Hygrophila Polysperma

[Squid]

I was looking at the PFK website and came across the following article ---- Practical Fishkeeping Article.

This got me quite interested in this plant.. fast growing, different shapes and colours.

BUT..

the java-plants website says that it needs bright lights, the pinned topic on here says bright lights too.. However i have also seen somewhere on this sight somebody with only 1 watt per gallon that was doing well with it. Any thoughts on whether this will be an appropriate plant for my tank:

Juwel Rio 180

Standard tubes: going to change these as i understand the standard ones are about as useful as a chocolate Tea Pot. any advice on the tubes to replace them with would be good too.

Reflectors

1.2 W/PG

Cheers
Squid

 

[Chri$]

My tank is currently running at 1 wpg (2 wpg very shortly) and i have had excellent growth from my Hygrophilia Polysperma so far.

 

[jayjay]

Yeah, a very easy plant. A plant I want to get again Should get some soon.

 

[superjalami30]

It'll grow in low light tanks.

In a high light tank with C02 and ferts it'll grow 6 inches to a foot a week though, with much more color and size in each leaf, especially sunset hygro.

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh, easy plant that one, even in low light setups.

As for tubes, check the pinned lighting article for a list of good ones.

Sam

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i've had it do well in low light

 

[Squid]

Thanks for the replies...

Any recommendation of which specific one to go for if there are many types, and recommendation of where to get it. The article mentioned that a good mother plant is way forward

Cheers
Squid

 

[MoreCoffee]

Have a look here ( Tropica )at the different types and you'll see their lighting requirements

H. plolysperma 'Rosanervig' needs high to very high light, the rest should be OK with anything from
'low' to 'very high'. Personally I like the look of the 'ceylon' variety as it has a finer leaf structure.

There are also other fast growing 'low/med' light plantsplants like Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis' that should do OK. I once had some Hygrophila difformis that grew like crazy in a 1.8wpg tank with 20 - 25ppm CO2.

They also have the added bonus of being excellent 'algae busters' !

 

[Squid]

Excellent info MrG... thanks

Squid