Growing C. balansae

[Mark Stahlke <mstahlke at denver_infi.net>]

Hello APDers,
    I'm struggling to grow Cryptocoryne balansae. It doesn't die but it
doesn't thrive either. I planted three nice specimens and within a week most
of the leaves melted (no big surprise there). The new growth seems stunted.
The old leaves were 12 to 18 inches long and about an inch wide, the (very
few) new leaves are only 4 to 5 inches long. The tank parameters look pretty
good and other Crypts, primarily C. wendtii, do well in this tank. Does
anyone have any tips for growing C. balansae?

Tank:
    46g bowfront (36 x 20 x 12 end 15 center)
Lighting:
    3 X 30W mixed 36 inch flourescent
Substrate:
    3 to 4 inches TexBlast supplemented with Tetra Initial Sticks
Water Quality:
    PH 6.6 - 6.8
    KH 4
    GH 9
    Ammonia, Nitrite 0
    Nitrate 5 to 8 ppm
    Phosphate < 0.05 ppm
    Temp 78F
    Change 15% weekly
Fertilizer:
    0.5 ml Flourish weekly
    1.0 ml Flourish Iron twice a week
    KNO3 as needed (have to feed the Java ferns)
    DIY CO2

Kind regards,
Mark Stahlke
Colorado's Premier Grower of Fine Algaes

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