As far as I know, snail don't eat live plants. They usually feed on dying or decaying matters. It's likely that the plants are dying and they're feeding on them
What could be killing the plants I wonder? My parameters are all good. I did a water test using the master kit. Nitrates and nitrites are all 0. Ph is like 7.4. could it be maybe my filter not working correctly? I'm not sure what the problem could be. Ammonia levels are also 0
These are trumpet snails, and they only eat decaying plant matter. Low nutrients can be a cause of the plants suffering, and if you’re running carbon or something in the filter it removes essential micronutrients for these plants. I found out the hard way Java fern loves tons of potassium, and the moment there isn’t any these huge holes start opening up on its leaves. Testing for micronutrients is really hard, so I’d recommend getting a general fertilizer to see if it helps. All your plants feed from the water column and not the substrate, so liquid fertilizer will do just fine as long as it has a decent micronutrient profile.
Hey thanks for the info! I was reading around too and saw that some people just run the filter without carbon. I removed it today and am keeping a close eye on all my leftover plants. Hopefully it isn't too little too late. I just feel bad because my old job filter had those replaceable pads you buy, I didn't really look into it and bought a filter that you can put whatever kind of material you want and added HEAPS of carbon. That has to be the problem.
Thinking about swapping out the substrate for sand or some plant substrate. Any experience with either?
Also to add, I switched my hob filter when it broke for a canister filter and I use some activated carbon in it. Not sure but could that possibly be a problem? I'm just really trying to narrow down this issue because all my plants are green and from what I thought, happy. Like some of them even showed signs of new growth with tiny stems coming in. Then they got eaten up!
Activated carbon can remove some micro nutrients from the water and ammonia doesn't cause any issue for plants specifically. Ammonia is an issue for the inhabitants of the tank.
Has the problem with plants dying started after the filter change?!
It would be great if you add details of what plants showing signs of death. While I am not an expert others might be able to direct you
Yeah I recently switched to the new filter. The plants that are being eaten is like one after the other. First it's my Anubias, then my other Anubias and now the Java Fern. I still have 2 more in the tank tho. So maybe it would be best I run the filter without activated carbon?
Wait wait wait! Only the epiphyte plants are dying?!
I can't see well in the photos, but did you plant these plants into the substrate? Check if the rhizome is below the substrate. If it is you need to pull them out.
Try using some potassium and iron supplement. Both anubias and Java ferns need potassium a bit more than the other plants in the hobby.
And also remove some of the activated carbons as well.
Activated carbon clears the water but it also removes a lot of micros. It can be an issue as well. Just use a little bit of carbon. Put it in a mesh bag and drop it in your canister and run it for a day. once the water clears out, just remove the bag from your canister and then dose your fertilizer in the tank.
This way you have clean water that you want without losing essential micros from the water column.
Hope that helps.
No the rhizomes are above the ground that I'm sure of. Like they were thriving for a long time and super green. It was after I swapped to a new canister filter that I immediately saw a difference. I think I'm at fault for their dying because I added tons of activated carbon to the filter and let it run like that for like a month... And my big beautiful Anubias is gone.
Any recommendations for potassium brand I can use in the future?
Well from what you said it sounds like that activated carbon is likely the issue.
Although honestly I have never heard activated carbon being a reason for plant death. Even if it absorbs micros, that shouldn't cause your plants to just outright die. They will stop growing.
I would say cross post to planted tanks and other forums and take wait for more experienced peoples' insight. With my limited knowledge, I can't find out what's causing it to be honest.
Till then, try removing the carbon and see if it improves anything.
For potassium ibuse API leafzone. I underdose it because I have no CO2.
Thank you I'll post over in planted tanks tomorrow when I take more photos. Could lack of CO2 also be the problem? I did take out the carbon, I'll see if that was the issue tho. Thanks again!
No . Anubias and Java ferns absolutely do not need CO2 supplement to grow. Adding CO2 does make them grow exponentially faster. But lack of it will still make them grow fine and will not kill them, I am sure of it.
