Nutrient def., need guidance if Len or Barr are handy...(big pix, beware)

I also have E. tenellus and I with mine the submersed leaves are lighter and they also have the horizontal green fractures so I think that this is probably normal in E. tenellus. BTW I like the look of the green rock that you have in your tank. Is it just algae that is covering it or is it some other plant?

I don’t mean to take traffic away from this forum but the aquabotanic forum has a lot of very knowledgeable people that specialize in plants and they might be able to answer your question a little better.

They look very healthy, but they don't look like E. Tenellus to me. Too wide. There are so many pretenders that LFS's claim to be Tenellus.
I think that what you have is growing fine.
If you wrote it I missed it.......do you dose N and P at all?
Sounds like you are doing a great job, but lack balance which is probably causing the algae problem.

Len

You will not get red growth in normal E. Tenellus. The slight "fractured" look in the leaves is normal. I seem to recall, from a post on AB, that there is a version of Tenellus (or a very similar plant) that does take on a red tinge, but I believe it's a rare find. I'm sorry I can't remember the post...but try the search option Ghazanfar Ghori might know what it is. Also keep in mind, Amano's photos are very engineered.

Those pics of amano's tanks look like they are painted rather than actual photos. Wouldn't surprise me if there was alot of slight changes done with the computer.

I really laugh everytime I hear someone say Amano's pics are engineered... the guy has come to this country and lectured, and shown how he sets up a tank, he writes a column in the AGA magazine, he holds an international aquascaping contest with people all over the world duplicating his work, and yet some people still think his tanks are fake or something! The only thing he manipulates with photography is the background. Its done with a blue screen with spotlights behind it.

There is a red form of tenellus, but the red is very slight in color. It's somewhat rare, but its out there. There are different leaf forms of this plant, and it also depends on growing conditions.

Since you are in Dallas, you should hook up with the Dallas/Ft worth plant club. Good way to get free plants and free professional advice.

If what you got was potted, it was emmersed grown. hydroponic grown tenellus from Florida Aquatic nurseries. Their tenellus is a wider leaf. The thin leaf tenellus is imported into this country. thats what I have. Only the thin leaf becomes red, and it doesn't always. Some people think the red is a genetic defect.

How long has the tank been set up and when did you plant it?

The N is ok.....must be in the tap water, correct?

Len