cryptocoryne melt - normal or not?

[southpole]

Just got some Cryptocoryne wendtii for my 20 gallon tank, and within a week, all the leaves turned translucent and started melting. Is this normal, or did I mess up something? Tank has sand substrate, LED lighting for 8 hours a day, and the water params are stable, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate.

[zeen]

Crypt melt is pretty common when they're adjusting to new water conditions. What's your pH and hardness? They can be picky about sudden changes. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Too frequent changes can stress them out.

[southpole]

Crypt melt is pretty common when they're adjusting to new water conditions. What's your pH and hardness? They can be picky about sudden changes. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Too frequent changes can stress them out.

pH is around 7.2, hardness is moderate. I do 20% water changes weekly. Should I cut back?

[flutter]

Crypts are drama queens when it comes to moving tanks. They'll often melt completely before bouncing back. As long as the roots are healthy, they'll regrow. I'd leave them be and avoid messing with the water changes unless your params go wild.

[Wavytide]

Yep, crypt melt is a thing. Had the same issue with my Cryptocoryne parva. Took like a month to recover, but now it's thriving. Just keep the lighting steady and don't freak out if it looks dead for a while.

[loopinga]

Yep, crypt melt is a thing. Had the same issue with my Cryptocoryne parva. Took like a month to recover, but now it's thriving. Just keep the lighting steady and don't freak out if it looks dead for a while.

Agreed. Mine did the same thing. As long as the roots aren't mushy, it's probably fine. Patience is key with crypts.

[SwanLander]

Mine melted too when I first got 'em. Thought they were goners, but they came back. Just leave 'em alone and they'll sort themselves out.

[zeen]

Crypt melt is pretty common when they're adjusting to new water conditions. What's your pH and hardness? They can be picky about sudden changes. Also, how often are you doing water changes? Too frequent changes can stress them out.

pH is around 7.2, hardness is moderate. I do 20% water changes weekly. Should I cut back?

Nah, your routine sounds fine. Just give it time. Crypts are slow to adjust but tough once they settle in. If you're really worried, you could try adding some root tabs to give 'em a boost.

[flutter]

Root tabs are a good call. Crypts are heavy root feeders, so they'll appreciate the extra nutrients. Also, make sure your substrate isn't too compacted. They need some room to spread their roots.

[Wavytide]

Yeah, sand can be tricky for crypts if it's too fine. If you're not already using root tabs, definitely grab some. Seachem Flourish Tabs work great for me.