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i've got a 40 planted tank soon to be moved to 60g

but doing a water change today i noticed that my Limnophila aquatica or could be Ceratophyllum demersum
is breaking up near the top, it's very weak and just moving it causes the stems to break.

and my Crinum calamistratum
floated to the surface, went to replant and noticed that the bulb had gone, digging in gravel where it was and the bulb had rotted away only bits of root left. plant seems to be still growing signs of new roots

but why had this happened.
tank water is fine - there is no fertizers added at moment and just river gravel on base.

new tank i'm mixing flourite with the gravel.

light 1.25wpg.

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

Shekoi,

I believe that your problem is that your plants are starved for light. The limnophila demands medium to high light levels and the crinum requires medium to very high light levels. At 1.25 wpg, you have a low light tank. The c. demersum is a low light plant so you probably have the limnophila.

You did not mention the temperature of the tank, its pH, hardness or the substrate, but the wattage may be a giveaway.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

"i noticed that my Limnophila aquatica or could be Ceratophyllum demersum, is breaking up near the top, it's very weak and just moving it causes the stems to break."

It is very easy to tell those 2 plants apart, they are quite different in structure. Hornwort has no roots, and needle-like leaves. L aquatica is a ROOTED plant, you may also notice additional white roots coming out of the plant stem also sometimes, and attaching to the substrate. It has whorl-like leaves.

1.25wpg is ok for hornwort, and I've had a jungle of L sessiliflora (same requirements as your L.a) in 1wpg, the tank was 18 inches high.. I had leggy growth, but the tops never went brown. I used a bit of liquid fert here and there. If the issue is light, bottom of the plant would be dying first or you'll get 'leggy' thin growth if any. But what is the height of your tank, how old are the bulbs ?

"there is no fertizers added at moment and just river gravel on base." - this may be the problem.

If you have a crinium shoot, there appears to be no problem there ? Let er grow.

"new tank i'm mixing flourite with the gravel." - if you plan on mixing the 2, make it at least 50% flourite, or you're wasting the money on the flourite. It's meant to be a complete substrate

I hope that was some help


Last edited by DaFishMan at 08-Dec-2005 12:22

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