My Photography

My Photography
Off topic post, recently a bit active in photo shooting more than aquascape. The reason why I do that is to understand the nature, like Mr Takashi Amano does. So is a helpful skill to develop our aquascaping and some nature behaviour. The place I am staying has such a limited stone scape, but worth for deep in study of the formation. If you like my photography, please drop a 'LIKE' on my link. Thank you very much.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Plant Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms

Macronutrients

Calcium (Ca)
  • Symptoms: New leaves are distorted or hook shaped. The growing tip may die. Contributes to blossom end rot in tomatoes, tip burn of cabbage and brown/black heart of escarole & celery.
  • Sources: Any compound containing the word 'calcium'. Also gypsum.
  • Notes: Not often a deficiency problem and too much will inhibit other nutrients.
Nitrogen (N)
  • Symptoms: Older leaves, generally at the bottom of the plant, will yellow. Remaining foliage is often light green. Stems may also yellow and may become spindly. Growth slows.
  • Sources: Any compound containing the words: 'nitrate', 'ammonium' or 'urea'. Also manure.
  • Notes: Many forms of nitrogen are water soluble and wash away.
Magnesium (Mg)
  • Symptoms: Slow growth and leaves turn pale yellow, sometimes just on the outer edges. New growth may be yellow with dark spots.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the word 'magnesium', such as Epson Salts.
Phosphorus (P)
  • Symptoms: Small leaves that may take on a reddish-purple tint. Leaf tips can look burnt and older leaves become almost black. Reduced flowers or seed production.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the words 'phosphate' or 'bone'. Also greensand.
  • Notes: Very dependent on pH range.
Potassium (K)
  • Symptoms: Older leaves may look scorched around the edges and/or wilted. Interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between the leaf veins) develops.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the words 'potassium' or 'potash'.
Sulfur (S)
  • Symptoms: New growth turns pale yellow, older growth stays green. Stunts growth.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the word 'sulfate'.

Micronutrients

Boron (B)

  • Symptoms: Poor stem and root growth. Terminal (end) buds may die. Witches brooms sometimes form.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the words 'borax' or 'borate'.
Copper (Cu)
  • Symptoms: Stunted growth. Leaves can become limp, curl, or drop. Seed stalks also become limp and bend over.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the words 'copper', 'cupric' or 'cuprous'.
Manganese (Mn)
  • Symptoms: Growth slows. Younger leaves turn pale yellow, often starting between veins. May develop dark or dead spots. Leaves and shoots diminished in size. Failure to bloom.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the words 'manganese' or 'manganous'.
Molybdenum (Mo)
  • Symptoms: Older leaves yellow, remaining foliage turns light green. Leaves can become narrow and distorted.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the words 'molybdate' or 'molybdic'.
  • Notes: Sometimes confused with nitrogen deficiency.
Zinc (Zn)
  • Symptoms: Yellowing between veins of new growth. Terminal (end) leaves may form a rosette.
  • Sources: Compounds containing the word 'zinc'.
  • Notes: Can become limited in higher pH.

Feeding Aquarium Plants

Plants require a number of organic and mineral nutrients in order to maintain steady growth and good general health. Most of these nutrients are only require in tiny amounts but without them, vital biology functions cannot be carried out properly. Nutrients can be considered as a plant’s ‘diet’; without a proper diet, health problems arise and the plant will become ‘ill’. The number of nutrients that any given plant requires is extensive and can be provided in a number of ways. Looking at the function of various nutrients, their availability in the aquarium and assessing their importance is a good way of devising a ‘shopping list’ for suitable sources of fertilization.

Macro- and micronutrients
Plant nutrients are often described as macro- or micronutrients, depending on the quantities of a particular nutrient required by a plant.

Macronutrients are required in the greatest quantities; these include calcium, carbon, hydrogen, magnesium, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulphur and potassium. Many macronutrients are readily available in the aquarium; for example, oxygen and hydrogen are normally always present in more than sufficient quantities, whilst calcium and nitrogen are usually present. Calcium is only found at low levels in very soft water and nitrogen can be absorbed by plants in the form of nitrates and ammonium, which are normally present as a result of biology filtration or from fish/organic waste. Therefore the only macronutrients that the aquarist normally needs to supply are carbon, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur and potassium.

Micronutrients are only required in very small quantities and are often described as trace elements. Micronutrients include boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, chlorine, nickel, iron and zinc. Both macro- and micronutrients are equally vital to the overall health of aquatic plants. Whereas macronutrients are usually used for structural components, such as cells, proteins and fats, micronutrients are used for cellular functions and the activation of vital enzymes. Micronutrients can be consider as important for the correct ‘management and control’ of plant biology. ‘Trace elements’ can be found in many liquid fertilizers, as well as in most tap water sources, but are often used up quickly in aquariums both by plants as nutrients and through binding to organic molecules.

