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Aquarium Plant Nutrient Deficiency

Aquarium Plant Nutrient Deficiency

Updated on February 03, 2023
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Reviewed by Don Spaeth
Petco’s National Aquatic Care, Education and Programs Manager

Deficiency types & identification | Avoiding aquarium plant deficiencies

Aquarium plants

Live plants add color and natural beauty to your freshwater aquarium. You can keep them with other aquatic life or enjoy your live plants all on their own. Planted aquariums provide a fun hobby but require some additional work. Routine maintenance and observation are needed to help your aquatic plants thrive.

Aquarium plant deficiencies are unfortunately common and usually occur due to insufficient light and nutrients or poor water quality. Let’s talk about common deficiencies in live aquarium plants and what you can do about them.

Deficiency types and how to identify them

There are some telltale symptoms of deficiencies in live plants. Monitor your plants at least weekly. The sooner you catch an aquarium plant nutrient deficiency, the sooner you can treat it and improve your plants’ health.

Iron deficiency

This deficiency causes plant leaves to turn pale yellow. While the veins may remain dark, new leaves will not achieve their desired color. You can often treat an iron deficiency in aquarium plants by adding a specific iron supplement.

Magnesium deficiency

A lack of magnesium is another one of the likely aquarium plant nutrient deficiencies you may discover. This deficiency causes yellowing of the leaves as well as pale patches. Fertilizers can usually fix this issue in freshwater aquariums. A magnesium supplement may also be beneficial.

Calcium deficiency

An aquarium plant’s calcium deficiency will often result in crinkled leaves, and you may notice a generally distorted shape. Adding a calcium-rich mineral supplement to the water can help restore your plants if they haven’t already become too sick to recover.

Zinc deficiency

Like many other deficiencies, a lack of zinc can often be prevented by using a good fertilizer. Yellow spots will appear on leaves, and your plants will experience stunted growth. This type of deficiency is rare.

Potassium deficiency

If your freshwater aquarium lacks potassium, plants may develop yellow and brown polka dots. Additionally, holes may appear in the leaves. Potassium can be elevated through the use of a liquid supplement.

CO2 deficiency

Plants need an ample supply of carbon dioxide to grow and develop vibrant colors. If your habitat does not have enough CO2, your aquatic plants may experience a general failure to thrive. The specific level of CO2 you’ll need in your aquarium depends on the species of plants and any other aquatic life you’re keeping. You can add more CO2 via a CO2 kit. Be sure to only utilize CO2 while your aquarium light is on.

Light deficiency

An aquarium plant’s light deficiency can introduce many problems for fish and live plants. Without light, plants can’t complete photosynthesis. You can help ensure your aquascape has sufficient light by adding an aquarium lamp with full-spectrum output. Keep in mind that multiple lights may be necessary in a larger aquarium. Freshwater planted LED lights are one popular way to maintain a well-lit aquarium that supplies ample lighting for live plants.

Keeping in mind that many deficiencies present with similar symptoms, your best bet for reviving yellow plants or dealing with browning leaves is to adjust overall nutrient levels by adding fertilizer.

Avoiding aquarium plant deficiencies

You can help avoid an aquarium plant nutrient deficiency by setting up your aquarium with the right nutrients from the start. You might, for example, opt for a plant-specific substrate over sand or gravel, which can deprive plant roots of the nutrients they need to grow.

Aquarium plant deficiencies may also arise if you don’t use a good liquid fertilizer often enough. Regularly dosing your aquarium can help ensure your plants get the nutrients they need. Don’t double up if you forget to give a dose, and remember that mature plants may need more nutrients than young plants. You’ll need to adjust the fertilizer dose as they grow.

By returning to the basics, you can help set your aquatic plants up for success. In addition to using the right substrate and fertilizer, follow these best practices:

  • Maintain a water temperature of 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit · Maintain a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0—pH treatments allow you to adjust the levels in your aquarium
  • Set lights to be on for a minimum of 8 hours per day
  • Follow the instructions on your fertilizer and maintain a regular schedule
  • Change 10 to 25% of the water every two to four weeks—depending on habitat size—to help sustain clean water
  • Avoid introducing aquatic life that will eat plant roots or leaves, and always research any new inhabitants before adding them
  • Use supplements as needed to maintain the right balance of nutrients in your aquatic environment

FAQs about Aquarium Plant Nutrient Deficiencies

What nutrients are my aquarium plants missing?

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You may be able to identify problems by looking at the leaves of your plant, but determining the exact aquarium plant nutrient deficiency may require a water test. Use a testing kit to evaluate levels of nitrites, nitrates, water hardness, pH levels and more. When in doubt, switch to a plant-specific substrate and fertilizer to add more nutrients.

How do you fix nutrient deficiencies in plants?

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There are a few ways to fix nutrient deficiencies in an aquarium. Adding a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer can replenish many nutrients, but you may also need CO2 aquarium kits, systems and accessories to remedy an aquarium plant nutrient deficiency.

How do you fix nitrogen deficiency in aquarium plants?

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A nitrogen deficiency first shows up in older leaves and usually indicates that your plant no longer has access to fertilizer. Consider increasing your liquid fertilizer dose to adjust for aging plants. As plants grow, they need more fertilizer to thrive.

Why are my aquarium plants not thriving?

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An aquatic plant’s failure to thrive is usually due to a missing nutrient. Aquarium plant deficiencies can usually be rectified by adjusting the fertilizer and ensuring the water is clean. You may also need to add more CO2 or light, both of which are required for live plants to complete the photosynthesis process.

How do you rejuvenate aquarium plants?

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Make sure your plants are getting enough light and carbon dioxide. Aquarium lights should provide full-spectrum output, and if you don’t have a lot of other aquatic life in the habitat, your plants may not be getting enough CO2 to survive. You can also bring new life to yellowing plants by removing damaged leaves and starting a regular liquid fertilizer routine.

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