Unhealthy Hairgrass

**Verminator** · 16th Jun 2008, 16:10

Did yours take a few weeks to settle in before growth started. I've just planted HG in my tank just over a week ago and so far there is no growth. Some old leaves are browning and dieing off but no new noticable runners. Mine is Eleocharis Parvula. So far its still in its original clumping how i planted them.

**StanChung** · 16th Jun 2008, 16:27

it started sprouting runners within a week. You do have to start with healthy plants in the 1st place. In my case I used my emersed stocks.

**Verminator** · 16th Jun 2008, 16:33

Mine were in transport for 13 days, and looked a bit droopy and lifeless after 13 days in the dark in a box. There green again in my tank now, just not showing fresh growth as of yet. I'm hoping in next week, or coming weeks atleast that it starts to spread. I'm desperate for a lawn affect of it in my tank. All other plants are growing, albeit slowly there still growing.

**alechim** · 16th Jun 2008, 18:12

Originally Posted by StanChung

I think add more light. 48W for a 2ft tank is just adequate. I have 230W on my 3ft 4x30W, 2X55W-8hours and they are growing well-pearling!

My fert routine. Twice weekly K and Step 2 as per manufacturer's recommendation and ECA squirts in between together with Green Gain. Soil is Amazonia.

As I understand it, the old leaves/needles are browning. This is natural, just trim it. Hope this helps.

Cropped from one of my full tank pics.

Just to add that this was achieved in 2 months.

mine were never like that after 2 months..
i does K twice a day and step 2 everyday with green bacter back then when I used ADA ferts..newer leaves are this green but older leaves are dark green and with spots of brown. And the perportion of new leaves to old are probably 1-10..very bad shape..

**alechim** · 17th Jun 2008, 10:12

Update!

Just got back to office today and found my HG definitely getting greener and the darker greens ones are reducing. Rate of growth is tack faster too. But still some of the HG are uprooted, keeps me wondering if its the SAE, Yamato shrimps or my RAM are the culprits.

**Verminator** · 17th Jun 2008, 17:05

It'll be the SAE in the night. They're pesky blighters like that. Swimming around scavenging not really caring much for the plants. Atleast mine do anyway, so i'd assume its the same in yours.

**alechim** · 17th Jun 2008, 20:47

Right, I had isolated it and see any destruction tomorrow

**StanChung** · 18th Jun 2008, 04:16

Use small SAE, they are good at keeping the HG clean from hairy algae. Try ADA's Green Gain. Magic stuff IMHO. But IME will make red plants temporarily green as well!

**alechim** · 18th Jun 2008, 06:01

mine grew from a tiny one to a gigantic one

**StanChung** · 18th Jun 2008, 07:14

I have a retirement home in the porch. They're the size of my denisonii's. LOL.

**blue33** · 18th Jun 2008, 08:58

Originally Posted by alechim

mine were never like that after 2 months..
i does K twice a day and step 2 everyday with green bacter back then when I used ADA ferts..newer leaves are this green but older leaves are dark green and with spots of brown. And the perportion of new leaves to old are probably 1-10..very bad shape..

You does K twice a day? Isnt it too much, too much of K will kill your shrimps! I had experienced that when i try to dose more of K to see the effect.

**zenscape** · 18th Jun 2008, 09:55

Hairgrass grows like weeds and not many have experienced HG stunt.

The key is to keep NPK sufficient, co2 and light on the high side plus constant trimming.

I read from the thread starter that his co2 was at 2 bps. I don't know how would it translate to PPM but to me it was certainly low. Add higher light if there is an option.

**alechim** · 18th Jun 2008, 14:43

oops, I meant I dosed brighty K twice a week

zenscape - my HG does not grow like weeds, I had tried high CO2 + high light (74watt T5 on a 2ft tank) but really no help.

**blue33** · 18th Jun 2008, 17:10

You can try trimming 1/3 from the tips. I also dose some Magnesium Sulphate, it helps in the grow!

**alechim** · 18th Jun 2008, 19:33

Originally Posted by blue33

You can try trimming 1/3 from the tips. I also dose some Magnesium Sulphate, it helps in the grow!

trimmed before, but my HG are like only an inch to an inch half long. And the growth is not really that "grow like wild fire"

**StanChung** · 18th Jun 2008, 22:17

A picture perhaps? A pic of the other plants can help us ID the cause.

**torque6** · 18th Jun 2008, 23:34

I have completed my BGA treatments for about a week, trimmed several HG and dead leaves from the blackout with myacin. Dosing the original ferts regime given to me by Peter and I'm seeing new shoots coming up strongly from the soil. Though not as in the same thickness as Stan's.

**StanChung** · 18th Jun 2008, 23:40

It's good to hear it's coming out strongly. It should be exponential if you continue to increase dosage of ferts etc as it grows. The manufacturer's recommendation
IMHO is low for a tank that's mature.