Recognizing and remedying deficiency symptoms in aquarium plants

What deficiency can aquatic plants suffer in the aquarium?

Aquatic plants can mainly be deficient in the following growth factors:

• Light
• co2
• Macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium
• Micronutrients and trace elements, mainly iron (Fe)

If you have identified a nutrient deficiency, you can Fertilize counteract accordingly. Poor lighting conditions can be improved with more lamps and longer lighting times. The co2 concentration can also be increased in a targeted manner.

How do I recognize a nutrient deficiency in aquarium plants?

Aquarium plants that suffer from a lack of nutrients show the following deficiency symptoms:

iron deficiency

• chlorosis occurs
• New shoots produce less chlorophyll
• Leaf veins of old leaves remain green
• the rest fades
• necrosis and short stature are also possible

Nitrogen deficiency (nitrate)

• Plant turns yellow
• especially older leaves
• new leaves may remain smaller
• stunted growth
• some plants take on a reddish tinge

Phosphorus deficiency (phosphate)

• can be easily identified on fast-growing stem plants
• slower growth, smaller shoot tips
• sometimes dark to violet discoloration
• Increased occurrence of spot algae possible

magnesium deficiency

• older leaves turn yellow
• Leaf veins mostly remain green

potassium deficiency

• only small dots appear on the foliage
• then become larger holes
• yellow leaves and reduced growth possible

How do I know if a plant needs more light?

Lack of light is rather rare, but sometimes it happens that particularly light-hungry Aquarium plants too little light receive. The following symptoms indicate this:

• very slow growth
• stem plants and ground covers spoil

Keep in mind that stronger lighting means higher nutrient requirements. You have to adjust the regular fertilizer application accordingly.

How do I bring more Co2 into the aquarium?

To get more co2 into the aquarium water you need one co2 system. A liquid carbon fertilizer also provides more carbon dioxide or a mixture of citric acid and baking soda, which, however, must be produced outside of the tank and strictly according to the instructions.

Tip

Many aquarium plants do not need additional co2.

If you don't want to buy a co2 system to regularly compensate for the co2 deficiency of certain aquatic plants, you can also optimize the planting. Because there are some Aquarium plants that get by with just a little co2.