Cryptocoryne roots coming out of substrate!!

[comet]

My crypto roots are growing out of the substrate. Like coming out to breath. I am using Gex susbtrate. But the soil seems to have some mulm, I afraid it was it that clog the soil. therefore my crypto seems abit weird. Should I get a layer of gravel on top of the Gex Substrate?

[|squee|]

That's seriously weird. Any pictures?

[XnSdVd]

I have that "problem" in my tank as well, and in my case it's not that the crypts are floating, they're 5 years old and very well established. Just that it looks like the roots have hit the bottom(My substrate is 12cm deep!) and are growing towards the surface.

Comet, is that the case with your tank?

[comet]

here's the pic. its not other plants, just the root emerge. hmm, I not sure about it. But I don't think my plants have hit the bottom.

[StanChung]

It came up for water? No, seriously I've seen this happen in my tanks as well, it's a little strange to me but it was hidden from view so I didn't bother with it.

I suspect it came up for nutrients in water. Just my 1¢.

[illumbomb]

Maybe your substrate is not fertile enough (which may not be a problem) resulting in the crypts reaching their roots out into the water column to extract whatever nutrients theyrequire from there......

[AquaObsession]

Or your substrate not thick enough?

[andrewtyr]

I also have a similar case for my c.usteriana as well. It is very well established, having been with me for 3 years. I cant say for sure what's happening, but I don't think it's anything bad.

[comet]

ya. I think is the substrate also. Not sure whether is it fertile for it. And not just a single plant, but my whole batch of crypto behave like this.

[AquaObsession]

might not be lack of fert from the substrate. My balansae did that, substrate was lapis sand, with JBL base fert and JBJ ball fert around.

[comet]

just did a re-scape of my tank today, and when I took the plants out, I saw the roots was actually very long. 1 ft. I think it just lack of rooting area.