How can I tell if a plant in my aquarium is dead or dieing?

Question

I have 3 plants in my aquarium and one of those is looking a bit worse for wears in some areas.

A few leaves are turning brown and falling off, and around the stem of the plant there is a white gooey substance that looks a bit like lotion that is stuck around the stem, also some of the stems are a bit black.

However, the roots look healthy and are going in under the gravel, and some of the leaves look really green and lush... But it is a bit of an eyesore... What should I do?

Answer 1

If just some of your leaves were turning brown and falling off, I would suggest pulling the dead ones off the plant, and leaving the rest to grow again, but because your stems are turning black, and there's a white gooey substance around the bottom of them, I would suggest getting those plants out of there right away. You cannot take a chance, because it may result in the loss of your fishes.



Before you put any more plants in there, check your water condition, for things such as PH, Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites. Then do a 50% Water change, and make sure you clean the gravel with a gravel vacuum if you have one. Give the tank a few days to settle down, and then restock your plants.

Answer 2

I would be willing to bet money you have not introduced sick fish. It's a case of too many too soon, overstocking, and an uncycled tank. First of all that is horribly overstocking a 10 gallon tank. Mollies can get to be 4-6 inches and you would be at your limit with 2, nevermind the other 2 plus the guppies. Second, you needed to completely cycle your tank, which takes 6-8 weeks. Over the counter instant cycle products simply do not work. You are wasting your money pouring dead, do-nothing bacteria into your tank. It is better to let a raw shrimp rot or use filter floss or a handful or gravel from an established tank, but even with this, you are still looking at 2-4 weeks. Third, way too many fish way too fast. The guppies are smaller making them more suseptible to the huge ammonia spike caused from being placed in 1) too small a tank for so many fish 2) an uncycled tank and 3) too many fish at once. Even if you had a bigger, established, cycled tank you should only add 2-3 fish tops at a time, see how they do, let the bioload in your tank adjust, and then add a few more a couple weeks later. Unfortunately your mollies seem okay now, give it a couple of days, soon they too will start to get sick and die off. Please test your water and you'll see what I mean. Your ammonia and nitrites are supposed to be flat 0 and I bet they are through the roof. Larger, frequent water changes only further stress out the fish. I would return what you have left and get that tank cycled. Once you have it cycled decide on whether you want 4-6 guppies or if you want a couple of mollies. Unfortunately 10 gallons isn't a lot to work with so you'll be limited. Once you decide and the tank is cycled, add slowly. If you had a much larger tank and wanted to mix guppies and mollies you should be okay to do this but I would only try it in a larger tank. Mollies can be bullies and in a smaller tank, especially overcrowded, they will attack and injury guppies. Good luck :)

Answer 3

Make sure your plant has the right lighting for its needs and Co2 canisters are good to use too. The roots should the strong and white. Trim all bad bits off.

Answer 4

Cut off the dead parts, and hope that it will re-grow in these places healthily- dose up the plant food and it should recover- and make sure you give it lots of sunlight- these brown areas may not have enough.

Answer 5

It Goesz Dark Greenn

Answer 6

Cut it down to about an inch or two high.

Answer 7

Don't risk it...if there is the least chance it is dying get it out of your tank....it could foul your water and kill your fish.

Answer 8

pull it out before it kills the fish, obviously the bklack indicates plant deterioration or diesease