anacharis: float or tie down?

[Caius]

Hi all,
I just bought some anacharis, is it better to leave it float or to tie it down? If I float it, is it better to leave it tied in a bunch or let it spread out?

It's a 20 gallon with whatever lights came with it, so low light

Caius

 

[kj5kb]

I like it weighted down, and buried in the gravel...it will eventually root. It WILL grow to up to the surface and float, too.

I suggest lights on a timer and 12-16 hours per day. Plants need rest too.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

mine attached it self to the gravel. it just depends on what you want. i planted some and let others float.

 

[daayda3]

both...
i had mine planted, but its a pain to keep down if they dont have roots yet

 

[Caius]

I suggest lights on a timer and 12-16 hours per day. Plants need rest too.

12-16 hours? Is that why I've never had luck with plants? My timer is on for 8 hours.

 

[echoofformless]

I found by accident a really cool way to grow it.

I just dropped anacharis into my SA tank last month. Some floated but some got caught amidst the driftwood and held down in a horizontal position. Then as anacharis does, it started sprouting new stalks and these are growing vertically up and out of the horizontal stalks. And on the horizontal stalks, roots have penetrated the substrate. It wouldn't float away now even if I removed the driftwood. So as long as you have something that can hold the anacharis down against its own buoyancy, you can try that out if you think it sounds like fun.

 

[kj5kb]

try 16 hours....if you get too much algae, cut it back to 12. anacharis should grow OK in lo-light if you give it ENOUGH light.