How tall can balansae's grow to and how do they propagate?

[grey_fox]

Just a question.

How long do crypt. balanasaes grow to and do they propagate with runners like vallisnerias? I am thinking of having the background plants changed from vallisneria to balansaes but need to know if they can grow really long?

[Aquaspot World]

Very long! But most of them reach about 1.5ft at most. They will spread via rhizomes. But they are dead slow compared to what a Vallisneria can do. So you need to plant rather heavily at the start.
Hope this helps.

[grey_fox]

Can't plant them into the substrate or do you have to tie them down? Currently my vallisnerias are about 2.5 ft long...

[ranmasatome]

both methods work..

[Aquaspot World]

Can't plant them into the substrate or do you have to tie them down?

Yes, they are Crypts so just plant them like any other Crypts.

[Xema]

I have gotten C. crispatula var. balansae with over 80 cm long.



C. crispatula var. balansae and Vallisneria don´t have the same propagation method. First one grows getting a big rhizome under the soil, from that rhizome mass emerge some new plants. Vallisneria sends runners, a specialiced stem to search new better place to grow.

To get a fast C. crispatula var. balansae growth you need a rich soil under the gravel.

Greets from Spain

[grey_fox]

80 cm balansae? I like! I find that vallisnerias get a bit messy once the runners start coming out which is pretty much a chore to dig up, cut and have them replanted in. Currently the vallisneria in the tank has spread from (originally planed on the left side of my tank) the left and ALL the way to the right, front, diagonally, etc which I have to prune, dig up and replant every 3-4 days.

Hmm, Xema is indeed Mr. Crypt here.