pruning riccia

[TomFromStLouis]

At least one plant is doing well in my newer tank: the riccia.

I tied some to a rock and now find myself trimming it weekly so it does not float away. It might only be a tad over one inch thick before it starts to look like the moorings are coming loose. Does this sound right to you?

I wish I had some other location in the tank for the trimmings - it is too pretty to toss. Right now I just let the bigger pieces float near the filter tubes until I decide if my moss on another rock is going to make it.

The other weird thing about this plant is the bubbling. We have all seen the pictures with all the pearling, except so many of my other plants actually give off bubbles compared to the riccia which seems to just hold on and hoard its little oxygen production. Sorta weird.

 

[aquatic-store]

Looks neat doesnt it!!! I love ricca there is so much you can do with that little plant!!!
marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

 

[djlen]

I like the look of it too. I use these little hair nets I pick up at the pharmacy. I just lay the riccia on the rock, wrap the hair net around it and pull it tight on the bottom. If I don't keep it short the bottom layer browns and dies from lack of light, so keep it as short as possible.
Len

 

[TomFromStLouis]

Do you get to remove the hair net in a week or two djlen? Or does the riccia entangle itself so much that your tank has permanent hairnets?

The fish line I used is apparently in there for good - I cannot even see a single strand. The cotton string I used to tie some moss to a more vertical rock ended up so entangled with the moss that removing the too-visible sting pulled all the moss off the rock. Might be time for this crewcut guy to buy some hairnets!

 

[djlen]

No, I don't remove the hair net. Riccia is actually a collection of tiny plants the when submerged always need something to hold them in place. So as long as you have the plant submerged the hair net stays. Try to find the "clear" hair nets rather than black or brown. Mine are so fine I never see it's there. Just trim with scissors(VERY CAREFULLY) as closely as you can so it doesn't get more than 3/4'' to 1" high.
Len

 

[Cruise Control]

Quick question Len, what are these hair nets made of? Cotton? Can cotton hair nets be used in a tank? And what are the size of the 'holes' in the hair nets?

 

[aquatic-store]

if you use cotton I think they will disentigrate
marc
Http://www.Aquatic-store.com

Co2, Plants, Substrate, Filters, Heaters, UV and more

 

[djlen]

Can't find the package around here for the life of me.......that's what happens when you get in from work at 1:30am and are so tired you can't see straight.
But, as I remember, the nets are nylon. You can find them in packs of like 3, 6, or more, for a couple of bucks. Look in the hair products section, like where the combs and stuff are.
I think the folks in the pharmacy think I'm a bit kinky. I'm in there all the time, buying hairnets, tweezers, baby droppers(for dosing ferts.), and assorted other stuff.

Len