Lighting issues with Glossostigma elatinoides

[vurbul]

I am having trouble growing glosso on my newly rescaped 2nd tank. It just would not crawl. I used to grow it on a 10gallon cube tank with 18 watt PL light, and they do crawl.

Right now I'm trying it on a 1foot cube tank with 24watt PL light and they are growing upwards. What could be the cause?

Both the 18 and 24 watt bulb have the same colour temperature and I believe the 24 watt have better intensity. So why isint the glosso crawling?

The only difference between the 2 tanks is that the 18watt light tank is turned on for 10 hours and the other is turn on for only 7 hours, as its a newly rescaped tank and not stabled yet. Could the lighting duration makes a difference?

Thanks

[El-nemo]

Hi vurbul,
Think you need to be more specific with your tank conditions.
From experience Glosso is a plant that likes to have light.
Anyways, heres a great a little read about it.

Guide to Glossostigma elatinoides (First published in 2004)

Hope it helps. Good luck...
Cheers

[vurbul]

Thanks for the link. Yes, glosso do need high light to crawl.

The thing is why wouldn't it crawl on a 24 watt 1 footer cube when it was crawling on another 18 watt 1 footer?

[chua]

Hi vurbul,

I also started Gloss recently for my 3 feets tank.

It do need strong light to crawl but it will need some time.

Some of my Gloss starts well by crawling while some grow upwards.

But after a few days, the upward glowing stem will bend and have its roots dig into my Ada Amazon soil. Then, it will start crawling.

So you may want to give your glosso a bit more time.

Regards,
Aric

[vurbul]

Thanks Aric,

I'll give it a few more weeks and see how it goes.

cheers

[Aeon]

Even with high light it might not crawl, so train it. Trim those emergent ones and replant. When Glossostigma starts to put out a second stem above the first 2 leaves. Trim it near the top of the bottom leaves so you get a plantlet. Replant this plantlet into the substrate and it will root. Another situation is that the stem of Glossostigma starts to grow taller with longer leaf stalks. In this case, plunge the stem further into the substrate with tweezers.

Trim with small scissors. This type is best.

[vurbul]

Thanks for the tip Aeon. I've trimmed and replant them as advice. Hope they crawl. And will do so till they will.

Cheers.

[Aeon]

How's it?
Any improvements?

[vurbul]

Some are starting to crawl now and rooting to the substrate. I'm blasting co2 and I think it will spread fast soon.

However I noticed that the new leaves are pale in colour. Might be nutrient deficiency.

[ahyann]

hihi i'm growing glosso too but after abt a week my glossos are melting away, at first i thought my tank is lacking nitrogen, as the other web sites have said. after dosing lots of liquid nitro ferts some are still melting away, i seriously suspect my lighting is too strong coz they're 36w X 3(i juz took out one) 12k lighting help....

[brianclaw]

It could just be that your Glosso is adapting to its submersed conditions from an emersed state.

[Aeon]

Yup. Could be but most glosso are sold submersed. If it's not converting then it might be nutrient. Are you dosing Potassium Nitrate for N? if so then you should have enough K. Leaves melt when K is lacking.

Try matching your symptoms with my article. http://aendirect.com/aquarium/a-guid...a-elatinoides/

12000K lighting u meant? Usually for plants, 6700K - 10000K are used. 12000K could be a marine/actinic tube. Check and see if it's for freshwater plants. Quality lights are usually tri-phosphor (to make it white) and are rich in blue and green light and low in red. Also make sure your light have decent reflectors to ensure efficient lighting for the glosso.

[Ansell]

Try matching your symptoms with my article. http://aendirect.com/aquarium/a-guid...a-elatinoides/

Thanks for sharing your experience! A comprehensive piece of information. Now, I've got to get more info on balancing N,P,K to prevent my glosso from algae. Not to mention the other nutrients as well...Planted tank is really tedious and I had not touch chemistry since after secondary school...

Thanks & regards,
Ansell

[ahyann]

hihi tks for all ur advices, i might wanna give it one more week n see wat happenes coz some is forming runners while the rest are melting away

[Aeon]

Those dying ones are hopeless so tri them away and let the runners spread. When you have new plantlets, cut and replant then you'll have a thick carpet within a month.

[ahyann]

My tank temp. is at 29 with a single 12cm pc fan running 24hrs. i seriously think is my lighting i dun have any more money to change them le....

[vurbul]

Your temperature is okay. Do you dose co2 in your tank?

My glosso melted on the first and second week. Some just dies off while some sends out shoots. So i guess maybe you could give it more time.

[Aeon]

Hmm low lighting does not kill glosso. it just grow upwards. Unless it's really too unsuitable.

[ahyann]

Your temperature is okay. Do you dose co2 in your tank?

My glosso melted on the first and second week. Some just dies off while some sends out shoots. So i guess maybe you could give it more time.

i think so too.. tks

[ahyann]

Hmm low lighting does not kill glosso. it just grow upwards. Unless it's really too unsuitable.

i think i found the cause Aeon, muz be the N P K u were talking abt!