What happens to water when plants die?

[KLKelly]

The tank in particular has sword plants that unfortunately I've discovered - indirect sunlight and crappy tank lighting won't keep alive.

So I'm curious what effect would plants that don't do well have on the water? (nitrates especially - would it increase nitrates)?

[dan2x38]

Once plants die they start to decay. Same as anything they will create NO3. The roots also eventually rot which can cause gasses to be released from the substrate. Now mind you a markable change would have to be a lot of plants decaying. Once you see leaves detaching or turning brown obviously dead prune them. They will still be using some nutrients taking away from the healthy pasts of the plant remaining.

[KLKelly]

Thanks Dan.  Some of the leave are starting to turn brown.  I think I'll chuck them today with the water change rather than wait for them really die.  They were the only tank I had a chance of growing them in - since its in the kitchen.

[dan2x38]

Thing about swords plants they are root heavy. If you add substrate root tabs it is a big help for them. They get almost all their nutrients fromthe substrate not the water column. They can survive in lower light conditions possibly. If you want to try when you come to town I can give you one to try. Better then buying them then find out it dies any ways.

[KLKelly]

Would root tabs add to nitrates in the water?

The thing is I just set up an RO unit to deal with nitrates in my well water.  The two fish in the kitchen tank are extremely sensitive to the water (one even turns pink, the other bottom sits) so I was hoping plants would help them and help with the nitrates.

[BigDaddy]

Thing about swords plants they are root heavy. If you add substrate root tabs it is a big help for them. They get almost all their nutrients fromthe substrate not the water column. They can survive in lower light conditions possibly. If you want to try when you come to town I can give you one to try. Better then buying them then find out it dies any ways.

Not quite.  Yes, sword do well with root tabs under them.  But they don't get all their nutrients from the substrate.  An EI tank is perfectly fine for swords without the use of root tabs.  Same would go with liquid ferts.

I have had my swords flower with nothing but ferts in the water column.  So saying they get almost all their nutrients from the substrate is not the case.

[dan2x38]

They do add a small amount of N to the substrate which leaches into the water column. They provide more trace elements then macro. I don't think it be markable to damage anything. I use them in most of my tanks and have sensitive fish like German Blue Rams.