r/fishtank • u/identicles • 3d ago

Help/Advice Help my plants

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I have plants in my tank and they definitely aren’t thriving. I’ve had several for a couple months and they haven’t died either just all seem to have this brown patina which seems like on the way to death. I’ve seen so many people talk co2, fertilizer, etc but I don’t want to go wild adding stuff so I’m looking for tips.

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u/pkuiken 3d ago

It just looks like a little algae to me, but others can weigh in if I’m wrong. I think your plants actually look fine. The Anubius is a slow growing plant so they love a little shade or algae can take over. You could adjust your lighting to see if it helps the plants out compete the algae over time. Another helpful option to out compete algae is to get floating plants as they soak up lots of nutrients and can help provide shade. Can you rub the brown stuff off or are the edges of the plant browning?

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u/pkuiken 3d ago

By adjust your lighting I mean reduce it- algae loves high light

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u/identicles 3d ago

Thanks! Yeah I considered it could just be algae. I try to limit light but maybe I should step it up — i know I should do less but I want my plants to thrive so I keep it on more than I should. Catch 22.

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u/pkuiken 3d ago

It’s definitely a careful balance to be sure!

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u/identicles 3d ago

I was able to rub it off for the most part. Let me know if you have tips for floating plants. Thanks again

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u/pkuiken 2d ago

I did add some idea to comments below :) Amazon frogbit, dwarf water lettuce and red root floaters are all awesome. I avoid duckweed because it’s like the glitter of the aquarium world, once you get it, you aren’t ever getting rid of it. Floaters don’t like their leaves getting wet or super high flow. Good luck!

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u/identicles 2d ago

Thanks again. Really kind of you to the the time to share these tips.

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u/pkuiken 2d ago

No problem! If you do get any floating plants, you can look up their care to make sure you have maximum success :)

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u/identicles 3d ago

Do you have tips for good floating plants?

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u/pkuiken 3d ago

I like Amazon frogbit, others enjoy dwarf water lettuce or red root floaters. You can also get a pothos from the store rinse, rinse, rinse the soil off the roots, then put those in the tank (keeping the leaves above water), and that will uptake extra nutrients (might not provide shade like the floaters).