Cryptocoryne beckettii?

[Mooch28]

Has anyone grown this plant. If so, how tall do they get, and do they attract algae easily at all. Also, do they get bright red, or a greenish-red?

Thanks.

[pl*co]

I have never grown this particular cryptocoryne, but my plant book says is olive green (no red) and grows to 6 in. max. No info about attracting algae. I think it's more about light and the water quality where algae is concerned.

[Mooch28]

I have never grown this particular cryptocoryne, but my plant book says is olive green (no red) and grows to 6 in. max. No info about attracting algae. I think it's more about light and the water quality where algae is concerned.

huum, thats strage, beucase i saw one in the store today and it had greenish-brown leaves, like in this picture......

http://www.tropica.com/default.asp

[tanker]

Has anyone grown this plant. If so, how tall do they get, and do they attract algae easily at all. Also, do they get bright red, or a greenish-red?

I have about 8-10 of them. Been in tank for almost 3-4 years. They are a dark redish-olive color (darker on top then bottom of leaf) and about 4 inches tall. I think there are more then one kind, some maybe more green.

[Mooch28]

I have about 8-10 of them. Been in tank for almost 3-4 years. They are a dark redish-olive color (darker on top then bottom of leaf) and about 4 inches tall. I think there are more then one kind, some maybe more green.

Thanks. How much light do you have though? Im just surprised they only grew 4 inches in 4 years, when they are supposed to hit around 6-8 inches.

[SnakeIce]

its the whole space and light thing that affects the way plants grow. if you put your crypts widely spaced and have good light they might not grow that tall but turn their leaves horazontal to catch the light. I got some beckettii recently that had grown thick in the 125 gallon tank they were in befor being brought to the store. the leaves the largest ones had when I got them reach up to a foot tall but the new leaves that are growing after I planted them are under 6". less crowding equals a shorter plant.

My beckettii's old leaves have olive green middles with dusty rose edges, the newer leaves are all dusty rose, with the undersides abit darker- sort of a nice deep wine color.

green deffinatly isn't the most prominent color on these plants.

[Mooch28]

its the whole space and light thing that affects the way plants grow. if you put your crypts widely spaced and have good light they might not grow that tall but turn their leaves horazontal to catch the light. I got some beckettii recently that had grown thick in the 125 gallon tank they were in befor being brought to the store. the leaves the largest ones had when I got them reach up to a foot tall but the new leaves that are growing after I planted them are under 6". less crowding equals a shorter plant.

My beckettii's old leaves have olive green middles with dusty rose edges, the newer leaves are all dusty rose, with the undersides abit darker- sort of a nice deep wine color.

green deffinatly isn't the most prominent color on these plants.

Thanks snake. Ill be putting it in a rather congetsted area, so i hope it grows no more then 4-6 inches!

Sorry, but one more question. Like other crypts, do these need a long accumilation period before they start growing, or do they start growing right away when given enough light, C02 and nutrients?

Currently i have 3.7 watts per gallon, with pressurized C02. Im fertilizing regularily, and adding root tabs montly!

[pl*co]

huum, thats strage, beucase i saw one in the store today and it had greenish-brown leaves, like in this picture...... - Mooch28

Hmm.. dunno 'bout that pic. The plant looks half dead. :D At any rate, olive green is green with a bit of brown in it.

Try this one.

http://www.aquariophilie.org/pages/plante_cryptocoryne_beckettii.php

Here are two images that look completely different from one another, one of which looks more like the link you posted for.

http://www.akvariumas.lt/augalai/araceae/Cryptocoryne_beckettii.shtml

and...

http://www.antilo.com/acuario2/plantas_de_acuario/cryptocoryne_beckettii/

I would go by what you saw today. :)

[Mooch28]

Hmm.. dunno 'bout that pic. The plant looks half dead. :D At any rate, olive green is green with a bit of brown in it.

Try this one.

http://www.aquariophilie.org/pages/plante_cryptocoryne_beckettii.php

Here are two images that look completely different from one another, one of which looks more like the link you posted for.

http://www.akvariumas.lt/augalai/araceae/Cryptocoryne_beckettii.shtml

and...

http://www.antilo.com/acuario2/plantas_de_acuario/cryptocoryne_beckettii/

I would go by what you saw today. :)



Haha, seems like it comes in many different variations. I suppose your tank conditions, lighting, ferts, etc highly enfleunce they way they look.....

Thanks.

[tanker]

Sorry, but one more question. Like other crypts, do these need a long accumilation period before they start growing, or do they start growing right away when given enough light, C02 and nutrients?

Currently i have 3.7 watts per gallon, with pressurized C02. Im fertilizing regularily, and adding root tabs montly!

I have 384 watts of PC lights in my 100gal. I have a CO2 tank set for about 15 bubbles every 10 seconds. Lights on 10 hours everyday. I think my Crypto B. is at maximum height. I started with about 4-5 palnts. They do multiply but I give the new plants away. I have never had any Crypt die-off (Crypt rot).

[Karnaaj]

How does one plant have the ability to attract algae more than another? Either you have have algae or you don't. The type of plant has nothing to do with it.

[RTR]

Not quite true. There are significant differences in the leaf surface which makes the plant more or less hospitable to algae anchorage.

[Mooch28]

Not quite true. There are significant differences in the leaf surface which makes the plant more or less hospitable to algae anchorage.

Ya exactly. Plus, plants that suck in nutrients more quickly are sometimes less suseptible to algae from my experience......

[SnakeIce]

my exp with crypts is that they will take anywhere from 2 weeks to a month to settle in befor they start growing. it also depends on how they were grown befor you get them, if they were grown emersed then it takes a little longer to adjust.

if you are getting plants to outcompete algae crypts arn't what you should start out with even if the goal of the tank is to end up with just crypts.