Aquarium Adviser

Your Best Resource for Aquarium Supplies

  • Aquarium Filter
    • Canister Filter
    • Power Filter
    • HOB Filter
    • Turtle Tank Filter
    • Betta Filter
  • Led Aquarium Light
    • LED Lighting for Reef Tanks
    • LED Lights for Planted Tank
    • Aquarium Light Timer
  • Protein Skimmer
    • HOB Protein Skimmer
    • Nano Protein Skimmer
  • Pump
  • Fish Tank
    • Betta Fish Tanks
    • Nano Reef Tank
    • 20 Gallon Aquarium Kit
    • Fish Tank Guide
  • Reviews
    • Aquarium Filter Reviews
      • Fluval FX4 Review
      • Fluval FX6 Aquarium Canister Filter Review
      • Fluval 306 Canister Filter Review
      • Fluval External Filter 406 Review
      • Penn Plax Cascade Canister Aquarium Filter Review
      • SunSun HW304B 370GPH Pro Canister Filter Kit Review
      • EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter Review
      • Hydor Professional External Canister Filter Review
      • Cascade 1000 Canister Filter Review
    • LED Aquarium Lights Review
      • Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light Review
      • Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Light Review
      • Current USA Orbit Marine Pro LED Review
      • Finnex Planted+ 24/7 Fully Automated Aquarium LED Review
      • Finnex FugeRay Planted Aquarium LED Light Plus Moonlights Review
      • Galaxyhydro LED 55x3w Dimmable 165w Full Spectrum LED Review
      • Beamswork EA Timer FSPEC LED Aquarium Light Review
      • Koval 156 LED Aquarium Light Review
    • Protein Skimmer Reviews
      • SCA 302 Skimmer Review
    • Aquarium Heater Reviews
      • Hydor External Heater Review
    • Aquarium Air Pump Reviews
      • Tetra Whisper Air Pump Review
    • Reef Salt – Salt for Reef Tank
    • Coral Food
    • Turtle Food
    • Betta Fish Food
    • Cichlid Food
    • Tropical Fish Food
    • Aquarium Sand
    • Aquarium Water Conditioner
    • Substrate for Planted Tank
    • Substrate for Betta Tank
    • Sand for Reef Tank
    • Aquarium Gravel
    • Aquarium Plant Fertilizer
  • Equipment
    • Aquarium Heater
    • Aquarium Thermometer
    • Auto Top Off System
    • Aquarium Wave Maker
    • Aquarium Powerhead
    • Automatic Fish Feeder
    • Aquarium Chiller
    • UV Sterilizer
    • Aquarium CO2 Regulator
    • Aquarium Air Stone
    • Aquarium Filter Media
    • Aquarium Vacuum Cleaner
    • Aqueon & Python Water Changer
  • Blog
Home » Blog » Why Are My Aquarium Plants Turning Brown?

Why Are My Aquarium Plants Turning Brown?

June 17, 2020 Leave a Comment

Share this...Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
Linkedin
Share on reddit
Reddit
Share on tumblr
Tumblr

Why Are My Aquarium Plants Turning Brown?

There are a lot of benefits to keeping live plants in your aquarium. Not only do they create a more natural-looking environment for your fish, but they also improve water quality by using up excess nutrients and oxygenating the water.

Live plants definitely add another level of beauty to any tank setup, but it’s not always easy to care for them. One common problem is aquarium plants turning brown. When this happens, they’re no longer nice to look at and may cause harm to your fish by affecting the chemistry of the water.

Let’s take a look at some of the common reasons aquarium plants turn brown, and what you can do to treat it or prevent it from happening in the first place.

Table of Contents

  • Nutrient Deficiencies
    • Magnesium
    • Micronutrients
    • Nitrogen
    • Phosphorus
    • Potassium
    • Carbon Dioxide
    • Substrate
  • Other Reasons Your Aquarium Plants Are Turning Brown
    • Brown Algae
    • New Plants
    • Animals
    • Light
  • How to Care for Aquarium Plants?
    • Troubleshooting

Nutrient Deficiencies

Plants need a variety of nutrients to grow. If something is missing, your plants will suffer.

