Echinidorous Tenellus

[scottward]

I have some e. tenellus in my tank that is looking ok, but it's not throwing out runnings and spreading. It has thrown out runners in the past and spread, but it's not doing it anymore. I have 2.5WPG, CO2 injection, daily fertiliser.

Any ideas as to why this might be?

Scott.

 

[Themuleous]

I take it the light tubes are plant specific? How old are they? They might need changing as they lose intensity over time. Have you changed anything in the tank recently?

Sam

 

[scottward]

I take it the light tubes are plant specific? How old are they? They might need changing as they lose intensity over time. Have you changed anything in the tank recently?

Sam

The only thing I can think of is that I used to point these high in iron balls directly under the plant roots. I've put some JBL "the 7" balls under the roots instead (i.e. changed brands). Maybe these nutrient balls aren't as good?

Scott.

 

[Themuleous]

Could be, I take it the substrate is just gravel/sand? The JBL ones should be ok though.

Sam

 

[Rubix]

i've read that echinodorus need root tabs underneath or nearby them. i use seachem flourish tabs.

 

[Maximumbob]

I have grown ET with ease in a mid light tank. I have found it goes through some periods of 'pause' when it grows. Then sometimes it takes off like wildfire. I use JBL rootabs in my tank, but have never used them near the ET. My substrate is inert, and so water column fertilisation is enough for these plants to thrive.

I think it may just need to establish itself before it grows further. If you maybe adopt an EI approach it would aggressively grow from the outset, but i'm not sure.

 

[scottward]

Hey guys thanks for the info. I have upped the daily fertiliser that I have been adding and have noticed a difference. When I gently tug at the ET it now feels like it is starting to develop stronger roots (before it would lift out of the plain gravel substrate easily). I'll keep an eye on it and hopefully it will start to spread....