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Re: Hygrophila species
> From: bhoffma1 at ix_netcom.com (Robert Hoffman )
> Date: Sat, 2 Sep 1995 08:26:36 -0400
> Subject: Aponogeton madagascariensis
>
> >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.
I have a very similar setup to what you have described above except it's
a 25 gal with 3-15 watt bulbs all on for 10 hours & I use all Dupla
fertilizer. I have found that Hygrophila polysperma grows like a weed!
I tried growing H. corymbosa & H. difformis in this tank about a year
ago & they did not do well. Do you want to trade some of your H. corymbosa
for some of my H. polysperma?! I have grown crypt wendtii in my tank &
it did very well & provided a nice dark red contrast. It grows quite
slowly though compared to the other plants (I have apon. crispus, rotala,
ludwigia, bacopa & some val in there also).
Joanne.
>
> 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
P.S. regrarding native plants: I went back to the lake where I had collected
some plants earlier this week. I saw more stragly looking elodea & upon
close inspection saw that it was covered with what looks like a lime deposit.
I was reading in The Optimum Aquarium that elodea is a plant that is pretty
good at biogenic decalcification (using the bonded carbon in carbonates
present in high pH water) and I'm wondering if during this process the leaves
get covered with CaO? Any thoughts/knowledge on this?