Amazon Swords are a perfect addition to your fish tank. They will wow your guests with their stunning green touches. Yet, if you see your Amazon Sword melting, things will change completely.
Multiple causes will make your lovely plant melt. We will analyze all of them and recommend solutions accordingly. Let’s follow us to discover!
Contents
Why Is Amazon Sword Melting And How To Solve?
Amazon Sword melt refers to when the middle sections of the leaf in an Amazon Sword begin to wilt. The outer edge of the leaf remains undamaged until the entire leaf rots away.
Three main reasons are causing Amazon Sword to melt. We will show you the solution for each.
New plants
Amazon Swords stay immersed, with their roots and leaves in the water. Sometimes, the leaves reach out of the water. This characteristic gives you faster-growing plants.
However, when a plant is brand-new and placed in a tank, it only has leaves that have adapted to the environment and cannot absorb nutrients from the water. The leaf has learned to survive solely by photosynthesis and gas exchange.
To adjust to the present water’s hardness, temperature, nutrients, etc., the plant has to discard its old leaves and produce new ones.
Usually, this adaptation process lasts four to six weeks. During this time, novice aquaponic plant growers tend to think the plant is dying or dead and throw it away. But, if you leave the plant alone and give it the necessary nutrients and CO2, it will recover.
Lack of nutrients
The plant may slowly drain its natural supply of nutrients until it dries out if not properly fed with nutrients in the root system and CO2 in the water. Depending on the size of your plant and its rhizome, this could take three to eight weeks.
You can solve this problem by feeding your plant what it needs. We will discuss this topic in the next section.
Changes in living conditions
You may accidentally change the tank conditions, which significantly affect your plant’s life. The most common issues are:
- Weak lights
- Lack of nutrients and CO2
- Inconsistent nutrient and CO2 supply
- Large water changes
Without the optimal living condition, your plant will react by losing its leaves to develop new ones. It will be trying to adapt to the surrounding environment.
To save your plant, perform regular fertilization and CO2 supply. Also, check the lights to make sure they are still working.
Water changes are good for your plant. Yet, keep it to a minimum. Otherwise, the water conditions will change too considerably for the plant to handle.
How To Care For Amazon Swords?
Amazon Swords’ problems arise from their living conditions, such as lighting, fertilizers, substrates, and tank mates. Hence, you need to check all of them to give your plant the best treatment.
Lighting
Amazon Swords perform better in bright lighting but may still work in dim to moderate luminance. Also, avoid floating plants as they would obstruct their light.
You can attract algae into the area by using brighter lights. So install an adjustable light to maintain balance.
Fertilizers
It is not necessary to add supplements specifically made for this plant. It can get nutrients from fresh water and fish foods.
However, give your plant frequent doses of iron-rich fertilizers every week after a water change.
Substrates
Amazon Swords have deep, strong roots. They can easily spread far and deeply, even in immature plants. Hence, it’s easy for them to accommodate rough substrate materials.
The plant grows easily in gravel substrates. The roots can break through the gravel fragments. They can root out and thrive if the substrate is small and loose enough.
Tank mates
Amazon Swords can coexist with other members of the same species (Echinodorus) and a few Alismataceae species. For example, spade-leaf swords can make a perfect tank mate for Amazon Swords.
This plant can get along with a wide range of animals in its native habitat. Almost any communal tropical freshwater aquarium will welcome it. Some popular choices are guppies, gouramis, mollies, platies, angelfish, and discus.
The key is to add fish that won’t eat the plant. So avoid small cleaners and bottom dwellers that may feed on algae.
Also, stay away from fish that can be too rough or uproot the plant. With this thought in mind, you won’t want to add goldfish to your tank.
FAQs
1. What temperature do Amazon Swords like?
This species can withstand a broad range of temperatures. However, it’s best if you keep it within 68 to 75°F.
2. Does the Amazon sword need to be submerged?
No. Aquatic plants like the Amazon Sword can thrive whether they are fully submerged or not.
3. Why is my Amazon Sword turning brown?
The leaves of the Amazon Sword are delicate. If they start to turn brown, the plant may want nutrients. So keep an eye out for iron-containing fertilizer.
Remember to remove any browned leaves close to the stem’s base, being careful not to harm the rest of the plant.
4. How long do Amazon swords live?
The average lifespan of an Amazon Sword plant is 1.5 to 3 years. Adding more iron fertilizer and frequent water changes can extend their lifespan.
5. Why do my Amazon Swords keep dying?
Your plants may die because of improper living conditions. Check the lighting, water hardness and temperature, signs of diseases, and nutrients to identify the cause. Then, you can come up with the right solution.
This video will recommend some more solutions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tITMqZMN_0A
Conclusion
Amazon Swords may melt because they have yet to adapt to their new environments. Other possible causes are poor conditions and lack of nutrients. But don’t worry! You can fix the problem with some easy steps.
Do you find this article helpful? If yes, share it with your friends who have the same issue. Thank you for reading and sharing!
Tiffany is a content developer and freelance writer with more than five years of experience. She is a passionate fish lover who grew up in a household full of large aquariums. As a Content Developer for Koiusa.com, Tiffany creates and tests all of the helpful tips that you’ll find on the site.
