New plant question, please help...

[Liz]

I asked this on another forum and got no answer, so hopefully you all
will have an idea:

Background:
On Friday the 4th, I set up a 6g aquarium with Flourite (lots of it)
and some plants. On Saturday the 5th, I added a betta and on Monday the
7th, I added Bio-Spira. Some snails came with the plants and I've been
removing them when found (I don't really like snails) - there haven't
been many - maybe 8 found. We are very careful about not overfeeding
the betta.

I don't know what the plants are as they weren't labeled and the clerk
didn't know - but I liked them, so I thought I'd gamble. They seemed to
be doing OK until Saturday morning - one of them has brown spots on it,
but it does NOT look like sunken spots like you see on diseased or
mal-nourished plants - it's raised up from the leaf like something
resting on it - perhaps algae or something? It's kinda like dust and
comes off easily - even the betta swimming between the leaves knocks it
off.

Pics are here:

overview (339KB): http://www.lizmcguireonline.com/overview.jpg

closeup (30KB): http://www.lizmcguireonline.com/closeup.jpg

....can anyone tell me what it is and how I get rid of it (if I should)?
Also, if you happen to recognize the plant, I'd appreciate knowing
what it is.

Tank specs:
6g (US)
pH 7.2
temp: 80F
8W florescent light
3-5 inches of flourite (depending on where in the tank) (so I'm
thinking only 4 gallons of water).
ammonia and nitrite: 0
nitrate: 15

Thanks,

Liz

[§tudz]

I'm not sure what the spots are, but the plant is an Amazon Sword, I think.
anyone else wanna have a guess?

§tudz

[Dukester]

It could be the dust from Flourite. I notice red dust on my tank too
from the flourite that sticks to things.

[Patricia A. Shaffer]

On 13 Nov 2005 10:21:20 -0800, "Liz" > wrote:

>I asked this on another forum and got no answer, so hopefully you all
>will have an idea:
>
>Background:
>On Friday the 4th, I set up a 6g aquarium with Flourite (lots of it)
>and some plants. On Saturday the 5th, I added a betta and on Monday the
>7th, I added Bio-Spira. Some snails came with the plants and I've been
>removing them when found (I don't really like snails) - there haven't
>been many - maybe 8 found. We are very careful about not overfeeding
>the betta.
>
>I don't know what the plants are as they weren't labeled and the clerk
>didn't know - but I liked them, so I thought I'd gamble. They seemed to
>be doing OK until Saturday morning - one of them has brown spots on it,
>but it does NOT look like sunken spots like you see on diseased or
>mal-nourished plants - it's raised up from the leaf like something
>resting on it - perhaps algae or something? It's kinda like dust and
>comes off easily - even the betta swimming between the leaves knocks it
>off.
>
>Pics are here:
>
>overview (339KB): http://www.lizmcguireonline.com/overview.jpg
>
>closeup (30KB): http://www.lizmcguireonline.com/closeup.jpg
>
>...can anyone tell me what it is and how I get rid of it (if I should)?
> Also, if you happen to recognize the plant, I'd appreciate knowing
>what it is.

It looks like a very healthy Echinodorus schlueteri, possibly the
'Leopard' variety, to me. Check it out at this URL:

<http://192.38.244.204/go.asp?show=products>

Congratulations!


--
Patricia
Proud Citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia

[Liz]

I wondered about that! If maybe snails or the betta occasionally stirs
up some dust. It comes off easily. Someone else suggested it might be
brown algae. I guess I'll keep an eye on it and see.

Thanks,

Liz

[Liz]

Patricia,

I don't think it's the "Leopard" variety as the dust just falls right
off if disturbed. The leaves also look skinnier than this plant, but
perhaps it'll fatten up <g>.

Thanks for taking a look. I'm gonna make sure it has enough
fertilizer, clean the dust off and watch - hopefully it'll keep looking
healthy!

Liz

[Koi-lo]

"§tudz" > wrote in message
...
> I'm not sure what the spots are, but the plant is an Amazon Sword, I
> think.
> anyone else wanna have a guess?
==================
I've seen Spathphilum (sp?) being sold as sword plants. They look similar.
These will die underwater in a few weeks. They're swamp plants not
underwater plants.
--
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Koi-lo]

"Liz" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> I don't know what the plants are as they weren't labeled .........
=================
Never buy plants are aren't labeled. There are a few dishonest companies
out there selling swamp plants as aquarium plants. These plants are doomed
as they cannot live underwater for long.
--
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>