Buce rhizome melting at the tips after a trim, what am I doing wrong
Trimmed some old leaves off a few of my buce rhizomes last week and now the cut ends are going brown and a little translucent. They're glued to driftwood in a low tech 20 with moderate light and nitrate around 5. I didn't touch the rhizome itself, just the leaf stems. Is this normal die back or am I headed for rot?
5 comments
Browning on the cut stub is usually just the stem drying out. As long as the rhizome stays firm and green you're fine. Mush means trouble, brown dry leaf stubs don't.
Might be low nitrate too. 5 is on the low side for a planted tank, and buce tips can look rough when they're starving a bit. Do you dose anything?
agree with pete, dry brown stubs are normal after trimming leaf stems. press the rhizome gently, if it's firm it's fine. if it goes soft and smells off, cut that section away and re-glue the healthy part.
i don't dose anything in that tank, just fish food. might try a pinch of root tabs near the wood, thanks. nitrate 5 hasn't bothered them before though.
fair enough, if they've been fine at 5 for months then the trim is probably the cause. i'd just watch the rhizome firmness like inkfin said.
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