the change(s) that has caused this problem in my case: lighting. This is a no-CO2/no-fert tank . I upgraded from T10s to T6s with good reflectors. Soon after that I upped my photoperiod from 10 to 12 hours of light. I added 4 small hillstream loaches which made quick work of the algea in the tank and I am trying to grow more. Imagine, actually trying to grow algea! I can't get these loaches to eat anything else (like those algae wafers and the like).

I do use RO water. However this tank has some type of cichlid gravel (contains some broken shells for instance) which buffers the pH up to the mid sevens. The only thing that I add is Iodine and Ca for the shrimp. Must be working for them coz some are getting large and today I noticed babies

I am not planning on adding CO2 to this tank anytime soon. Given that what are my options?

I can bring the lights back to 10 hours on.
I can start dosing ferts.

Remember, no CO2! (this is because of the initial cost and also due to the fact that the tank uses a simple internal cartridge filter. Next year I will upgrade to an external canister filter and CO2).

[Mzungu]

How are the other plants doing in the tank, if there are any? Are you seeing any other problems since you upgraded the lighting? (BTW, loved the journal!)

On all of the pictures in this thread, it seems that older leaves are the ones having problems. Although, morphlizard, your hole seems to be on a middle-aged leaf, lol. The older ones are usually the first to show these sorts of problems, just because they're not really growing anymore, and thus don't have many defenses against the algae and such that wants to take hold. My initial solution would be to just remove the older leaves. If problems started popping up on newer leaves, then I might start examining the situation more thoroughly.

[morphlizard]

Sorry jeb for hijacking your thread! I thought it would help you to know that my case was brought on by adding more light in my setup.

Thanks mzungu for the compliment on the journal! I am very happy with the T6 upgrade so far. There really is no algae to speak of.

I also have several crypts in this tank. The crypts in full light are also developing tiny holes. Those in more shade are thriving. Java fern is also developing holes.

So the question is: Is too long of a light period simply too long? Or can it be offset by adding ferts? I guess if I wanted to grow more algae for the loaches, adding ferts would help with that as well. I have a smaller planted tank that I plan to start dosing anyways.

I will follow your advice and clip the damaged leaves for now. Thanks!

[Mzungu]

The crypts in full light are also developing tiny holes. Those in more shade are thriving.

Sounds about right, I guess! This probably means that because you have upped the lights, the plants are wanting more nutrients to go along with it. Sort of a linear relationship, if you will.