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Can anybody tell me why my swords' leaves end up thin and holey, like lace?

I'm sure it must be perhaps a mieral deficiency? Could it be iron? Or is there another reason for this? The new leaves always look great, its the outer older ones which seem to gradually do this.

P.s: I can post a picture if more detail of the damage is required!


Last edited by malaikah at 02-Mar-2005 05:25

Not knowing your tank, or your maint. of ferts, and such.

I can only guess. I suspect 1 of 2 things.

Not enough light. Being my first choice.

You have that sword that is sold as an Amazon but really rots when submerged. I can't remember the name of it..sorry.

Cheers Shannen -
Its not so much of a rotting, not like when other leaves of plants go brown and end up mushy if they don't get removed. I'm quite sure they are meant to be fully submerged plants!

x

Mal,

Holes appearing in older leaves is usually an indicator of Potassium deficiency.

Potassium is the one macro nutrient most likely to be in short supply. The good news it's one of the easiest to dose. It's very hard to overdose and there is no indication that Potassium causes algae.

Try dosing some Potassium Chloride. You can find this in a good supermarket. Mortons Nu-Salt is actually pure Potassium Chloride. It's available in the UK (I know my sister,who lives in Bristol, had some which I swiped to bring back with me). About 1/2 a teaspoon for a 50gal once a week should help(as I say it's hard to overdose). If it's not a Potaasium deficiency well no harm done, your plants would enjoy the extra anyway.

Last edited by bensaf at 02-Mar-2005 08:32

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Just to respond to the sword Shan was referring to, in case anyone else sees this thread and has a problem with it, that would be a Brazil Sword. Only reason I know this is because after my biopsy, I bought one without fully reading the label (what can I say... was not in the right mind... lol).

As for the holes in the older leaves, I have the same problem, but from a completely different source. My clown plecos are a bit rough when scraping algae off the leaves, and the older leaves tend to end up with holes in them. LOL!

Ah. Amazon Swords with leaves that decay. Time to consult the 1970's TFH back numbers again. I remember this one partly because I have a memory like a sponge for such things

If the leaves develop a yellowish, translucent appearance, become net-veined and increasingly full of holes, and rot at the petiole (leaf stalk), there is a possibility that your Amazon Sword has been hit by a fungus called Aphanomyces.

This page contains an article which mentions Aphanomyces in relation to Echinodorus tenellus.

This page mentions an article published back in 1974 about Aphanomyces blight in Amazon Swords, and will probably mention Echinodorous brevipedicellatus as the most susceptible species.

Expect a LOT of confusion if you try to Google this yourself, since the Genus Aphanmomyces (a member of the Saprolegniaceae, and related to the Saprolegnia fungus that attacks fishes) contains pathogenic fungi affecting terrestrial crop plants and crayfish also.

As far as I am aware, if your Amazon Swords are being struck by Aphanomyces, there is no cure, and the disease is inevitably fatal to the plant. It also spreads like wildfire to other Amazon Swords. The way to test if this is the cause of your Amazon Sword's malaise is to take an affected leaf, and place it in an aquarium with a known healthy Amazon Sword. If that specimen then curls up and dies, you know it's Aphanomyces. It's virulent, highly infectious to other Amazon Swords, and is a slate wiper. If this disease gets into a plant farm, it'll wipe out every Amazon Sword going.



Last edited by Calilasseia at 02-Mar-2005 23:49

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Hmmm, thanks for your helpful and interesting responses, folks.

The degeneration starts at the top of the leaf, and the stalk/lower half of the leaf stays looking healthy while the top half gets busy getting lacey!!

That possibly rules out Aphanomyces for the time being Malaikah ... doubtless much to your relief!

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002