Fish: Re: [tropical fish club] Plants

Hi Lee,

I see that since you've come back into the hobby, that you've come down
with a really bad case of MTS (Multi Tank Syndrome), LOL. I'll say right now,
that I haven't had the need to propagate aquatic plants in quantities you're
needing to aquascape your tanks with, but I've grown some outdoors. I've
also enjoyed growing some indoors and I find your choice of Vallisneria to be
excellent for your purposes.

You haven't stated whether you'll be growing plants in a pond or whether
you're putting a tank outdoors to grow these in. Neither, have you said which
species of Val you're considering, not that it much matters, as all
Vallisneria types do extremely well in strong light provided the water paramters
are to their liking. They also do extremely well in sunlight, although you
need to guard against algae growing on them.

I've grown Amazon Sword plants in my pond as well as Jungle Val and both
did well. I've found that under strong overhead aquarium lighting with
extended duration, that Vallisneria will continue to grow out runners,
establishing new plants as often as every 6 days under the right conditions. I had a
55 gallon tank, into which I put just one Corkscrew Vallisneria at the back
center and it send out runners along the back of the tank in both directions,
completely encircling the tank several times - in both directions --
within a year -- as when the runner gets to the corner it will grow around to the
side and then across the front, when getting to the next corner, and so on.

Since you'll be growing these outdoors, be sure to mix some mud into their
unwashed gravel. Val does especially well with the more nutrients you can
give it, and since you're not going to have fish with them in their growing
tank (or are you?), fish waste added to their outdoor habitat, from vacuuming
your inhabited aquariums, would be very welcomed by them. They grow in
profusion when given the nutrients of fish droppings in their substrate.

Don't mix plant species though, without studying up on them. As an
example, Vallisneria often doesn't do well in the presence of Sagittaria; they
don't seem to like each other < g >.

Ray</HTML>