Corys Vs Planting Substrates? Help Please!

[Chad]

I've normally gotten it in pots and gone through the pain of planting it. Becuase of how much I hate that when I saw the mat I thought "hey, all the work's been done for me". Turns out not so much, I won't buy the mat again. It was a nice size piece for only $6 USD so I went for it.

Sounds like, from what I'm seeing and hearing, is the problem was the mat itself.

 

[ian]

That was cheap, the new tropica 1-2 grow pots of HC, are great for the money. Pity you can't get em over in the states, as it normally costs quite a bit for a decent amount of pots.

 

[Chad]

I thought it was a good price, that's why I couldn't resist.
I don't know much about the 1-2 grow line but from what I have read it would be nice to get them here. We have a couple of local growers here, one big onen is Arizona Aquatic Gardens (http/www.azgardens.com) but their stuff is far more traditionally grown, not lab tested etc.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I just bought 3 pots of 1-2 grow HC,should check it out Chad will be in the journal in the next few days or so, got fed up of waiting for the Utricularia to spread, its growing but not spreading and I'm impatient, esp as now my substrate is a little old its starting to stick together a little so hoping the HC wont lift for a change, made it to 4 months in this and in sand last time I made it to full carpet and within a week it was floating.

 

[Chad]

I replaced mine with micro-sword. I know it's not the same but it looks nice. I will check it out once you get it posted on your journal page.

 

[ian]

I thought it was a good price, that's why I couldn't resist.
I don't know much about the 1-2 grow line but from what I have read it would be nice to get them here. We have a couple of local growers here, one big onen is Arizona Aquatic Gardens (http/www.azgardens.com) but their stuff is far more traditionally grown, not lab tested etc.

I have heard of them, I think Tom Barr has a bit to do with em. I know the USA are very strict on the imports of certain plants into certain states as well, this is a shame. That's because there is some idiots that don't dispose the plants properly, they throw them in a lake or river and they then become invasive.
There's a good little place in California as well that grows aquatic plants, llj (old mod) used to swear by them.

Ps Steve, a full HC carpet in a week!! Now that's some good going...I bet it didn't even get chance to turn into its emersed form! Which normally takes 2 weeks.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

No I got to a full carpet and it floated after a week lol.

 

[ian]

Personally, think this was unlucky on your part, HC is normally actually better in sands and fine gravels due to its root structure. Even play sand.

 

[Chad]

In my case I think it was the mat it came grown into that caused the problem or maybe the stratum.
Either way not a plant I would really recommend with corys or other fish that root about the substrate.