Remember that all nutrients and trace elements are independent of one another. Just because there’s enough of one doesn’t mean there’s enough of everything. When testing the water, check for a range of nutrients to be sure everything is covered.

The most important nutrients for aquarium plants are:

Magnesium

Magnesium is one of the key nutrients that contributes to the green pigment of aquarium plants, and a deficiency is likely to cause discoloration in older, established plants. One notable sign of a magnesium deficiency is that the leaves themselves turn yellow or brown while the veins remain green.

Micronutrients

Your plants only need micronutrients in small amounts, but they are necessary for plants to grow green and healthy. Examples of micronutrients include boron, calcium, zinc, and manganese.

The most important micronutrient for plant growth is iron. An iron deficiency causes less chlorophyll to develop, causing leaves to stay light green. If the deficiency is serious, the leaf tips are lighter and, eventually, begin to turn brown and black. New plants are more likely to be affected by an iron deficiency.

Nitrogen

If you have an established tank and notice the plants are starting to turn brown at the tips, check the nitrogen level. You may also notice stunted growth or lack of new growth, and the leaves can begin to take on a reddish color.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is present in your aquarium water as phosphate, which is what most water-testing kits measure. Your plants need just the right amount of phosphate to thrive. If the phosphate is low, plants grow poorly and have small shoots.

On the other hand, too much phosphate leads to brown spots. It can also cause excessive algae growth, which leads to a lot of other issues in your tank. As you can see, monitoring the phosphate level is essential to keeping a planted tank healthy.

Potassium

Another thing that can cause aquarium plant leaves to turn brown is a lack of potassium. This commonly starts as black dots. Eventually, these dots progress to holes, and the rest of the leaf turn brown or yellow.

Carbon dioxide can also affect potassium levels. Strong aquarium lighting can stimulate plants to release more carbon dioxide, and some fertilizers may elevate the levels, too.

Carbon Dioxide

We hinted at the importance of carbon dioxide, but having the right amount is essential for healthy plant growth. Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, which gives them the energy they need to grow.

Most aquariums don’t require added carbon dioxide, but if you have a tank with only a few fish or one that is heavily planted, it can be an issue. If your plants aren’t growing well or if you notice discoloration, you may need to add some carbon dioxide.

Substrate

Think about substrate like you do the soil in your garden – it’s one of the most important factors to supporting healthy plant growth. Substrate gives the roots the nutrients they need to grow. If the substrate is compacted and the roots have a hard time pushing through or if the nutrients are all used up, your plants might start turning brown due to the previously mentioned deficiencies.

Other Reasons Your Aquarium Plants Are Turning Brown

Here are some other reasons the plants in your aquarium may be turning brown:

Brown Algae

Brown Algae on Aquarium Plants

Brown algae are not actually algae at all, but small organisms called diatoms. If your plants, the sides of the tank, decorations, and everything else in your tank is getting covered in the brown film, diatoms are likely the cause.

Diatoms are difficult to get rid of, but there are a few things you can do. First, clean your tank really well to get rid of as many as you can. Remove everything you can from the tank and scrub it clean. Then, check the water chemistry. Diatoms like nitrates and keep coming back as long as they have something to eat.

Adding movement to your water can help prevent diatoms, too. These tiny creatures are not strong enough to hold onto your plants or decorations when there’s a current.

Make sure your tank isn’t exposed to too much light and remove anything with silica from your tank. Diatoms eat silicates, too, so remove rocks or sand that contain silica from the tank.

New Plants

Another thing that can contribute to your plant turning brown is its age. In some situations, new plants turn brown while adjusting to the new environment, but once you understand how these plants are grown, it makes sense why this happens.

Most aquarium plants are grown above water. Large pet stores often sell them this way, with each plant’s roots covered in moist gel and the leaves enclosed in a plastic tube. In this case, the leaves are accustomed to living in the air.

When you add these plants to your tank and submerge them in water, they may take a while to adjust. In some cases, the leaves will turn brown and eventually fall off while new water leaves grow.

