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I just obtained a Aponogeton madagascariensis, and placed it in my 30G with sand substrate. Added liquid flurish to the water as well.

Does anyone else have any of these, experience with them?
This is the first and only live plant for this tank so far, we are seeing how well it goes before we invest in anything else.

I'm no good with latin names but I think you are referring to Madacascar Lace Plant. If so it's probably not the best choice for a first plant, as it's notoriously difficult to grow. I don't have any personal experience my understanding is that while not overly demanding on light, it is quite demanding with regard to water parameters and nutrients. Generally condsidered to be one of the most beautiful aquarium plants but also one of the most difficult.

I wouldn't base your decision to go into live plants on your success or failure with this one. You may not be able to grow this but with would certainly be able to grow lots of others.If you want to "dip your toe" into live plants why not try something less demanding first and then take it from there.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Height: 15-40
Width: 25-30
Light Required: low-average
Temperature: 15-26
pH: acid-neutral
Ease of care: difficult
Is a very difficult plant to grow and should be kept as a proud solitary plant only inspecialised aquaria. It requires a nutrient andcalcarious substrate with frequent water replacementbecause it tends to loose the older leaves in 'oldwater'.

JTF attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/384527.jpg"]

Yeah I've been looking around and the information the LFS had on it was a bit different *sigh*
It marked it's care level as "easy".

I've had some other live plants before, just not in this particular tank. I'll see what I can do and how well I can keep it.

Good luck to me! hee hee

First of all congratulations!!

You've got one of the most beautiful and expensive aquatic plants there is, really a collectors specimen.

There are various varieties of the Aponogeton Madagascariensis, and they vary in size and shape the only thing they all have the same is the "net" leave.

It's certainly a really demanding plant, I have a couple of them and I just love them, they need pristine clean water, I do 2 WC a week on those tanks, it can be kept with other plants, but certainly not at a close distance, they are happier if you add tablet fertilizers near the bulb and roots, and of course they require medium high to high lighting, and be careful for other plants not to shade them.

True they are difficult, but the rewards of watching those incredible leaves grow it's worth all the extra work.

These plants do best at cooler temps, otherwise they are not difficult. Good general conditions are fine for these, they tend to do best at moderate light, good CO2 and nutrients.

Keeping them in the long term is done by keeping the temp below 78F.

They are not "rare" as they are farm raised.
Not expensive either.
AAG sells sprouted bulbs for 2.25$
Do not buy fully grown plants, the leaves often drop and die off.

Regards,
Tom Barr

We had a HUGE lace plant that actually took over our 29gal. tank. Those plants are gorgeous.

Congratulations again!! Those plants are truly beautiful. We did have a small problem with keeping the leaves free from algae, but getting to see the Madagascar Lace is worth all the work you'd do to keep it beautiful.

Make sure you don't bury the bulb all the way into the substrate, though. And I "think" I remember reading something about this plant having a dormant period. Just FYI...

Good luck with your lace plant...

Emily

Well I got it as a grown specimen, from what I've read it hasnt' reached it's full dimentions. It didn't look all that healthy when I first got it, it was all shaded. Some of the bad parts have come off, but there is other parts that are now thriving with a nice green colour. No algae problem yet, still the only plant in the tank, and it will remain that way, at least until it can show me that I can keep it alive, lol. I have the liquid fertilizer, is it ok to add in some of the flourite tabs to the substrate even though I have kuhli loaches?

I'll have to take a pix of it when I get the chance for you guys.

They are not "rare" as they are farm raised.
Not expensive either.
AAG sells sprouted bulbs for 2.25$
Do not buy fully grown plants, the leaves often drop and die off.

AAG sells a hybrid, which is nice but not a true aponogeton madagascarensis, i already checked, the sckeletonlife leaves of this hybrid they sell is a lot more rougher, and the bright green color is not proper to the specie since it tends more to brown-green and dark green.

A true Aponogeon will go for a price from $24 up to $100 usd depending on the size and age of the plant.
It has moe compact leaves and more finage in the sckeleton leaves (more holes ) and stems aren't as high as this hybrid.