Blyxia Japonica growth

[nizz]

Hi fellas

A question on the above plant. I've just taken a look at Setiardi's pic of his tank & his blyxia, & I'm beginning to wonder if everyone's blyxia grows like his, or does yours grow many 'branches' as well? Coz mine branches A LOT (10G/72W/weekly/weekly fertilisation with Aquagro stuff fr Taiwan)...& now it's melting slightly coz of the heat...sigh...

Below is Setiardi's pic (Setiardi...hope you don't mind I borrow your pic...if u mind, I'll remove it fr my post).

If yours doesn't 'branch' much, I hope to hear your 'care' regiments for these plants, including the tank parameters & fertilisation practice...



Nizz

[setiardi]

Care? No lah.Don't care about them. But they got the benefits from me growing the hairgrass. My only secret is I used compost for garden plants as base fertilizer. Once any plant's roots got it, will grow like that. Only thing BBA also can come.He he he .......

Anyway my spec -

Tank size -4x1.5x1.5ft
Reactor - UP C02 reactor(3 ball)
C02 rate - ???(this one must try until just before your fish gasp for air!)
JBJ lighthing - 2x40w (FL arcadia) and 4x36w(PL) (14hrs!)
Fertilizer - started with ADA step 1 series and now use JBL ferropol dosage as instructed.
Water change - 25% every 3 days (max 5 days)to fend off BBA

On top of that must have lots yamato, sae and malayan trumpets snails if u can get. For the lighting 2 sets of 2x40w (FL arcadia) is enough. I a bit kiasu. Ah yes forget to mention,after adding base fert I sprinkle some of those solid iron crystals(forget brand) and oceanfree base booster pellets and layer with fine sand of 2cm deep.Hairgrass luvs sand.Got at LFS in Jurong east near hindu temple.This sand is called river sand, 10kg $15.Another plus is BBA cannot grow on the micro sand grain.

[hwchoy]

mmm.... setiardi, is this sand much finer than lonestar?

[spilopterus]

I've failed with blyxa so far.... the leaves start to melt away. Anyone got answer to why that happens?

[AnA]

Temperature may be the main problem. For the start, the plant need cooler temperture...as it started to grow, it can stand higher temperature I think. This is what happen to mine...it still grow at 29 to 30 degree.

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On 5/23/2002 12:30:00 PM

I've failed with blyxa so far.... the leaves start to melt away. Anyone got answer to why that happens?
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[setiardi]

Correct! Had this melting problem b4. Remove the heater. Actually for planted tank heater no need.

[setiardi]

hwchoy, never bought the lonestar sand b4, but the river sand is very fine sand grain. How much for 10kg of lonestar sand?

[hwchoy]

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On 5/23/2002 1:40:14 PM

hwchoy, never bought the lonestar sand b4, but the river sand is very fine sand grain. How much for 10kg of lonestar sand?
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Hi, Lonestar is I think $20 for 22kg. Grain size is around 2-3mm. It is the most commonly used gravel among the guys here in this forum.

[vinz]

Mine grow as thickly if not as green.

Branches quite a lot, but each branch is leafy.
Params:
JBL base fert
Root monster
Flourish
4-6KH
6.8pH
30-32 celcius (according to the sticker thermometer)
CO2 1 - 2 bubbles per second
Water change 25% every 2 - 3 weeks.

[juggler]

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On 5/23/2002 1:30:42 PM

Temperature may be the main problem. For the start, the plant need cooler temperture...as it started to grow, it can stand higher temperature I think. This is what happen to mine...it still grow at 29 to 30 degree.

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On 5/23/2002 12:30:00 PM

I've failed with blyxa so far.... the leaves start to melt away. Anyone got answer to why that happens?
----------------

----------------

I have 2 tanks with Blyxa, one doing well. The other melting.
Funny thing is that the Blyxa grows in the home tank with temp reaching 30+ deg, and with majority of coral sand as substrate. Lighting 3.1 w/g.
However it melts in the other office tank with cocopeat substrate and temp of 27C. Lighting 4.4w/g. I suspect the cocopeat base is not suitable for it.

[kenzo]

wah!!! very nice ahh...

i neber neber have success with hairgrass.. japonica..soso..

setiari: i'm getting my 3ft narrow tank soon, can help me setup?

[DEA]

temperature doesn't mean anything to blyxa
it grew well in my discus tank (~30-31 degrees C)
imo it's more important to leave it alone, just like crypts

[BFG]

Setiardi, how much 4 the river sand n where did u bought it?

[sherchoo]

tried blyxa myself twice....... both time failed. melted away... waited.... and waited.... and waited... gone and bever came back. so gave up the idea of planting it in my tank

[setiardi]

I bought the BJ from Teo's. $5 dollars worth. Had been replanting every 3 months once it get very bushy. Only this time decided not to throw it away. Its common for them to melt. Mine also.Try planting them close together, trigger them to compete and propagate.

[nizz]

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On 5/24/2002 9:18:18 AM

"snip snip...Had been replanting every 3 months once it get very bushy....snip snip"
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Hi Setiardi

When you said 'bushy', do you mean as in your pic bushy or 'branchy' bushy? Just wanna clarify...

Mine, like one of the other fellas mentioned here, branches A LOT, but still leafy & green as well...


Nizz

[vinz]

Found out from a friend yesterday how his blyxa went from dying to lush!

Originally planted in normal gravel with JBL base fert. The blyxa started doing well only when he inserted root monsters among them.

For my own, which are doing fairly well since planting, I've had used root monster all the while.

I don't think it's root monster in particular, but most substrate boosters. If anyone tries this and your blyxa does a turn for the better, please post so that we know that this is a major factor. Or if anyone is using substrate boosters but not getting results, post too.

[nizz]

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On 6/4/2002 11:11:51 AM

Found out from a friend yesterday how his blyxa went from dying to lush!

Originally planted in normal gravel with JBL base fert. The blyxa started doing well only when he inserted root monsters among them.

For my own, which are doing fairly well since planting, I've had used root monster all the while.

I don't think it's root monster in particular, but most substrate boosters. If anyone tries this and your blyxa does a turn for the better, please post so that we know that this is a major factor. Or if anyone is using substrate boosters but not getting results, post too.

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Ok Vinz & everyone. Thx!
Me gonna get hold of some new BJ & try the monster roots thingy & report here. SO far, i've used jobe sticks on them, but obviously it doesn't work. Stay tuned everyone...

Nizz

[peterkoh]

nice tank ! what's the tall plant on the extreme left.

I'm also growing blyyxa ... a fren gave it to me ... on both sides of my 2 ft tank. they dun seems to send runners but spread out widely instead and those at the edges simply dies off and float. pls let me know once you know how to maintain and propagate this plant. thanks.

[vinz]

PeterKoh,

Blyxa does not send out runners. The stems branch out and the one of the branches can be detached and replanted. See this post for propogation info.