We all add aquarium plants in our tanks to give them a lively, lush green look. But what if the plants start turning brown and, instead of increasing the aesthetic, create an unpleasing look? It is when knowing the reasons behind the aquarium plants turning brown and possible cure is necessary.
On a broader prospect, there are multiple potential reasons among which water conditions play the major role. Besides, lighting can also be blamed for the aquariums turning brown. All in all, it’s more likely that there is something wrong in the tank or you are not doing something correctly with your plant care routine.
This article will explain why the aquarium plants turn brown and what steps will bring back their lush green, healthy and fresh look. Also, you will understand some basic plant care tips to upkeep the tank’s greenery.
Reasons Why Aquarium Plants Turn Brown
Ignoring the maintenance of plants can bring havoc to their health– turning them brown and dull from green and vibrant. Besides, there could be unexplained causes as well. Below, we are mentioning some of the most common reasons why aquarium plants turn brown. Check them out and know where you might have gone wrong-
- Nutrient Deficiency
This is one of the most common reasons for plants turning brown. Sometimes the plant misses its key nutrients, resulting into dullness, browning and ultimately wilting. Therefore, it is important to know what nutrients does your plant require– both macro and micro.
Primary macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, secondary macronutrients such as calcium, magnesium and sulphur and micronutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, chlorine– all are essential for plant’s health underwater.
While certain plants require one of these nutrients more, the other may require less. But, a certain amount of each is necessary and a lack of them could result in a number of symptoms. Besides turning brown, the plants underwater may also turn yellow, black and in severe cases start to rot and die.
For example, if you are experiencing a stunted plant growth with leaves developing brown spots, it’s an indication of phosphorus deficiency. Likewise, micronutrients that are required in trace amount can also create such effects, especially iron which is required for chlorophyll synthesis.
Solution
Plants need nutrients for health; therefore, adding fertilizers will enrich the tank and make ensure plants stay vigorous. In aquariums, you can supply nutrients in two ways– through liquid fertilizers and through substrate-based fertilizers. Choice can be made according to the plant type which could be either root feeder or stay afloat.
Here, it is important to mention that adding too much fertilizers may do more harm than help. Overfertilization is also one of the reasons for plants turning brown. So, read and research in detail about the nutrient requirements of your aquarium plants so that you put the correct amount.
Besides fertilizers, lack of carbon dioxide in the tank is also one of the reasons for brown leaves. Like land plants, aquatic plants equally required carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. If there is too much surface agitation due to air stones, filters, or powerheads gas exchange increases, causing more oxygen to enter and more CO₂ to leave the water. In such cases, you may try injecting carbon dioxide into your tank.
Thus, supplementing nutrients to the tank through fertilizers and occasionally injecting carbon dioxide will be the best for plants’ growth and health. All you need is to understand what’s better– liquid fertilizers or root tabs (root based fertilizers).
- Lack of light
Poor lighting is another common reason why plants turn brown. Both overdoing and underdoing will hamper the plant’s health. Usually, the beginners presume that aquarium plants require a lot of light and offer the same. It causes them to wilt and turn brown. Likewise, lack of light will also prevent their proper growth.
An imbalance in lighting is also one of the culprits behind the algae bloom in the tank. It deteriorates the water quality and makes the plants unhealthy. Therefore, proper research about the light requirement of each plant you have in the tank is essential. It will ensure that the plants stay lush green and vibrant all the time.
Solution
Proper light maintains the healthy green hue of the plants. You can either place the tank in an area where filtered light comes or install a good LED system to illuminate your tank according to the plants’ need.
Certain plants, especially those with red and pink leaves or hues of various colors, require high-light conditions to bring out their vibrant colors. For such plants, you may need to install an even more intense lighting setup. Again, research enough about your plant’s lighting requirements and what amount and hours of light they require to retain their vibrancy.
- Inappropriate Water Conditions
It is important that water condition of the tank should meet the plants’ requirements. For instance, aquarium plants that grow in temperate environment should not be grown in tropical water conditions. If grown, be prepared to see dreading results.
You must be well informed about the plant’s requirement for water pH, temperature, hardness, and other relevant details.
Solution:
Plants die when right water conditions are not met. Even if the water conditions are good, they should not fluctuate too much and stay constant to prevent plants coming under stress.
The best way to ensure that water conditions are fine, you can install some aquarium device. A heating device, along with aquarium thermometer, pH meter, filters are some of the essential gadgets to be installed. Some plants prefer warmer water to stay green and fresh and may turn brown when the condition is not met. If the temperature is fine, you may need to check water pH, hardness, etc., to help your plants stay healthy and vibrant.
