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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #602
>
> From: krombhol at felix_teclink.net (Paul Krombholz)
> Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 14:14:36 -0500
> Subject: Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V2 #597
>
> - ------------------------------
>
[snip, snip, snip]
> If you have a tank that gets sun, and the plants get the pH up to 8.0 or
> higher, you should stay with plants like Vallisneria, Sagitteria,
> Ceratophyllum, Eigeria (Elodea), Najas, and Echinodorus. Even in this
> group there will be differences in ability to get CO2. I suspect that
> Eigeria and Najas could win out over Echinodorus, for example. Hygrophila
> is a good indicator plant. If it doesn't grow in this tank, then don't
> even think about trying any of the Crypts. In general, plants that grow
> well emersed, but can also grow submersed will need higher CO2 levels than
> those which are more fully adapted to submersed growth.
>
[snip]
I understand the reasoning here that crypts shouldn't be tried in a tank
where hyrophila fails. What puzzles me is that I have a sunlit tank w/o
added CO2 where the pH exceeds 9 and hygrophilla has failed but where C.
wendtii (? <shrug>) and C. balansae thrive along with Elodea,
Ceratophyllum and Vallisneria. The wendtii in fact have been in nearly
continuous, submersed bloom for the last 6 weeks.
Is it possible that these species could store CO2 at night while the
others respire, then use it in the day (what I think I've read described as
acid crassularian metabolism) or that they may be capable of getting CO2
through their roots like Isoetes ferns?
>
> Paul Krombholz Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS 39174
> In Jackson, Mississippi with sunny, pleasant spring weather.
>
Roger Miller
Too curious to keep my mouth shut.