Plant ID

[Green Baron]

Definitely a Vallisneria, most likely var natas. You can get this Val from the shop beside NA for $2~$3 a pot.

[cs_sg]

Definitely a Vallisneria, most likely var natas. You can get this Val from the shop beside NA for $2~$3 a pot.

I just bought this plant today and added to the background in my 40cm height tank.
Will the leaves of this val grow thicker as the plant gets older?
I thought it was a good substitute for long hair grass and was attracted by its narrower leaves.

[cs_sg]

Those who have grown this before, would the leaves of these Val grow thicker as the plants get older?

[ragn4rok]

They are Vallisneria nana.. You can see its detail specification and requirements in Aquarium Plants Kasselmann book.. Here is mine...



They are growing like crazy, have tons of them right now. The leaves don't grow thicker, but longer. Mine already 80 cm in length.

Regards,

Jeffrey

[Green Baron]

If you look carefully, you will see brown spots on some of the leaves. Vals have flat leaves and send out runnues. Cyperus helferi is rosetted and the cross section of the leaf is like a "V".

[Green Baron]

Those who have grown this before, would the leaves of these Val grow thicker as the plants get older?

They will not. After a while it will become quite sparse. It does not look good in a Dutch type setup. The only nice scape I have seen is when it is planted as the main plant in a tank with just driftwood or rock (with mosses growing on them) and lots of Endlers !.

[Justikanz]

Hmm... Good idea there, Gan, I am intending to start a Endler's tank... But the leaves grow too long...

[Green Baron]

Hmm... Good idea there, Gan, I am intending to start a Endler's tank... But the leaves grow too long...

Thomas,
Actually it depends in the growing condition. In my 3ft CO2 tank, it grows to almost 2 ft but in my friend's low tech tank with about 3~5 mm (yes mm) of gravels, it stays at about 12~16".

[Justikanz]

3-5mm?? How the plant root in and not float? Anyway, thanks for the good info. The intended Endler's tank is low-tech... *Yay*...

[cs_sg]

Thomas,
Actually it depends in the growing condition. In my 3ft CO2 tank, it grows to almost 2 ft but in my friend's low tech tank with about 3~5 mm (yes mm) of gravels, it stays at about 12~16".

My tank is only 40cm height. I don't have any base fert and only root monsters in a CO2 diffused tank. If I keep trimming off the leaves which grows too long from the bottom, will it hurt the plant?

[|squee|]

They will not. After a while it will become quite sparse. It does not look good in a Dutch type setup. The only nice scape I have seen is when it is planted as the main plant in a tank with just driftwood or rock (with mosses growing on them) and lots of Endlers !.

In my experience it's quite the contrary. I had some old leaves that were more wide and heavy/thick than the rest. YMMV?

[V31]

Does anyone know plant's name in the background? I'm not sure if it's micranthemum or rotala sp. green or didiplis.. but it looks great isn't it ?

[barmby]

rotala indica green!

and I am searching high and low for this plant..

[Justikanz]

Not MM? Can't tell from the pic... A little small leh...

[V31]

someone told me that it could be ludwigia brevipes

[cs_sg]

If you look carefully, you will see brown spots on some of the leaves. Vals have flat leaves and send out runnues. Cyperus helferi is rosetted and the cross section of the leaf is like a "V".

Hi Green Baron,

I've noticed that my Vals Nanas send out some runners. The leaves on the runners are different from the plant I bought. There are brown specks on the leaves and the leaves are thicker than the original plant I bought. So are they still Vals? or are they not?
I thought it could be the 'high lighting' when I had the lighting tubes shining directing above it, so I have moved the lights further from the spot where the Vals are planted now.

[ranmasatome]

That plant is definately rotala green.

Chyrl.. i think its still the same plant..