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In addition to my Cabomba growing with too much stem between leaves I'm getting the white strings (look like roots) reaching down from the leaves to the substrate. I have a couple of questions.

1. What's causing this? I use 2wpg for 11 hours and 4 wpg for 4 hours. My kh is 2, ph around 6.6 which I think gives me co2 of about 16 mg/l. I have eco-complete? I have been adding in Nutrafin Plant Grow/w Iron, but haven't got a good feel yet when to add.

2. Do I cut the white strings off?

My Scapes

Hi,

I'm having the same problem with Asian Ambulia (poor man's cabomba ). I'm in the process of removing most if not all of it from my tank, because the constant pruning that's needed to keep it looking it's best is too much for me. The white stringy things are roots - they put out a lot of them when they're happy. You're not doing anything wrong, it's just the plant doing its thing. You can cut them off, but it's a real pain and they'll keep growing back.

As for the stems being too long, here's a trick I learned: Let the stems grow at the surface, right up near the light. They'll grow much more densely up there. Then when they get long enough, replant them in the gravel and they'll look nice for a few days. Problem is, they'll grow so fast and put out so many ugly roots, you have to keep doing the replant probably once a week, and I personally don't have the time to keep doing that. If you do, then there's one method of keeping your cabomba looking nice.

Last edited by NowherMan6 at 21-Apr-2005 10:39

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Back in the saddle!

Long gaps between nodes is sign of light shortage. As Nowhere said when they get taller, ie, closer to the light, the gaps shorten. Cambomba is very light hungry.

The strings are roots. Usually a good sign. You can trim them if you like but they will probably grow back.

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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.

Thing I don't understand. I have 2 wpg on my Cabomba for 11 hours and 4 wpg on them for about 4 hours. Maybe I'll increase 4 wpg to about 5 to 6 hours. I believe my problem is also a deep tank. The 46 bowfront is about 20 inches tall and creates a lot of shading on the bottom.

My Scapes

As I said, I have the same problem in my tank with the Ambulia... which is why I'm getting rid of it. I thought 2.4 WPG would be good, but the floating/ replant method is the only way I can get them to look good.

I guess part of getting what you want out of a planted tank is knowing what plants will grow best in the conditions you provide.

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Back in the saddle!

ohh..i think its becoz ur tank is high alrite..u might have a suffient light at 4wts/gl but u have to compensate for the height...the shading at the bottom has the tendency to do that (check for yellow parts on the shady side..if u have some..that means, not enuf light goin there) i have cabomba, bacopa and hugrophila all doin that..having roots sticking out. spacing of plants when planting will help.

20 inch depth ain't bad with 2 wpg.
I have 1wpg and 18 inch depth, wasn't bad at first with
Asian Ambulia but now also 'leggy' like your cabomba.
My bulbs prob need replacing they're 2 years old ?
When should they be replaced ?
(if someone knows, might help us both)
How old are your bulbs ?



The Amazon Nut...

Hi,
To know when to replace A specific brand of bulb you
would have to contact the manufacturer.

The rule of thumb with flourscents and compact
flourscents is annually.
Most of the catalogs for the major hardware stores
show a 100 hour burn in time, during which the bulb
looses about 100 lumens and then stabilizes for the
life of the bulb.
With UV lights it is between 6 months and a year
(depends upon manufacturer - check with the
instructions that came with the system).
metal Halides, 6 - 8 months.

Over time, the bulbs age, the phosphors give off less
light, and change frequency, and they become less and
less, what plants need to thrive.

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 22-Apr-2005 12:22

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Yup, good point, my bulbs are about a year old, probably time to replace. Right now I have 1 96watt cf 6700k and I also have 1 96 watt dual daylight (6700k/10,000k). The dual daylight came with the fixture. Any suggestions on what bulbs to replace with for my 46g planted S.A. Tank.



My Scapes