Stargrass?

**Justikanz** · 27th Nov 2005, 03:02

Ehh... What plant is this?

Eichhornia diversifolia or Heteranthera zosterifolia?

Was told that the plant will be able to be like APP and stay low, creeping along the substrate instead of growing upwards. These particular plants had been in that height for supposedly a year or so liao leh at its previous location. But both plants mentioned above grow tall...

**michael lai** · 27th Nov 2005, 11:05

Hi Thomas,
That is heteranthera zosteraefolia, the plants in the picture looks like its just been trimmed because only the crown would look that nice. I don't know who shared with you the info but mine grows like wildfire. Ranmasatome has a tank with the plants 'stagnanted' but that tank is low tech. And being low tech, the plants would not have that 'lush' appearance. It loves light and lotsa Co2.
Hope the info helps.

**taz_boy** · 27th Nov 2005, 12:21

i done a bit of readup of star grass. it need co2 and lots of light rite...low light and co2 it will die....izzit true michael, cos initially i was thinking of getting a tub from u. but think my tank no base fert plus light is like a bit lesser than 2WPG, so dare not try this plant

**Justikanz** · 27th Nov 2005, 12:40

The clump that I have is from CS. Uncle supposedly had them in that condition (low lying) for about a year of so in a small side tank... Need to get Alfa to confirm... I am certainly hoping the plant will not suddenly decide to shoot up!

**michael lai** · 27th Nov 2005, 12:58

Originally Posted by Justikanz

The clump that I have is from CS. Uncle supposedly had them in that condition (low lying) for about a year of so in a small side tank... Need to get Alfa to confirm... I am certainly hoping the plant will not suddenly decide to shoot up!

Hi Thomas, that plant is termed as a weed in certain parts of the world, that will give you a idea what it can be.

**michael lai** · 27th Nov 2005, 13:00

Originally Posted by taz_boy

i done a bit of readup of star grass. it need co2 and lots of light rite...low light and co2 i will die....izzit true michael, cos initially i was thinking of getting a tub from u. but think my tank no base fert plus light is like a bit lesser than 2WPG, so dare not try this plant

Hi Taz,
Yes its true but you will not die from lack of light and Co2 the plants will. Just pulling a fast 1 on you. It doesn't really dies off, the plant is really resilient. It will start to wither but once expose to light again, you will see new growth in 3-4 days.

Ferts are not in priority, the light, then Co2 very important. Low light, slow growth but water parameters good it will start to crawl to the nearest light source.

**Justikanz** · 27th Nov 2005, 13:03

Originally Posted by michael lai

Hi Thomas, that plant is termed as a weed in certain parts of the world, that will give you a idea what it can be.

*Cross fingers and pray hard*... Dun shoot up... Keep lying low...!!

I am having problems with APP and is hoping they can be like APP...

**michael lai** · 27th Nov 2005, 13:25

Originally Posted by Justikanz

*Cross fingers and pray hard*... Dun shoot up... Keep lying low...!!

I am having problems with APP and is hoping they can be like APP...

Me and Wacky will also pray for you. Ke Ke...

**ranmasatome** · 27th Nov 2005, 14:11

Thomas.. depends whether your tank is high or low tech. In my tank were i dont dose anything just top up water and base ferts.. they say low for quite a whiles. they do shoot up as its their nature but just prun them and replant the tops and it'll take them ages to get up to 4inchs high again..lol.

**Justikanz** · 27th Nov 2005, 14:51

My tank mid-high tech... CO2 and occassional fertilization... Guess I have to constantly trim them... Anyway, I have to constantly trim my other plants too...

**ranmasatome** · 27th Nov 2005, 21:56

Yup...heres a pic of them in my tank.. they are the foreground plants.. but this tank no co2, no ferts, absolutely nothing!! just top up water only and maybe some overfeeding... Pardon the small leaves all around i purposely left them there. Also the background.. lol.. once done cannot be undone liao..unless i tear down the tank which is too much trouble. Think later i'll just moss the entire thing.

**taz_boy** · 27th Nov 2005, 22:10

Originally Posted by ranmasatome

Yup...heres a pic of them in my tank.. they are the foreground plants.. but this tank no co2, no ferts, absolutely nothing!! just top up water only and maybe some overfeeding... Pardon the small leaves all around i purposely left them there. Also the background.. lol.. once done cannot be undone liao..unless i tear down the tank which is too much trouble. Think later i'll just moss the entire thing.

wow, no base fert, no CO2, that's interesting....but not sure Y my E.Ten can't survive in my tank with no base fert but got co2, not sure if Startgrass able to survive, if not i would like to give it a try too.......

**Justikanz** · 27th Nov 2005, 23:22

My tank also have no base fert... And I dose Seachem Potassium, Excel and Flourish only once in a while when I remember (and the dosing amount is much less than recommended)... Besides the CO2, there's basically only the fish food and the water changes... Taz, my tank also contain tenellus, and it is spreading leh...

**ranmasatome** · 27th Nov 2005, 23:25

Err..what i meant was no liquid fertilization.. the base fert in this tank has been there for like years liao..dont even know if its still there.. got a lot of dead things burried as well..plants etc. etc. a lot o mulm on ground...rescaping is a pain cos all the mulm gets stirred up.. this tank is super mature.. fish put inside the colour sure damn swee one..

**valice** · 28th Nov 2005, 09:05

actually will the mulm be eventually act as some form of base fert? cos after a couple of years and with the accumulation of quite some amount of shit from the fauna and dead leaves and roots, empty gravel should become abit fertile rite?

**taz_boy** · 28th Nov 2005, 18:10

Originally Posted by Justikanz

My tank also have no base fert... And I dose Seachem Potassium, Excel and Flourish only once in a while when I remember (and the dosing amount is much less than recommended)... Besides the CO2, there's basically only the fish food and the water changes... Taz, my tank also contain tenellus, and it is spreading leh...

hmm...not sure lei....the tips of the tenellus turn black, slowly whole plant turn black, not sure y too....sianz 1/2