Nitrogen deficiency

Hi all

I suspect that i might have a nitrogen deficiency. My amazon's new leafs are small and very light green and doesn't grow big. My vallis is doing good making new plants almost every day. I run a low tech tank. Have 72watt t8's in my 4foot. And dosing with bio elite that contains macro and micro nutrients every week. So can this yellow leaves on amazons be nitrogen deficiency ? and if so what would increase it? leave the tank for a while with no wc to raise the levels?

Regards

 

@Pleco102...Hmmnn - more likely your Echinodorus is adapting to growing underwater rather than emersed in an Hydroponic system that commercial aquatic plant growers use... During this adaptation phase of Amazon Swords,the often look yucky till they get established under water - My advice would be to wait a few weeks and see how the new growth settles in...

A new plant that is nitrogen deficient,will almost stop growing,not continue to push new leaves..

 

@azurekoi the plants are about 3 months in my tank now. Wasn't that enough time to adapt?

 

Hmmnn - yes - more than enough time... the Bio Elite does have a small amount of nitrogen in it,but it's iron comes in Fe3+ form,not Fe2+ if I remember correctly...less usefull to plants that way - Amazons are vigorous growers... I expect that its more of a Carbon dificiency - try some Seachem Flourish Excel - sure you will soon see a differance with that...even better combine it with Flourish Comprehensive... It aint all that expensive,and lasts a LOOOOng time..

 

Thanks @azurekoi will give it a try.

 

I second Azure on that one. The Flourish Comprehensive in my opinion is far superior to the BE, and will give you better results.

 

Also try the Seachem Root Tabs. Stick them close to the Swords roots and that should help with feeding the plant. They are heavy root feeders in any case, so that might help.

 

Beg to differ slightly here.

See this pic for a quick guide.

So you will notice that it is a Nitrogen Deficiency.

 

I would suggest that you dose Makro Elements as well,If not the EI method then go for Seachem Makro elements,Nitrogen.Calcium and Potassium.

 

Check your nitrates with a test kit - should be optimum 25ppm for a planted tank. 50ppm also ok. Also check Fe.....lush, dark green comes from Fe ..aim to maintain at 0,05 - 0,1 mg/l. All nutrients must be in balance though, it does not help to have loads of Fe and zero N. Co2 essential!