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