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Thread: Cryptocoryne parva and Jap Hairgrass Lawn on Onyx Sand

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    Cryptocoryne parva and Jap Hairgrass Lawn on Onyx Sand

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    I am trying to achieve Cryptocoryne parva and Jap hairgrass lawn in a low-tech setup.

    Can this be achieved with onyx sand, or GeX/ADA would be a better option to do so?

    Winston
    Rescaping for 2008 CNY
    Desert and Cactus...

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    I'd say go with Gex. I tried on both sand and I feel they grow better in Gex.

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    i have foreground full of c.parva.
    ADA soil and dennerle sand.
    surprisingly those on dennerle sand looks better

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    I always feel that Crypts need rich substrate to grow well.
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    But I thought ADA sand is very rich is fertilizers. With added power sand, I think parva will grow very well.

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    Quote Originally Posted by uklau View Post
    I always feel that Crypts need rich substrate to grow well.
    What is your opinion on Onyx with Crypts? I am quite reluctant to use ADA/GeX as they breaks down over time into "mud"...

    I think Onyx is rich in Fe, which is good for crypts as well, right?

    Winston
    Desert and Cactus...

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    What is Onyx? I didnt see this soil before

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    Quote Originally Posted by winston77 View Post
    What is your opinion on Onyx with Crypts? I am quite reluctant to use ADA/GeX as they breaks down over time into "mud"...

    I think Onyx is rich in Fe, which is good for crypts as well, right?

    Winston
    If only I could show you the pictures (has been removed as it is an old thread), bclee's tank substrate is Onyx sand and the crypts grew like weed. http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...d.php?p=129721

    Note that your tank pH will be on the higher side when using Onyx sand as it is rich in carbonate.

    William, it's Seachem Onyx sand.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Quixotic View Post
    If only I could show you the pictures (has been removed as it is an old thread), bclee's tank substrate is Onyx sand and the crypts grew like weed. http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...d.php?p=129721

    Note that your tank pH will be on the higher side when using Onyx sand as it is rich in carbonate.

    William, it's Seachem Onyx sand.
    Thanks for recommending this thread. Is it better to use basefert such as JBL, or using cocopeat/peatmoss for low-tech setup?

    Also, any idea where purchase onyx sand?

    Winston
    Desert and Cactus...

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    Quote Originally Posted by winston77 View Post
    What is your opinion on Onyx with Crypts? I am quite reluctant to use ADA/GeX as they breaks down over time into "mud"...

    I think Onyx is rich in Fe, which is good for crypts as well, right?

    Winston
    Winston, I'm growing Crypts & Crinum on Seachem Onyx in my low tech tank (with Excel dosing). They are doing well & never melted.

    I observed better plant growth (plants are sending out more new shoots) when I inserted Wonder-Gro Root+ tablets.
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    Quote Originally Posted by uklau View Post
    Winston, I'm growing Crypts & Crinum on Seachem Onyx in my low tech tank (with Excel dosing). They are doing well & never melted.

    I observed better plant growth (plants are sending out more new shoots) when I inserted Wonder-Gro Root+ tablets.
    Thanks for your advice.
    Desert and Cactus...

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    Onyx sand can be used on it's own. You can mix with other substrate, but I would probably avoid mixing with other types that will has pH lowering properties. For bclee's tank, he used peat with Onyx and faced some problems initially.

    You should be able to get Onyx sand from NA.

    But the thing about C. parva is that they are pretty slow growers to start with. So if you are going low tech, regardless of the soil used, you have to set your expectations and may not see much growth (as compared to CO2 enriched tanks).

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    I am seriously thinking of using the method PlantBrain introduced in the thread below:
    http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=32708

    Just wondering will this help to promote the growth of crypt parva and jap hairgrass? Rushing to create a lawn effect before CNY'08
    Desert and Cactus...

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    Oops! Thought my PC hung... out of sudden i posted so many duplicates...

    Sorry Mod...
    Desert and Cactus...

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    Ah okay, trying the initial setup emersed.

    I don't really know the growth rate for emersed C. parva, but from the experiences shared by members here, C. parva generally looks to be growing considerably slower than most Cryptocoryne spp., even in CO2 enriched tanks. Good luck.

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    Another question:

    If using the initial emersed setup method, once I filled up the tank with water, will there be serious melting effect due to conversion from emersed to submersed?
    Desert and Cactus...

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    There will certainly be some melting. However, in my experience, C. parva that I bought from LFS (which is supposedly emersed) show little melting when planted in my low tech tank (substrate is lapis sand). Let's see what other members' experiences are.

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    I have C. parva (from Teo farm) in my low tech tank (GEX soil). My experience is slow growth and little melting...

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    I have planted c.parva in my previous setup, in fact I still have some remaining in my current setup.
    On the contray to most, I find my c.parva growing rather fast, no melting as well. I uses ADA aquasoil and lapis sand.
    When I did my rescaping, the c.parva that I remove, have roots spreading all over the whole tank.

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    My situation is that my crypts flourished well in Onyx sand and my jap hairgrass can only spread like wild fire in ADA AS.

    Its weird.
    Studying the water chemistry and nutrients is a science.
    Knowing what plants to get and how to use them is an art.
    Aquascaping is a marriage of art and science, the logical and emotional.

    -Calvin

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