Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've had my Amazon sword for about three months now, and it's not thriving like I expected. The leaves are turning yellow, and growth is super slow. Tank is a 20-gallon with Fluval Stratum substrate, LED lighting for 8 hours a day, and CO2 injection. Any tips to get it back on track?

Yellow leaves usually mean a nutrient deficiency. Are you dosing any fertilizers? Amazon swords are heavy root feeders, so root tabs work better than liquid ferts. I'd recommend Seachem Flourish Tabs, one every three months.

Yeah, swords are greedy little things. I had the same issue until I started using root tabs. Also, check your lighting. If it's too weak, the plant can't use the nutrients properly. What's the PAR rating on your LEDs?

waves_4 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 06, 2025 8:29 am Yeah, swords are greedy little things. I had the same issue until I started using root tabs. Also, check your lighting. If it's too weak, the plant can't use the nutrients properly. What's the PAR rating on your LEDs?

PAR is key, but if you don't have a meter, just look at the plant's response. If it's stretching, it needs more light. If it's melting, too much.

Bro, just chuck some root tabs in there and call it a day. Swords are tanks once they get going. Mine went from sad to mad in like two weeks after I started feeding them properly.

I agree with the root tab suggestions. Also, make sure your substrate isn't too compact. Swords need loose substrate to spread their roots. If it's packed tight, they'll struggle.

Has anyone tried sand with Amazon swords? I've heard mixed things about whether they can root properly in it.

I use sand in my tank, and my swords are doing okay. Not amazing, but they're alive. I think the key is adding root tabs regularly since sand doesn't hold nutrients well.

staraqua wrote: ↑Sun Jul 06, 2025 2:08 pm Has anyone tried sand with Amazon swords? I've heard mixed things about whether they can root properly in it.

Sand can work, but it's not ideal. If you're gonna use sand, definitely supplement with root tabs. Otherwise, the swords will just sit there looking sad.

My swords melted when I first got them, but they bounced back after a few weeks. Sometimes they just need time to adjust to your tank.