MANY MANY Queries about Echinodorus sp

[doppelbanddwarf]

Hi guys i've recently taken an interest in echinodorus sp plants. I would like to set up an echinodorus tank for apistogrammas. On the whole it would be like a Amazon stream/riverbank setup.

I only know a bit about echinodorus sp plants and would need quite a bit of help here. I think it would be best if i list them down one by one.

1. Is it ok to have echinodorus sp plants in a standard 2 ft tank?
2. Thickness of substrate
3. Can i use only AQUACLAY as substrate?
4. Would a tank in direct sunlight beside a window provide sufficient lighting?
5. Does ROOT MONSTER work?
6. Can i have Sturisoma sp (aka whiptail cat) in the tank?
7. Can echinodorus do well in a low pH (pH5-6) tank?
8. Can i plant them in seperate plastic containers (the tauhuay type) and bury container into substrate?
9. Any other tips on growing the plants.

Thanks a lot.



Chongyu

[StanChung]

Hi Chongyu,
1.Echinodorus are large plants save for tennelus, quadricostatus, angustifolia and a handful of rare hybrids. A 2 ft tank is rather small for echinodorus. IMHO there's two types, echinodorus that creep and don't creep.
2.2inch for tennelus, 4 inch for larger species.
3.They are rather not picky about substrate though they do better with a bit more calcium in it.
4.Who dares say direct sunlight is not enough light?
The problem is the position of the light. The plant will grow towards the light. so if the sunlight is coming at an angle from the back then your plant will appear to grow backwards. Sunlight is mostly algae issue.
5.Root monster, You'll see the plant attach lots of roots on it and seems to suck it dry. Works IMHO.
6.Sturisoma's are ok.
7.Not sure about all of them, at ph5.8-6 my horemani is doing well, but not my rubin.
8.You can till it's root system exceeds the size of the tub. It will stay somewhat smaller if it the tub is limiting.
9.You can keep them small by cutting it's roots.

[doppelbanddwarf]

Wow thanks for the answers. Anyway happy chinese new year to all. So sturisoma will not do any damage to the leaves beacause i heard that ottos do like to bite on amazon sword leaves.
How much root monster per plant should i put and how should i put it.

[|squee|]

Whiptails (sturisoma) and otos are different... otos do not touch plant leaves as far as I know. Echinodorus' leaves are rather tough too.

Root monsters can be placed randomly around the tank, or perhaps 1 root monster near 2 plants or 1 per plant.

[doppelbanddwarf]

Whiptails (sturisoma) and otos are different... otos do not touch plant leaves as far as I know. Echinodorus' leaves are rather tough too.

Root monsters can be placed randomly around the tank, or perhaps 1 root monster near 2 plants or 1 per plant.

Oh i just wanted to make sure that sturisomas won't do damage to the echinodorus leaves.
Read on some websites that otos like the leaves of amazon swords and may overgraze them. Yup. Haha i'm also not sure whether its true.

[StanChung]

Bristlenose may damage leaves but sturisomas and otos are light eaters. Never had issue with the latter two.
Just look at the mouth and you will see the difference!

[valice]

Bristlenose will definitely feed off the Echinodorus. I am currently providing E.bleheri as fresh food for them. And I see lots of holes in the leaves.

[murinus]

I'm having ottos with my amazon swords and so far there has been no problems with them damaging the leaves

[doppelbanddwarf]

Seems like i got it wrong. Maybe i'll put some 2 small sturisomas still. I like the way they swim.

[juggler]

Bristlenose will definitely feed off the Echinodorus. I am currently providing E.bleheri as fresh food for them. And I see lots of holes in the leaves.

Really? I have one 3" bristle-nose. Did not notice anything unusual happening to my E.bleheri. Or maybe there are a lot of algae to mop up in my 5ft tank?

[valice]

Maybe I didn't feed enough. Had 8 plecos in that tank, of which 3 are Ancistrus sp.
So far, they had decimated 3 bunches of Echinodorus.

[StanChung]

I think some people's experiences may vary with regards to bristlenose. Mine did some damage but I don't keep plecos in my planted tanks anymore as they are too disruptive. Slashing everything with their tail, making a mess of the white sand.
My bristlenose is now a fat 6" long!

[juggler]

Maybe I didn't feed enough. Had 8 plecos in that tank, of which 3 are Ancistrus sp.
So far, they had decimated 3 bunches of Echinodorus.

Ya. Mine is the Ancistrus sp. from Gan's. He said they are plant-safe.
Maybe I will take note if the plants start thinning out.

Cheers!

[ronald_t80]

8. Can i plant them in seperate plastic containers (the tauhuay type) and bury container into substrate?




Chongyu[/quote]

Just want to check with all people here...what the container for? preventing the plants to spread???

[StanChung]

For easy rescaping perhaps or like a nursery?

[valice]

Echinodorus sp are famous for having very extensive root systems. So maybe chongyu is thinking of using the pots to restraint the root system from running all over the place.

Usually doing a rescape with Echinodorus results in a hiroshima in your tank due to their root system.

[ronald_t80]

oh i see.....thanks Valice....so i guess its to prevent them from spreading too much....hehe.

Will adopt this idea next time...

[doppelbanddwarf]

Hi does anyone know wher eto get echinodorus sp quadricostatus. Ecoculture sold out.

[doppelbanddwarf]

Hi i finally got echinodorus sp quadricostatus from Colourful Aquarium. Also many thanks to brother CK Yeo for the plants.

[StanChung]

i like shopping at Colourful for plants. There's a lot of gems hidden there. Just beware of hair algae in heir mosses.