Aponogeton madagascariensis Re: Aponogeton Mad., Laterite/Vermiculite, Native Plants

• To: aquatic-plants at actwin_com
• Subject: Aponogeton madagascariensis
• Subject: Re: Aponogeton Mad., Laterite/Vermiculite, Native Plants
• From: bhoffma1 at ix_netcom.com (Robert Hoffman )
• From: krandall at world_std.com (Karen A Randall)
• Date: Sat, 2 Sep 1995 08:26:36 -0400

>According to Claus Christensen (Tropica Denmark) the overall success 
>rate with Madagascar lace plants (long term), no matter _what_ you do 
>with them is only around 10%.

>That's not to say _other_ people shouldn't keep spending the money to 
>figure out the secret.<g>

Karen,

After 36 years of freshwater, marine, and reef aquariums, and always 
wanting to try a Apon. mad., I finally took the plunge and purchased 
one two weeks ago.  Below is a description of one of my freshwater 
aquariums:

35 gallons, 4-30 watt bulbs (2 are on for six hours, the other 2 for 15 
hours), temp. usually hovers around 78-82, gravel 3-4" with Dupla 
laterite balls and Seachem flourish tabs, water supplemented on a 
rotating basis with Seachem flourish (liquid), Thiel Plant Nutrients,  
FloraSan, Kent's Freshwater Plant Suppplement (I figure I must getting 
what the plants need among these four products), CO2 injected into 350 
Magnum with the low tech yeast method, power outside filter (no 
carbon), water changes twice a week (one 15% and the other 50%).

Ok, with this setup I have been able to successfully grow just about 
anything with the exception of the short leaved Hygrophila polysperma.  
However, the larged leaved species of Hygrophila (corymbosa?) grows 
like a weed.  For some reason H. polysperma just do not make it under 
these conditions.  At present, I am growing in this tank  H. difformis, 
H. corymbosa(?), 2 different Echinodours, Sagittaria sp., Apon. 
crispus, Ceratophyllum sp., Rotala sp., Ludwigia sp., and Bacopa sp. So 
far, I have not found any decent Cryptocoryne sp. that would compliment 
what is growing in the tank.

The Apon. mad. appears to adapted after the initial planting and three 
new leaves have grown in to weeks (each larger than the last).  I will 
post updates regarding the plant as time goes on.  However, to better 
understand the requirements of this species, does anyone have first 
hand knowledge of the environmental conditions where the species 
naturally grows (i.e., depth, light intensity, temperature (seasonal), 
substrate type, currents(?), etc.)? 

Bob 

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