- Grown Incorrectly
Aquarium plants are of varying types. While some needs to be rooted, others stay afloat or attached to driftwood. At the same time, some plants should not be buried too deep in the substrate and others need to go deep to root properly.
If plants are grown incorrectly, there are high chances for them to come under stress. As a result, the leaves will start wilting or turning brown.
Solution
Rooting the plants properly and in the right substrate takes you one step closer to a lush green tank. If you are growing substrate-grown plants, you have to ensure that the substrate is not clumped together because, in such cases, the roots will not be able to take the nutrients properly. While some plants absorb nutrients through the water column, others rely on the substrate. So, ensure the substrate is right and in its proper condition.
Other than this, you also need to learn how deep the plant needs to be buried for rooting. The right knowledge is the key to a successful planted tank.
- Tank is Dirty
Timely management and maintenance of tank is a crucial step. When the tank is not properly cleaned, the waste from animals and plants keep accumulating, causing all the mess. Dirty water not only harm the plants but are also threat to fish and other species living inside.
Even though plants neutralize the toxins to some extent, they won’t be able to keep up with excess. As a result, they start to wilt, turn brown, and, in severe conditions, die.
Solution
If you want your plants to look vibrant and green, give them ideal water. Use a tank filter in the aquarium and if you already have one, change the cartridge after regular intervals or as suggested in its instruction manual. If it has not been changed from a long time, there are high chances of increase in the nitrates and ammonia that contributes to toxins.
Therefore, treating the water, maintaining a proper cleaning regime, and ensuring that there is no excess excreta or plant debris is essential. Check for the hard-to-reach places, such as, middle of the substrate, below the décor items, etc. You can use the vacuum to clean the gravel. In addition, if you are using tap water for the tank, chlorine in it can also lead to brown leaves.
Dedicate one in fifteen days of a month for a thorough cleaning of the tank in which you must vacuum the gravel, wipe down the glass of the aquarium, get rid of all the excess of plant debris and fish excreta. This simple regimen will ensure a healthy ecosystem of the tank.
- Unexplainable Reasons
If you are not finding any proper reason for your plants turning brown, fret not! The leaves may turn brown even if the tank is clean, water condition is perfect and you have provided sufficient light and fertilizers. Usually, it happens with the new plants and the only reason could be the ‘time’.
When you grow a new plant in the aquarium, it will take some time to adapt to the new water environment. Usually, the plants in the store are grown in air and when you put them underwater, they undergo changes which may cause the leaves to fade their natural green and turn brown temporarily.
In addition, some plants even melt when introduced into water. The leaves may turn brown, wilt and overtime the new growth spurts. In such cases, all you need is to be patient and let the plant undergo its process and adapt to the new ambiance. Make sure the water conditions are ideal for its growth in such times.
Additional Things to Check/Perform
A few more things that need your heed include the following-
- Devices are working properly– Once you have installed the device, make sure it is working properly. Check after every fifteen days that they are giving the right readings. Often, cheaper devices end up getting faulty soon. In such cases, you need to ensure that they are functioning properly.
A malfunctioning filter can be hazardous for the health of tank inhabitants– both plants and fish. So, always invest in the tank devices that comes from a reliable brand. Cheaper devices may result in a complete mishap of the tank. So, choose wisely!
- Change water regularly– If nothing seems working, maybe it’s the time to change the tank’s water. Sometimes, taking out water from the tank helps getting rid of a lot of issues. Once the contaminated water is removed, the level of toxins reduces in the tank which eventually help plants to get back their health.
Water change also helps when you have overfertilized the tank. It will remove the excess of fertilizers and phosphate which could be one of the prime reasons for plants turning brown.
Conclusion
It is difficult to see your once lush green planted aquarium turning dull and fading. The best way to prevent it from happening is to understand your plants’ requirements and help meet them. The thumb rule is to change twenty-five percent of the tank’s water every week or two. It will ensure removing excess filth, fertilizers, waste material, etc., which contributes to an imbalance in the water ecosystem.
Here, it is important to remember that changing a large chunk of water at once is also hazardous. It will disturb the nitrogen cycle which can result in high phosphate levels and nitrite levels, and ultimately in brown algae growth.
So, read, research, understand your plants’ requirements and try to maintain optimal condition for their growth. It is the only way to keep your planted tank healthy, vigorous, lush-green and attractive.
But if you haven’t changed your tank water in a while, try changing more of the water to get rid of excess filth and waste material. Just remember not to change too much water at once, as this is one of the main reasons for the destruction of the nitrogen cycle,
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