Advise to grow HC

**mecedesfish** · 4th Oct 2005, 17:34

Hi everyone, I will be setting a new 4x2x2 tank in abt a mth time.

Thinking to get HC from Teo but duno how to grow it as a foreground. Had try Hairgrass, Glosso and App but only failed badly to grow with HC.

Pls give me some wonder tip because I think HC is very expensive and hoping that i could successfully grow on my new setup with DW on the Taiwan moss.

By the way, Can also advise me on ADA or Danerill (can remember the spell) soil to use. which is a better choice. Lapis sand it out as i had try it .

HC brothers, kindly give me your advise and tips pls.

Thanks

**jakey** · 4th Oct 2005, 17:48

i'm using lapis mix with amazoian. my HC are all growing very well. most importantly is your lighting and water temp. ample co2 is also required

**andrewtyr** · 4th Oct 2005, 18:37

they are slow growing, so if you are thinking of starting with little as foreground, you might be alittle disappointed.
Also, have a large plant mass if u intend to go high light, for it might cause an algae boom.

**StanChung** · 4th Oct 2005, 18:50

hi mecedes,

there's a few ways to grow this as carpet.
for me...if you buy it as tubs[like from tropika] just remove it rinse a little. put into area you want to plant and sprinkle some gravel on top to make it sink.

if you have limited budget you can use same method but in smaller cubes [stretch it lightly to increase it's area size!]and plant them apart.

in time the plant will creep and fill up the blanks...

**Phillipians** · 4th Oct 2005, 18:59

hi, my HC is growing surely but slowly. The main reason is ample dosing... lights (need not be too high though) and co2. Temperature at 28 degrees, achievable through fan, is sufficient. Yup and ADA is good is you have enough $$$. And like what the rest said, it grows real slow... for 4x2x2, get a few lawns and plant it in batches so apart so that in a few months it should creep and fill up the space

**izzat** · 4th Oct 2005, 19:32

Lapis or ADA or Dennerlle, it does matter but to a certain extend.
If your using Lapis gravel, make sure that you are dosing quite "richly" in the water column with liquid fertilisers.

I favour ADA, so it goes for me.
Ample CO2, fertilisation and cool water helps

**andrewtyr** · 4th Oct 2005, 19:34

actually I think seasoned Lapis is the best. ADA is ok to a certain extent. Yes, it brings the pH down. For my 2nd tank, I have never measured its pH but it is doing well with lapis.

**mecedesfish** · 4th Oct 2005, 21:19

Originally Posted by standoyo

hi mecedes,

there's a few ways to grow this as carpet.
for me...if you buy it as tubs[like from tropika] just remove it rinse a little. put into area you want to plant and sprinkle some gravel on top to make it sink.

if you have limited budget you can use same method but in smaller cubes [stretch it lightly to increase it's area size!]and plant them apart.

in time the plant will creep and fill up the blanks...

I didn't buy it in tub. Get it from Teo. Is it the same plant (HC). Just sprinkle some ADA soil on top to make it sink..........Frankly, i did the method and a few days it turn brown slowly die of natural death.

I tried to find the cause. I am thinking that it could be the fishes:- Altum Angel.

**mecedesfish** · 4th Oct 2005, 21:34

Originally Posted by andrewtyr

they are slow growing, so if you are thinking of starting with little as foreground, you might be alittle disappointed.
Also, have a large plant mass if u intend to go high light, for it might cause an algae boom.

My light 2 nos 4x36 PL.

When I had a full grow glosso in my tank, someone told me that having 2 ft ht using PL light might not penetrate to the base after abt 2 to 3 mths. So it is best to use a fluroscent tube, it also help to lower in some extent of the water temp.

My guess is the HC and glosso are a light demand plant. Hope I am right.

Regards

**mecedesfish** · 4th Oct 2005, 21:36

Originally Posted by aCe^bOwleRz

Lapis or ADA or Dennerlle, it does matter but to a certain extend.
If your using Lapis gravel, make sure that you are dosing quite "richly" in the water column with liquid fertilisers.

I favour ADA, so it goes for me.
Ample CO2, fertilisation and cool water helps

Just ADA soil. Is there other base fert that needed?

Thanks

**StanChung** · 4th Oct 2005, 22:13

hi mecedes,
i've often noticed shock with plants in new environment...i let it float for a few days before planting[depending on plant's condition-worse longer] this way the damaged roots/leaves while handling can be removed[manually or by shrimps or fishes]. less rot...and healthy roots are longer[easier to plant for glosso]

same goes for hc?

**jakey** · 4th Oct 2005, 22:53

actually my hc grows quite fast. within 3 weeks it grows almost the full lawn le.

if u got the $$, there is actually a method that helps it to grow faster. use PFLANZENGOLD 7. after i start dosing, i think the growth is damn fast. the growth is like damn fast. pity i didn't took any photo of the growth rate

**andrewtyr** · 4th Oct 2005, 23:11

Originally Posted by jakey

actually my hc grows quite fast. within 3 weeks it grows almost the full lawn le.

if u got the $$, there is actually a method that helps it to grow faster. use PFLANZENGOLD 7. after i start dosing, i think the growth is damn fast. the growth is like damn fast. pity i didn't took any photo of the growth rate

That's dennerle, correct? not cheap lol

**jakey** · 5th Oct 2005, 00:21

yeah, it's from denerrle. it is supposely to enhance plant growth

**mecedesfish** · 5th Oct 2005, 06:55

Originally Posted by jakey

actually my hc grows quite fast. within 3 weeks it grows almost the full lawn le.

if u got the $$, there is actually a method that helps it to grow faster. use PFLANZENGOLD 7. after i start dosing, i think the growth is damn fast. the growth is like damn fast. pity i didn't took any photo of the growth rate

May i know where do U get your HC from . Can you sell me some to start or any brother can help ? I will use Gold 7.

THanks

**|squee|** · 5th Oct 2005, 10:24

I give up on HC.

It's been about two months since I bought mine. I've seen growth, but the growth is slower than the staghorn algae that's now dominating them. From a 10x10cm patch, I've now a probably 5x5cm patch or less.

ADA Africana soil, CO2, 36W lighting, fertilising through EI. Nanas crypts and Cyperus Helferi are growing, but not this plant. People have told me that by now, I should have a full foreground.

=/ I hate the taste of failure.

It has to be something I'm doing wrong. The staghorn is totally unremoveable without uprooting the plugs of HC. Guess if I want to I've to start all over again.

**mecedesfish** · 5th Oct 2005, 11:36

Originally Posted by |squee|

I give up on HC.

It's been about two months since I bought mine. I've seen growth, but the growth is slower than the staghorn algae that's now dominating them. From a 10x10cm patch, I've now a probably 5x5cm patch or less.

ADA Africana soil, CO2, 36W lighting, fertilising through EI. Nanas crypts and Cyperus Helferi are growing, but not this plant. People have told me that by now, I should have a full foreground.

=/ I hate the taste of failure.

It has to be something I'm doing wrong. The staghorn is totally unremoveable without uprooting the plugs of HC. Guess if I want to I've to start all over again.

Hi Squee,
Like you, i had also failed many times. This new set up, I will try to ask all brothers that been of expert with HC.

Pls advise.

**StanChung** · 5th Oct 2005, 12:57

sometimes it's the failures that leads us to become 'experts'...haha...i've failed with hc 3 times also...i can't say i'm expert though [can be termed not beginner la

]
but at least the plant is growing and spreading...slooooowly...arrghh! that's why i'm hunting like you for stocks to help it cover lawn...