Some plant questions...

[theredchaser]

This is my first attempt at a heavily planted tank and I had a few questions for the veterans...

I chose the pygmy chain sword as my foreground plant... hopefully it will turn into a carpet. I've done some research and supposedly the initial taller chainswords die off and the new runners will be shorter. Are you supposed to aggresively prune the initial plant or just prune the ones that are obviously dying?

Also when pruning, should you cut at the "stem" or cut close to the base?

I also bought some amazon swords but they have changed color since I've planted them. The color is changing into a deeper and richer green. Is that a sign that the plant isn't getting enough light so its adding more pigment to offset it?

I'm also interested in getting a moss ball for my amano shrimp but kind of worried that the moss will overtake the rest of the plants. Will it stay in a ball or start taking over when it gets big enough?

Thanks for any replies... :help:

[phanmc]

Can you provide some details about your tank? Tank size and light, etc.

Pruning isn't necessary and more of a matter of preference, if you want to get that even lawn look or not. If some get too tall I just trim off the part that's too long.

In most cases a deeper and richer green is a good sign. It means that the plant is getting enough nutrients to photosynthesize.

The Marimo balls will not overtake the tank, they are extremely slow growing. Because they are slow growing they tend to attract other algae, keep them clean and the tank balanced and that shouldn't be a problem.

[Bk828]

This is my first attempt at a heavily planted tank and I had a few questions for the veterans...
Whats the size of the tank??

I chose the pygmy chain sword as my foreground plant... hopefully it will turn into a carpet. I've done some research and supposedly the initial taller chainswords die off and the new runners will be shorter. Are you supposed to aggresively prune the initial plant or just prune the ones that are obviously dying?
Depending on your tank size E. tenellus could be a great foreground plant. I say tank size because the plant can get 2 tall for a foreground plant if its placed in a 10-20g tank. I grew tenellus a while back and never experienced any die off of the main mother plant, the runners were not shorter either. After the new runners had time to grow in they were just as big as the mother plant. Pruning isnt really that necessary, you can leave the plant alone and it will fill in by itself. Though it is suggested that the new runners will grow better/faster if they are still attached to mother plant. One thing you will have to do with the plant is control where the runners go, if you just want them in the foreground and see a runner wondering off to the side/back of the tank, simply move it and direct it to its new path..

Also when pruning, should you cut at the "stem" or cut close to the base? no "pruning" is necessary, but if you plan to separate the runners from the mother plant simply cut the runner off..

I also bought some amazon swords but they have changed color since I've planted them. The color is changing into a deeper and richer green. Is that a sign that the plant isn't getting enough light so its adding more pigment to offset it?
At times amazon swords are grown emersed and therefore have darker leaves. Are the new leaves showing different color? or did the old ones change?? Remember amazon sword is a BIG root feeder. If you want you can place a root tab a few inches away from the sword and in no time it will be spreading its roots and getting all the nutrients it needs.

I'm also interested in getting a moss ball for my amano shrimp but kind of worried that the moss will overtake the rest of the plants. Will it stay in a ball or start taking over when it gets big enough?

moss ball as in marimo ball or one of those pointless java moss balls they sell at the box store?? If its marimo ball it will stay together and wont take over the tank.. If its java moss then if its kept as a ball like that it will eventually die from the inside out.

Thanks for any replies... :help:

Comments are in bold..

Enjoy

[theredchaser]

Its a 10 gallon tank on my desk with 2 25watt incandecent bulbs. Right now I have 2 platies, 2 guppies, and 2 amano shrimp.

The leaves were originally light greenish yellow.

Well... I was hoping the pygmy plants would get shorter but at least the fish don't seem to mind one bit... :perv:



I also had one more question... The tap water here is high in pH and hard. I'm thinking of doing water changes with treated distilled water to lower them both a bit slowly. I was also looking into peat moss but read that it stains the water. Would soaking the peat separately and then adding it to the tank make a difference? Or would the beneficial stuff get leeched out as well?

[DAVIDFBT]

You could just put a piece of malaysian or mpoani driftwood in the tank. Driftwood lowers the ph and softens the water. If you don't like the color, buy some carbon, it will take the colors out but will be ineffective after 3 weeks.

[Bk828]

Its a 10 gallon tank on my desk with 2 25watt incandecent bulbs. Right now I have 2 platies, 2 guppies, and 2 amano shrimp.

The leaves were originally light greenish yellow.

Well... I was hoping the pygmy plants would get shorter but at least the fish don't seem to mind one bit... :perv:



I also had one more question... The tap water here is high in pH and hard. I'm thinking of doing water changes with treated distilled water to lower them both a bit slowly. I was also looking into peat moss but read that it stains the water. Would soaking the peat separately and then adding it to the tank make a difference? Or would the beneficial stuff get leeched out as well?

try micro chain sword, should work better in a 10g.
I also suggest switching the incandescent bulbs to screw in fluorescent. You will save plenty on energy bills and your plants will get the light they need.

to drop the ph try adding driftwood. That usually drops the ph a good point or so.

[theredchaser]

I already have a big chunk of driftwood in there, although I'm not sure of the type. I guess I'll wait a month to see if it changes anything to the water.

I'll try micros next time... I'll prune the tops in the meantime. =/

Thanks for the replies!

[Bk828]

I already have a big chunk of driftwood in there, although I'm not sure of the type. I guess I'll wait a month to see if it changes anything to the water.

I'll try micros next time... I'll prune the tops in the meantime. =/

Thanks for the replies!

whats the exact ph out the tap and then a few days after its been in the tank??

prune the tops??

[theredchaser]

pH of the tap water after 24 hours is 7.9

Tank pH is 7.7

I figured I'll just prune the longest leaves off and hopefully it'll grow bushy but maybe not...

[Bk828]

pH of the tap water after 24 hours is 7.9

Tank pH is 7.7

I figured I'll just prune the longest leaves off and hopefully it'll grow bushy but maybe not...
wont really make it bushy.

Add co2 to your tank with diy method. It should drop the ph a bit as well.
Though 7.7 is still fine for a tank. Not sure why you want to worry about dropping it

[Riiz]

Your thinking of terrestial plants, that can be encouraged to grow a certain way through pruning.

[KarlTh]

Your thinking of terrestial plants, that can be encouraged to grow a certain way through pruning.

Many aquatic plants can have the same treatment. Stem plants will grow bushier if pinched out. Rosette plants on the other hand, where all you've got are individual leaves growing from the bottom, are much harder to force in any particular direction. In the same way that you can prune roses but not rhubarb, you can prune Bacopa but not Amazon Swords.

(I know you can force rhubarb. You could probably force Amazon Swords as well).