Issues With Hemianthus Callitrichoides

[mark4785]

I have 5 foreground 'Hemianthus callitrichoides' planted in sand substrate. Their roots are not directly planted in the substrate as I didn't want to remove them from the sponge-like material that they were initially planted into within their Tropica pot as doing this would have ripped most of the roots from the plant.

My questions regarding this plant are:

1. Are they quite difficult plants to keep alive?
2. Do they die if they are deprived of slightest amount of light? My background plants were over-shadowing them a bit.

The tank they are contained in is set-up with c02 injection (using a Dennerle Comfort range c02 cylinder) and receives plant nutrients according to the following EI dosing regime:

Daily Schedule
Sunday - 50% water change. Add Macros (KNO3, KH2PO4)
Monday - Add Traces
Tuesday - Add Macros (KNO3, KH2PO4)
Wednesday - Add Traces
Thursday - Add Macros (KNO3, KH2PO4)
Friday - Add Traces
Saturday - Rest day

Details of composition of my macro/micro-nutrients:

Macro Solution
33g Potassium Nitrate
7.2g Potassium Phosphate
250ml Water

Trace Mix Solution
10g Chelated Trace Element Mix (7% Fe, 1.3% B, 2% Mn, 0.06% Mo, 0.4% Zn, 0.1% Cu)
250 ml Water
0.5 ml Normal Hydrochloric Acid

I dose 10ml of the macro-solution and 5-7ml of the Trace mix on the days mentioned above.

Lighting is as follows: 2 x 24w 45cm+ fluorescent bulbs on 8 hours per day.

There are two internal filters and a powerhead which take in an accumulative 3000+ LPH so the c02 and nutrients are circulating the tank very well.

Despite my efforts it would seem that 2 of the 5 Hemianthus callitrichoides are turning white. I don't know what is causing this. Could it be a lack of macro-nutrients or is it just a fussy plant?

I've noticed that my dwarf cichlid has a tendency to munch on the leaves of this plant; he rips leaves out of it. If he is quite vicious with this plant can it start to die easily?


Mark.

 

[mark4785]

Bump

 

[lljdma06]

You should take out the plants & replant. I've had HC sprigs survive growing on a filter uptake tube. Barely any root structure. As tiny as HC is, it's still a stemplant, while its roots will absorb nutrients, most absorption is through the water column, so get it out of your mind that they need that root structure. They need circulation & good flow of CO2 & ferts. My point, it'll do much better out of that planting wool, where parts of the stems are being stifled for circulation. Good planting for HC consists of small groups or individual stems. I favor small groups just because I'm WAY too lazy to plant individually.

 

[mark4785]

You should take out the plants & replant. I've had HC sprigs survive growing on a filter uptake tube. Barely any root structure. As tiny as HC is, it's still a stemplant, while its roots will absorb nutrients, most absorption is through the water column, so get it out of your mind that they need that root structure. They need circulation & good flow of CO2 & ferts. My point, it'll do much better out of that planting wool, where parts of the stems are being stifled for circulation. Good planting for HC consists of small groups or individual stems. I favor small groups just because I'm WAY too lazy to plant individually.

Thanks for that information.

I've actually decided to take all of HC's out because my dwarf cichlid will not stop ripping chunks out of them. It looks as though he pulls on the leaves which in turn up roots the stem and he eats most of the leaves on the stem. He's been doing this repeatedly which has resulted in roots floating around the tank. Just so I don't lose my sanity and start worrying about rotting vegetation, I've binned all of the HC's and I'm looking for a plant thats more compatible with my d cichlid.

 

[lljdma06]

You should take out the plants & replant. I've had HC sprigs survive growing on a filter uptake tube. Barely any root structure. As tiny as HC is, it's still a stemplant, while its roots will absorb nutrients, most absorption is through the water column, so get it out of your mind that they need that root structure. They need circulation & good flow of CO2 & ferts. My point, it'll do much better out of that planting wool, where parts of the stems are being stifled for circulation. Good planting for HC consists of small groups or individual stems. I favor small groups just because I'm WAY too lazy to plant individually.

Thanks for that information.

I've actually decided to take all of HC's out because my dwarf cichlid will not stop ripping chunks out of them. It looks as though he pulls on the leaves which in turn up roots the stem and he eats most of the leaves on the stem. He's been doing this repeatedly which has resulted in roots floating around the tank. Just so I don't lose my sanity and start worrying about rotting vegetation, I've binned all of the HC's and I'm looking for a plant thats more compatible with my d cichlid.

No problem.

Marsilea hirsuta and minima may be good choices. They'll form a ground cover, but the leaf structure is much tougher than HC. Almost leathery when aquatic. Like a succulent.

 

[Verminator89]

Glosso is a great plant if you can get hold of it, however i don't know if your dwarf cichlid will do the same to this as he did with the HC.