Animals

Some of the creatures you keep in your aquarium may be chowing down on your plants. When these animals damage the integrity of the leaves, they turn brown and, if the damage is severe enough, the plant may die.

Light

We mentioned that too much light causes leaves to turn brown, but not enough light causes damage, too. Just like houseplants, aquarium plants each have different light requirements. Research plants before adding them to your tank to make sure you give them the light they need.

How to Care for Aquarium Plants?

How to Care for Aquarium Plants?

To make sure your plants stay healthy, do regular checks on the overall health of your aquarium. If you have fish or other creatures in your tank, you should already be performing regular water changes and checks. Include your plant life in your regular maintenance.

A planted tank needs a good, nutrient-rich substrate to thrive. Test the water regularly to make sure there are enough nutrients, and keep the tank clean. Research your plants before adding them to the tank to make sure you’re giving them the right amount of light.

When planning your tank, spend some time researching your fish, too. Create an environment that’s as natural as possible by choosing plants and fish that coexist in the same environment in the wild.

This is beneficial for a lot of reasons, but one of the main ones is that the plants and fish will be happy in the same water conditions. Overall, this makes it much easier for you to take care of your tank.

Troubleshooting

If you notice the plants in your aquarium are starting to turn brown, take action quickly. Any problem you have is only going to get worse if you wait. If you have a new setup, expect a little bit of adjustment time, but pay close attention to catch any problems when they start.

If you have an established tank that was doing well, but suddenly your plants are turning brown, do a water test. This lets you know if you have a nutrient deficiency so you can correct the problem.

Remember, the easiest way to stay on top of things is to perform regular maintenance on your aquarium. Check the water regularly, and keep a close eye out for any changes.

More From Aquarium Adviser:
  • How to Grow Plants in Your Aquarium
    How to Grow Plants in Your Aquarium
  • Benefits of Live Plants in Aquarium
    Benefits of Live Plants in Aquarium
  • How to Plant Aquarium Plants in Gravel
    How to Plant Aquarium Plants in Gravel
  • How to Clean Sand in Aquarium?
    How to Clean Sand in Aquarium?
  • How Does an Aquarium Sump Work
    How Does an Aquarium Sump Work
  • Where to Place Air Stone in an Aquarium?
    Where to Place Air Stone in an Aquarium?
  • How to Get Rid of Green Hair Algae in Your Aquarium
    How to Get Rid of Green Hair Algae in Your Aquarium
  • Planted Aquarium LED Lighting Guide
    Planted Aquarium LED Lighting Guide
  • Where to Place Powerheads in Freshwater Aquarium
    Where to Place Powerheads in Freshwater Aquarium

Blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Articles

What Fish Can Live With Goldfish? – 8 Goldfish Tank Mates List

62 Comments

How Often Should You Feed a Betta Fish?

60 Comments

How Often Should You Feed Goldfish? How Much?

40 Comments

10 Best Nano Saltwater Fish For Your Nano Reef Tank

39 Comments

The 10 Best Plants for Freshwater Aquarium

34 Comments

Recent Posts

  • How Often to Change Carbon Filter in Fish Tank?
  • Preparing RO Water for Freshwater Aquarium
  • Where to Place Wavemaker in Freshwater Aquarium
  • How Long Should You Wait to Put Betta Fish in a New Tank?
  • Where to Place Air Stone in an Aquarium?

Recent Comments

  • Praveen Ghoshal on How Often Should You Feed a Betta Fish?
  • P.KARTHIKEYAN on How to Tell if Guppies are Pregnant?
  • P.KARTHIKEYAN on How to Tell if Guppies are Pregnant?
  • Andy on 15 Best Plants for Terrarium – Easy to Grow Terrarium Plants
  • Kevin Mills on How Often to Change Carbon Filter in Fish Tank?

Aquariumadviser.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
We do not specifically market to children under 13.

About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms | Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

DMCA.com Protection Status

© Copyright 2016-2023, Aquarium Adviser · All Rights Reserved