rotala Care for newbies

[DiscusDare]

Just got some Rotala Indica for my 20-gallon tank, but the leaves are turning brown at the tips. Running a Finnex Planted+ light for 8 hours, CO2 at 20 ppm, and dosing Thrive twice a week. What am I missing?

[vague]

Brown tips could be a sign of low potassium. Have you checked your water parameters? Also, how old is your substrate? Sometimes nutrients get depleted over time.

[corala]

I've had similar issues with Rotala before. Are you using tap water? If so, check for high chloramine levels. A good water conditioner like Seachem Prime can help. Also, try reducing your light to 6 hours and see if that helps.

[flintrex]

Brown tips could be a sign of low potassium. Have you checked your water parameters? Also, how old is your substrate? Sometimes nutrients get depleted over time.

Yep, potassium deficiency is common. I'd recommend adding a potassium supplement like KNO3. Also, what's your nitrate level? Rotala can be picky about that.

[knightfox]

I'm new to Rotala too. Does it need high light? I've got a basic LED setup and don't wanna mess with CO2 yet.

[canine23]

Rotala can grow in low light, but it's gonna stay green and leggy. If you want those red tips, you'll need more light and maybe some iron. My tank's chill without CO2, but the plants grow slower.

[starfisher]

I've found Rotala does best with consistent water changes. I do 30% weekly with RO water and it's thriving. Also, keep an eye on your pH. Anything above 7.5 can cause issues.

[DiscusDare]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll test my potassium and nitrate levels and adjust the lighting. Appreciate the help!

[vague]

Let us know how it goes. Sometimes it's trial and error with these plants. Just keep an eye on the new growth—that'll tell you if you're on the right track.

[corala]

I'm new to Rotala too. Does it need high light? I've got a basic LED setup and don't wanna mess with CO2 yet.

You can get away with medium light, but the colors won't pop as much. If you're okay with that, it's a good starter plant.