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	Am I a coward? :(
El Tiburon Tailandes Hobbyist Posts: 132 Kudos: 54 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Jan-2007	Folks, Im a coward...... I have, in my 50g, a set or two of Vallisneria Gigantea..... You'd think its a good thing except the leaves on this thing are taller than I am (if you take em out and place them on the floor). I am 6'1 and they are taller than me... As you can well imagine the end result is them swirling around the top, which obviously blocks off vital light from the plants below. I think it is affecting their growth but I just cant get to applying the scissors to them What shall I do?
Posted 19-Jul-2007 00:25
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	You know what you have to do. You can't trim the leaves cause they'll die. Whack 'em. Ditch the vals and replace with c. helferi or crypt. balansae if you still want that look. *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 19-Jul-2007 00:42
El Tiburon Tailandes Hobbyist Posts: 132 Kudos: 54 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Jan-2007	Are you saying the leaves I cut off will die (the portion cut off) or wil the whole plant be affected by the trim and die?
Posted 19-Jul-2007 00:46
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	If you just cut the longest leaves in half, the remaining portion still attached to the plant will die. If you want to remove leaves, cut them off at the base, at the crown of the plant. New ones will grow in their place and the process will start over again. Too much of cutting the leaves in half will harm the entire plant long term. *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 19-Jul-2007 00:59
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Edited by FRANK Hi, Val and Sag, and other related aquarium plants are not lawn grasses. You cannot just take a pair of scissors and mow the lawn. The plant leaves will die. These plants grow from the center out making the outside leaves the oldest and the newer ones growing out of the center of the crown. When the leaves yellow and turn brown then you should reach down remainder of the leaf and remove it at the base of the crown. If your tank is not big enough to house these plants then you should avoid them in favor of shorter growing varieties. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 20-Jul-2007 01:06
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	Apprently the Vals do not like being trimmed/cut. You have two choices put up with the problems or replace them. If you have to take them out be prepared for a lot of muck in the tank as their roots could be very far and wide. I would only take one out at a time. Before you do take them out take out as much water as possible keep it warm and replace back into the tank when you have finished the job. I would also add extra airation for a few days then do a big filter clean. Now do the whole process again but several weeks later. *Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info* Look here for my Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 20-Jul-2007 03:11
El Tiburon Tailandes Hobbyist Posts: 132 Kudos: 54 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Jan-2007	Hey guys, so I finally took em out and have them in water in a container, if and when I build my small pond, I'll put them in there..... hows that sound..... The tank looks much better now that theyre out, they were really messing things up...
Posted 20-Jul-2007 20:08
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	Sounds good, as long as you don't let them slip out into local waterways etc. Any ideas of how you're going to replace them in the scape? *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 20-Jul-2007 20:18


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