Growing Hemianthus callitrichoides (HC)

[Shadow]

I do not think water temperature matter too much, as long as below 30 C should be ok. I grow HC couple of time but normally either in the office with 24 hrs air condition or at home with chiller. I also grow them emerse before, and I notice on the emerse setup, the temperature inside the enclosed tank is as high as 32-33 C. Thus HC do able to grow in higher temperature

Recently I try growing them in without chiller and fan, temperature roughly 29-30 C and they do grow well. I believe the key is lots of CO2.

[Wahlin]

I do not think water temperature matter too much, as long as below 30 C should be ok. I grow HC couple of time but normally either in the office with 24 hrs air condition or at home with chiller. I also grow them emerse before, and I notice on the emerse setup, the temperature inside the enclosed tank is as high as 32-33 C. Thus HC do able to grow in higher temperature

Recently I try growing them in without chiller and fan, temperature roughly 29-30 C and they do grow well. I believe the key is lots of CO2.

From what you tell me, it looks like I got to try on them again without chiller.

[Shadow]

For me, to grow HC need rich substrate like ADA Aquasoil will help and plenty of CO2.

[dkk08]

I do not think water temperature matter too much, as long as below 30 C should be ok. I grow HC couple of time but normally either in the office with 24 hrs air condition or at home with chiller. I also grow them emerse before, and I notice on the emerse setup, the temperature inside the enclosed tank is as high as 32-33 C. Thus HC do able to grow in higher temperature

Recently I try growing them in without chiller and fan, temperature roughly 29-30 C and they do grow well. I believe the key is lots of CO2.

Hi Robert,

with regards to HC grown emersed, how to supply lots of CO2 when we want to grow it emersed?

[Shadow]

emerse no need to supply CO2, there are lots of CO2 in the atmosphere. What you need is to keep them moisture and don't fill too much water. I use cling wrap to cover the top.

[cydaph]

No, need to add CO2 if your growing it emersed because the air is already filled with oxygen and Co2 , Just cover your tank with transparent plastic and have your light turn on for 8 hrs. That should do the trick. Tom barr's Dry start method really works.

I agree with shadow, when I did the emersed method, my tank temp. is also 30-32 deg.

[cydaph]

haha, shadow very fast to reply! made my feedback redundant.

[dkk08]

haha, shadow very fast to reply! made my feedback redundant.

its not redundant bro cydaph, it shows effort and knowledge

thank you Robert and bro cydaph... am going to embark on more emersed experiements

[zonkkie]

Silly question to those who grow HC emmerse and cling wrap. How do you manage the lights? Most lights needs to be attached to the sides of the tanks, so you wrap the lights together with the tank?

[Shadow]

No need to wrap the light. just place the light on top of the wrap, it may cut the wrap a bit but does not matter. It does not need to be air tight.

[zonkkie]

Ok, thanks! I thought need to be airtight for the greenhouse effect.

[cydaph]

Good luck in your experiments. I'm doing some experiments too. Actually, I've tried growing HC wraped with net on a lava rocks (submerged). My first attempt was'nt successful. Only 5% manage to survived and grow a bit but eventually died. Anyway, I'm only using seachem excell and 18 watts for this experiment. Tank size 46cmx 36cmx36cm.

Some of the mistakes I did:
- Introduce shrimps a week after. (they'd dug my remaining 5% HC)
- Use direct tap water to fill my tank and then add anti-chlorine later. Is this true? I did it twice. 1st on my Dry Start and here is the 2nd time. Both melted my HC. That's why i'm not going to do it again.

- I wraped the net very tight on the HC.

I'm planning to do it again and my instinct tells me that I do it emersed.
Maybe some experts can enlighten me with these issues. Thanks.

[eviltrain]

I actually pick up some HC which was floating on my 40cm tank, got a ferrero rocher 16's box, put some left over GEX soil ( around 1 cm thickness ) in the box. place the HC on to the gex soil ( added tank water just covering the GEX soil ) and cover it with the box cover. I just leave the whole thing where sun can be shone on it (possible, not the whole day)

i did this one week back and manage to see some new leaves sprouting. maybe 3-6 months later i will get a lush emerse HC lawn to just plant in my tank ( hint - new project ).

[cydaph]

Ok, thanks! I thought need to be airtight for the greenhouse effect.

As long as there is moist it'll be ok. Just don't let the mosquito get inside. Mine had some insects that managed to get in. Lucky It's not a mosqiuto.
Cheers.

[cydaph]

I actually pick up some HC which was floating on my 40cm tank, got a ferrero rocher 16's box, put some left over GEX soil ( around 1 cm thickness ) in the box. place the HC on to the gex soil ( added tank water just covering the GEX soil ) and cover it with the box cover. I just leave the whole thing where sun can be shone on it (possible, not the whole day)

i did this one week back and manage to see some new leaves sprouting. maybe 3-6 months later i will get a lush emerse HC lawn to just plant in my tank ( hint - new project ).

Hi Eviltrain, it makes me want to buy HC tonight and do it again, I tried that also but mine got BURNED. (Hint Direct sunlight exposure) How long is your sunlight exposure?

[eviltrain]

Hi Eviltrain, it makes me want to buy HC tonight and do it again, I tried that also but mine got BURNED. (Hint Direct sunlight exposure) How long is your sunlight exposure?

haha, its like just morning sun to 11am?

[nutz]

I do not think water temperature matter too much, as long as below 30 C should be ok. I grow HC couple of time but normally either in the office with 24 hrs air condition or at home with chiller. I also grow them emerse before, and I notice on the emerse setup, the temperature inside the enclosed tank is as high as 32-33 C. Thus HC do able to grow in higher temperature

Recently I try growing them in without chiller and fan, temperature roughly 29-30 C and they do grow well. I believe the key is lots of CO2.

I tried growing HC many times for my 4x2x2 tank but all failed

I was on a 9hr T5 324W lighting regime with a 2hr sieasta break in between. The temperature hovered between 26-29 with fan.

CO2 injection is ~4bps with ph 6.5-6.7. NKP fertilisation twice a week and Seachem Flourish twice a week.

Maybe it is the inert sandbed or the shrimps/SAEs that are disturbing the HC ...

[oisterdude]

Would using the DSM with clear wrap coupled with MH lighting be too hot inside the tank? Anyone seen those HC sold at colorful recently? It is on Stainless steel meshes. I wonder if those are submerged HC or just fresh tied from emerged form.

[eviltrain]

i bought them before. they are grown submerge form. just buy and put in your tank. no rotting ( unless your tank water doesn't meet the HC requirements )

[oisterdude]

OK thanks mate I will buy and try. double dose with compressed CO2 and Excel since looking at past posts suggest usually they melt due to insufficient CO2. Cheers