Why Are My Leaves Turning Yellow?

[oceanroam]

My Anubias leaves are turning yellow, and I'm not sure why. The tank is a 20 gallon with a Fluval AquaSky light, running 8 hours a day. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. I use Seachem Flourish once a week. Substrate is inert gravel, and I dose Excel daily. The plants are attached to driftwood. Any ideas what's going on?

[daisylea]

Yellowing leaves can be a sign of nutrient deficiency, especially if it's older leaves. Since you're using inert substrate, the plants might need more than just Flourish. Have you tried root tabs? Also, Excel can melt some plants if overdosed. Maybe cut back to every other day and see if that helps.

[Stormy11]

Yellowing leaves can be a sign of nutrient deficiency, especially if it's older leaves. Since you're using inert substrate, the plants might need more than just Flourish. Have you tried root tabs? Also, Excel can melt some plants if overdosed. Maybe cut back to every other day and see if that helps.

I agree with daisylea. Root tabs could help a ton. I had the same issue with my Amazon Swords, and root tabs fixed it right up. Also, what's your lighting schedule? Too much light can stress plants too.

[flutena]

Could be a potassium deficiency. I had yellowing leaves on my Java Ferns, and adding potassium solved it. You might wanna test your water for potassium levels. Also, how old is your light? LEDs lose intensity over time, and that could be a factor.

[korvu]

Yep, potassium is a big one. I'd also check your phosphate levels. If they're too low, the plants can't use the other nutrients properly. I use a cheap phosphate test kit, and it's been a game-changer for my tank.

[oceanroam]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try root tabs and cut back on the Excel. I'll also look into testing for potassium and phosphate. The light is about a year old, so maybe it's time for an upgrade.

[wyrmkin]

Another thing to consider is your water hardness. Anubias can be picky about that. If your water's too soft or too hard, it might mess with nutrient uptake. What's your GH and KH like?

[Sunnyday]

Another thing to consider is your water hardness. Anubias can be picky about that. If your water's too soft or too hard, it might mess with nutrient uptake. What's your GH and KH like?

Good point. I've had Anubias melt in super soft water before. OP, if you're using RO water, you might need to remineralize a bit.

[dawnriver]

I'd also look at your flow. Anubias like gentle flow, and if it's too strong, it can stress them out. What kind of filter are you running?

[craftyvibe]

Man, I had the same issue last year. Turned out my tank was too clean. Weird, right? I started feeding a bit more, and the plants perked up. Maybe your tank's just too sterile for the Anubias to thrive.