I'm having difficulties growing them too, I think.
Here's mine after 7weeks:
And it's my first "high tech" plant tank and I jumped straight to HC. After awhile I really think I should have gone for either glosso or Monte Carlo when I decided to go for a planted tank. I started the fish keeping hobby early this year, so I am definitely a beginner.
I only know now that I lack of proper plant "growth" lighting. Mine atm is 6500K and 8000K, what kelvin temperature do you recommend?
@torque6 help me see are my HCs doing ok? Advise needed, thanks in advance!
Will post another close up image. (:
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Here's a close up
Browning, but could be transition.
This is what mine looks like when I grew HC 10 years ago. This was my competition tank, IAPLC (first time so, I join for fun). I did mine the Dry Start Method for 2 months before flooding the tank. Tom Barr from Planted Tank forum gave advise that HC is able to transit better if roots are established, so i follow strictly. That time no LED, so mine is those 18watt Osram PL lights. Instead of ADA soil, I used GEX shrimp and plant soil, because no money. Tank is injected with co2, but not sure what bps. I have lots of rotala stem plants on the back (fast growing) to take up ammonia/ nitrate to minimise algae.
I have never attempted iwagumi (rock scape), because I think no stem plants or floaters and just rely on HC growth to manage algae quite difficult. My method without DSM would be get those lower PAR lights (a few sets) and grow HC slowly, then remove the stem plants when HC starts to fill in. May take 3-5 months compared to using high light which from observation takes 3-5 weeks.
Last edited by torque6; 1st Aug 2017 at 02:37.
Dose your usual NPK, iron, trace elements. Split your schedule etc, monday xx ml KNO3, tues xx grams Potassium Sulphate, Wed dose trace etc.
Add root monster or seachem root tabs beside the HC patch. You can break the tabs into smaller bits and insert in the substrate.
Do frequent but small water changes, about 10% when you see algae. Manually remove algae immediately when you see it. Especially BGA.
May be hard to do delicately, but you need to cut away those dead or brown HC leaves if it expands from small clumps to big patches. If HC still not rooted deep, don't try. Let the brown leaves float up naturally.
C02 remain unchange, monitor the left and right side HC growth, cause I think you put those 2 halogen type lights as support for your main IKEA lights, so centre may get more light than the corners. 6500 or 8000k is fine as intensity of the light is more important.
Need not change light set now because you may need to spend more money. Monitor growth first for the next 8-12 weeks, keep track of those on the left and right as mentioned above.
Small tank is alot of work. Good luck.
Last edited by torque6; 1st Aug 2017 at 21:43.
Remember not to seal up the tank completely. Leave a 1-2 cm gap. Water should be same as substrate level. Mist once per day if possible.
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