Sources of nutrients
In the aquarium, nutrients can be supplied to plants from a number of sources. Because plants take up nutrients both through their leaves and the roots, nutrients should be made available in the substrate and the water. Micronutrients, or trace elements, are only needed in small amounts and are often present in most tap water supplies. However, some may quickly bond with other elements, making larger molecules that are unavailable to plants. They may also need to be supplied in quantity in the substrate or additionally through liquid fertilizers added to the water. The major difference between liquid fertilizers may need to be replaced weekly or every two weeks, whereas substrate fertilizers are normally present for longer periods. The tank substrate acts as a ‘storage’ facility for some nutrients. The lack of high oxygen levels and water movement in a compact substrate will prevent nutrients from being moved around, oxidized, bonded with carbonates or otherwise made unavailable to plants. In addition, the high amount of organic matter in most substrates allows natural chelates to bond with nutrients, allowing a large quantity of nutrients to be present, while a slow release reduces the amount of ‘available’ nutrients. Substrate fertilization can be achieved using propriety substrate mixes or tablet fertilizer.

Nutrient-rich substrates
Ready-made, nutrient-rich additives are widely available and usually designed as a main substrate, or to be mixed with small-grade inert substrate. These substrates are high in many of the nutrients required by plants and not commonly available through other sources (tap water, natural processes, etc.). In an established aquarium, most of these nutrients are released slowly over long periods of time, making nutrient-rich substrates an ideal long term fertilizing solution. Most nutrient-rich substrates will only begin to run out of nutrients after two to three years. However, if you carry out regular small water changes and allow some organic waste to build up in the substrate, it will naturally become a ‘sink’ for trapping and slowly releasing nutrients indefinitely. Regular small water changes and liquid iron fertilization should be enough to continually ‘recharge’ an established substrate that incorporates a suitable nutrient-rich additive.

Tablet fertilizer
Tablet fertilizers provide a localized supply of nutrients. They are concentrated forms of nutrient-rich substrate additives and particularly high in iron. Some faster-growing plants use vast amounts of iron, and supplying a concentrated source at the roots will help to prevent iron deficiency problems. Deficiencies in other plants, which may not be able to compete for available iron as quickly, will also be reduced or prevented. Do not use tablets as a ‘whole-aquarium’ solution to universal fertilization or iron fertilization, but only to provide an additional source of nutrients for individual plants. Tablets are not required, even locally, when soil-based substrates are used.

Liquid fertilizers
Several ‘off-the-shelf’ liquid fertilizers are available for aquatic plants, but they should be used with caution because over-fertilization can cause problems with algae and metal toxicity. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for when you buy liquid fertilizers; some of the more specialized products are far more valuable and contain the correct quantities of the required nutrients without oversupplying or lacking some elements.
Liquid fertilizers can be particularly useful in supplying chelated iron to the aquarium. Although iron is a micronutrient and only needed in small quantities, it is often unavailable in the aquarium unless it is provided in a chelated form that will slowly release a useable form of iron over long periods. Many of the nutrients in liquid fertilizers will become unusable after a short period, usually through binding with other elements or through oxidation. For this reason it is important to dose the aquarium on a regular basis, normally weekly or fortnightly.

Carbon dioxide fertilization
In most planted aquariums, CO2 fertilization is vital for plant health and is often the limiting factor in overall growth. Without adequate levels of CO2, plants cannot photosynthesis effectively and therefore cannot produce the energy needed to perform basic physiological functions. There are several ways of introducing CO2 into the aquarium. It is created naturally through fish and plant respiration, but mostly by bacteria as they break down organic matter. Many soil-based and established substrates continually release CO2, which can be used by aquatic plants. However, the quantities produced by these processes are minimal and would not be enough for heavily planted tanks. This is why additional fertilization is essential.
Furthermore, the air/water exchange in an aquarium continually releases a large quantity of CO2 into the atmosphere that must be replaced. Various devices designed to introduce CO2 into the aquarium are available for hobbyists and these include those using tablets that slowly release CO2, slow-release chemical reactors and pressured CO2 cylinder that can be adjusted and set by timers. All these systems introduce CO2 gas directly into the aquarium water. The aim is to keep the gas in contact with the water long enough for it to be available for plants to absorb.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Added some plants

Actually I couldn't wait for the slow growth rate of Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC) is fully growing in the front part and try to get in some bigger pot of it to plant. And so lucky that saw some Pogostemon Helferi available in local fish shop too.
Photo above is showing the overall view of new plants planted.

(1) Hemianthus Callitrichoides (HC) having light green and bigger leaves that they grew it emersed.


(2) & (3) Pogostemon Helferi, on the left is newly bought, and on the right is it has been in the tank for months.

(4) Pogostemon Helferi, when bought it has a main stem with 2 side shoots, in a total I got 3 plants.

(5) Those HC was grew emerged by me, tried to tie it this way to prevent the shrimps to seize the small plants. (the roots already grow inside the foam)


(6) A healthy HC, and most of the leaves are less than 2mm, I love to see the mini leaves of HC.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Update: 3' planted tank.

After a busy week of preparation for the contest submission, and here is the updated photo of my planted tank. Aren't added any new plant, but all growing as normal. Just that recenly has some nutrient deficiency sign on the leaves, I believe that cause by cut too many times and without a good root system or my recent added Calcium in it. The Calcium is helping the plant to develop their structural and need more nutrients as well, once the soil base is nutirents deficiency, on the leaves will show some signs. What I need to do is to balance the nutrients in the coming weeks.