Having probs with RICCIA

[tear-scar]

Got a bucket of riccia today, but it's a pain to plant. The stuff keeps floating up to the surface. Any tips for planting it?

 

[Bangin]

It's naturally a floating plant. Some people tie it down with fishing line, a hairnet, and even use other plants (java moss & hairgrass). It requires a bit of attention, because over time it may become detached. It needs an occasional trim. If you intend to tie it down, it will need high light (and preferably CO2) to flourish.

 

[ouchia]

you do have to mesh it somehow. i would recommend, as an easy way out, buying a bit of soft mesh, tying the riccia into palm-sized balls, and letting it grow out of the mesh until it conceals it. you can do this by floating the bags at the top of the tank to start, and them weighing it down with gravel in the mesh once it's thick enough. you basically want the riccia bits to grow into one another, forming a more complex web that can carpet the tank bottom. starting it in small clumps and putting it near the lights at the top (riccia is a floating plant, remember) will speed the whole process up.

 

[ouchia]

to tell you the truth, your tank looks like it doesn't have enough light for riccia submerged, your plants to the front of the tank look like they're not getting enough light as it is.

 

[Discomafia]

Hope this links helps

http/www.petfrd.com/forum/articles.php?a...article&artid=8

Cheers,

 

[tear-scar]

May be right about the light. I'm going to see if it's possible to install stronger lights in the hood. Anyway, I've added a CO2 injection and spread the glosso (in front) over the gravel using tweezers. The riccia has been planted in nylon hose and weighted at the bottom. I'll see how it goes for now.

I've heard that riccia can grow through nylon, is that true?

 

[endparenthesis]

That glosso is definitely reaching for the sky... not enough light.

I don't think riccia can grow through nylon unless it's an incredibly loose weave... a hairnet would be ideal.

 

[tear-scar]

It's a really old photo; at the time I didn't know how glosso was supposed to be planted, and the glosso there is actually planted with the stems that they had originally. That's why it's really long. I've since trimmed the healthy plantlings from the bunches and planted them in the substrate; we'll see how they go from there.

 

[Discomafia]

It's a really old photo; at the time I didn't know how glosso was supposed to be planted, and the glosso there is actually planted with the stems that they had originally. That's why it's really long. I've since trimmed the healthy plantlings from the bunches and planted them in the substrate; we'll see how they go from there.

Wt size is your tank?

 

[tear-scar]

This is the 5 gal.

 

[ouchia]

the co2 ain't gonna do nothin' unless there's enough light for the plants to use the co2...

 

[AW0L]

i have to agree. the use of co2 is not going to be useful with out proper lighting. with out the high amounts of light needed, their is not much use for the co2.

riccia is a real pain in the ass. youll need high lighting, 2 or over wpg. and co2 injecting with low or no water surface agitations if you intend to submerge it. with no shaded areas

i have a riccia carpet. and somtimes the disavantages out weigh the over all look. at 1 months with out pruning it will look like a mess. if it gets too dense the bottom layer will rot away cuasing nitrate spikes. and its usually the bottom layer that held down with the mesh, once this layer rots away it will float to the surface. bloaking out light. yoll need to fertalize regulary. but if kept in good condition it does look great.