Hairgrass become transparent...

[Darkkon]

My newly planted hairgrass seem to have this distrubing tendency to become transparent... was doing well for the past 5 days before the first bit of transparent grass appreared... as it is a new tank being cycled i have not bought or carried out any tests on water yet, but can any experienced aquarist have any opinion on this problem?

Many thanks.

[hwchoy]

unlike stem plant, after you plant things like grass and so on, they take some time to adjust, the existing leaves may not survive, important is to watch for appeareance of new leaves and runners.

[leafhorn]

Mr Choy, I also have this problem, its actually not a problem right? Because althought the leaves died, the roots are healthy and they will grow new ones soon (I hope).

[hwchoy]

if you have just planted them, give them a few weeks to readjust. check also if you have planted them in too huge a clump (common mistake, tum sim) because they would crowd each other out. you should have no more than then strands with runners in each planting point.

as in all planting, patience patience. also make sure you have enough CO2 and lights.

[David]

This is usually a common problem amoung plants that is purchased with emersed leaves. However do take a look at the leave structure carefully...it should be starting from the tip and not the base.....if its from the base, there could be trouble that the plant is rotting from the root up...

To confirm, just gently tug the plant....it should have some kind of resistance as roots tend to establish after 3 to 4 days.

[leafhorn]

I think its time I address my hairgrass problem, taking this opportunity.

My hairgrass gets uprooted on a daily basis by my yamatoes, every night they run around on the aquasoil and sweep their many legs across, aquasoil being light, easily get sweep away and hairgrass dislodged.

Reduced my yamatoe from 8 to 3.

Had I done the right thing initially? Because I done as recommended plant in tuffs about 5 to 10 strands, 1 cm apart, cut off the leaves after that.

Now I observed that the hairgrass dislodges easily because the leaves cut off its hard to plant very deep.

[Darkkon]

Confirmed... i saw many hairgrass with lower half green and upper half transparent. However i did make a boo-boo of planting the strands pretty close together... hope this will not cause major problems other than that of the grass not growing straight... the roots have grown too deep for me to easily replant them.

[hwchoy]

the real problem is that people expect instant aquascapes [:] so they plant in clumps and bushes. Again I remind all, give the plants anywhere from 1-4 weeks to start going (depending on the type of plants, if they're emersed or not, and of course the condition of your tank).

If you want instant aquascape, can use Cabomba

[leafhorn]

Its been many weeks liao and they are not growing, because they get uprooted everyday. Had been replanting them for weeks.

[hwchoy]

leafhorn, don't have to trim the leaves on top! just shove the plant in until the tip is showing or when you hit bottom. Frankly if you hit bottom I think your substrate is kind of thin. my mass of hairgrass roots is 2 inches thick (seen from the side glass!)

Also if you are using aquasoil, I do note their irritating property of not having enough weigh to hold down plants.

also if you trim the top, it will start to yellow, but nevermind, your target is new growth, not what you planted.

[hwchoy]

darkkon, as long as your grass is growing don't worry about it. as long as you are not planting in a CLUMP, should be fine. I recommend 2cm apart because with my trembling hands, I will uproot the other plants if I plant closer than 2cm [:]

Hairgrass by nature will always marikita, because as they photosynthesis, the leaves are filled with air and thus point straight up. also if they grow well with good CO2, they do pearl.

[hwchoy]

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On 7/29/2003 1:22:26 AM

Its been many weeks liao and they are not growing, because they get uprooted everyday. Had been replanting them for weeks.
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perhaps consider replacing the yamato with tiger or cherry shrimps? they also eat algae although not as voraciously. also don't put in cory and loaches!

[David]

Mr Choy

You scolding me?.....

I remembered along time ago, I planted hairgrass pretty much like how a gardener will plant carpet grass.....whahahhahahaaa

[Darkkon]

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On 7/29/2003 1:27:24 AM

darkkon, as long as your grass is growing don't worry about it. as long as you are not planting in a CLUMP, should be fine. I recommend 2cm apart because with my trembling hands, I will uproot the other plants if I plant closer than 2cm [:]

Hairgrass by nature will always marikita, because as they photosynthesis, the leaves are filled with air and thus point straight up. also if they grow well with good CO2, they do pearl.
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Yup my most enjoyable past time these days is to come home after work and watch the hairgrass bubble like a soft drink [] Still waiting for them to cover more ground before i put shrimps and then fishes in though.

The only HORRIBLE THING about my tank now is some white gel stuff growing on my driftwood. Saw another thread which recommended boiling it which i did. It stopped for 1 day now start growing back again. And it's so troublesome for me to boil again cos i will have to remove the java moss on it again []

[leafhorn]

Thanx for the confirmation Mr Choy!

Should have plant them all in.....

[hwchoy]

Mr David, lucky I got very good memory, remember primary school (or was it Sec 1) geography book got demonstrate how they plant the padi in Kedah lah [:]

[David]

whahahhahaa

[eGGS]

Some of my harigrass turned brown a few days after I planted them. Its been almost 3 weeks and I can see new HG coming out from the gravel. Nice light green colour. []