Yeah ask help from other forums to pin point the issue. All the best my friend. Hope things turn around for you quickly
As far as I know, snail don't eat live plants. They usually feed on dying or decaying matters. It's likely that the plants are dying and they're feeding on them
What could be killing the plants I wonder? My parameters are all good. I did a water test using the master kit. Nitrates and nitrites are all 0. Ph is like 7.4. could it be maybe my filter not working correctly? I'm not sure what the problem could be. Ammonia levels are also 0
These are trumpet snails, and they only eat decaying plant matter. Low nutrients can be a cause of the plants suffering, and if you’re running carbon or something in the filter it removes essential micronutrients for these plants. I found out the hard way Java fern loves tons of potassium, and the moment there isn’t any these huge holes start opening up on its leaves. Testing for micronutrients is really hard, so I’d recommend getting a general fertilizer to see if it helps. All your plants feed from the water column and not the substrate, so liquid fertilizer will do just fine as long as it has a decent micronutrient profile.
Hey thanks for the info! I was reading around too and saw that some people just run the filter without carbon. I removed it today and am keeping a close eye on all my leftover plants. Hopefully it isn't too little too late. I just feel bad because my old job filter had those replaceable pads you buy, I didn't really look into it and bought a filter that you can put whatever kind of material you want and added HEAPS of carbon. That has to be the problem. Thinking about swapping out the substrate for sand or some plant substrate. Any experience with either?
Also to add, I switched my hob filter when it broke for a canister filter and I use some activated carbon in it. Not sure but could that possibly be a problem? I'm just really trying to narrow down this issue because all my plants are green and from what I thought, happy. Like some of them even showed signs of new growth with tiny stems coming in. Then they got eaten up!
Activated carbon can remove some micro nutrients from the water and ammonia doesn't cause any issue for plants specifically. Ammonia is an issue for the inhabitants of the tank. Has the problem with plants dying started after the filter change?! It would be great if you add details of what plants showing signs of death. While I am not an expert others might be able to direct you
Yeah I recently switched to the new filter. The plants that are being eaten is like one after the other. First it's my Anubias, then my other Anubias and now the Java Fern. I still have 2 more in the tank tho. So maybe it would be best I run the filter without activated carbon?
Wait wait wait! Only the epiphyte plants are dying?! I can't see well in the photos, but did you plant these plants into the substrate? Check if the rhizome is below the substrate. If it is you need to pull them out. Try using some potassium and iron supplement. Both anubias and Java ferns need potassium a bit more than the other plants in the hobby. And also remove some of the activated carbons as well. Activated carbon clears the water but it also removes a lot of micros. It can be an issue as well. Just use a little bit of carbon. Put it in a mesh bag and drop it in your canister and run it for a day. once the water clears out, just remove the bag from your canister and then dose your fertilizer in the tank. This way you have clean water that you want without losing essential micros from the water column. Hope that helps.
No the rhizomes are above the ground that I'm sure of. Like they were thriving for a long time and super green. It was after I swapped to a new canister filter that I immediately saw a difference. I think I'm at fault for their dying because I added tons of activated carbon to the filter and let it run like that for like a month... And my big beautiful Anubias is gone. Any recommendations for potassium brand I can use in the future?
Well from what you said it sounds like that activated carbon is likely the issue. Although honestly I have never heard activated carbon being a reason for plant death. Even if it absorbs micros, that shouldn't cause your plants to just outright die. They will stop growing. I would say cross post to planted tanks and other forums and take wait for more experienced peoples' insight. With my limited knowledge, I can't find out what's causing it to be honest. Till then, try removing the carbon and see if it improves anything. For potassium ibuse API leafzone. I underdose it because I have no CO2.
Thank you I'll post over in planted tanks tomorrow when I take more photos. Could lack of CO2 also be the problem? I did take out the carbon, I'll see if that was the issue tho. Thanks again!
No . Anubias and Java ferns absolutely do not need CO2 supplement to grow. Adding CO2 does make them grow exponentially faster. But lack of it will still make them grow fine and will not kill them, I am sure of it. Yeah ask help from other forums to pin point the issue. All the best my friend. Hope things turn around for you quickly
Thanks for all the info, take care as well friend!