Mandy;560519They're starting to turn brownish and some of them are getting slimy looking leaves.[/QUOTE said:
If the leaves are brown and slimy, remove them. Plants cannot repair a leaf, only replace it. Some plants will melt down to almost nothing before beginning to grow in your tank. Some fish stores buy emersed growth (grown in very wet environments, but not underwater, as its faster to grow more plants that way). The leaves that were above water often cannot handle being submerged, so will die off. The plant will then produce a type of leaf that CAN handle being submerged. Bottom line is: if the leaf is falling apart, transparent, or slimy, remove it. It is only decaying and that will drive up the ammonia in your tank, just as a dead fish would.
Do you know what the names of the plants you bought? A lot of chain fish stores in my area sell 'Mondo Grass' as an aquatic plant, and no matter how well you take care of it, it will die. It is not an aquatic plant.
You can do much better on plants from other plant folks. I am starting up two more aquariums this weekend, so have been letting my other tanks overgrow a bit to be able to plant the new ones with trimmings. Normally, I have enough trimmings to fill a 10gallon tank every week. Lots that grow plants do, and some sell or give them away for the cost of postage. I got started with my current plants for a total of $18, including the shipping cost, and completely filled (actually had to throw some plants out) two 29 gallon aquariums.
