Switching Over Plants

[oldwhitewood]

Hey dudes!

I've had my tank running for about 2 months now with a large amount of hygro and ludwigia species, but this was never the plan long term. I wanted grassy plants such as c helferi. A curtain of them across the back of the tank, and also hairgrass in the midground. I'm worried that switching straight away to these slow growers is going to caused problems, as the stem plants I have in there at the mo are doing a great job of balancing the tank, what do you guys think?

I mean I could use vallis but it's a bit fast nd those long stems are a bugger to keep in check.

 

[George Farmer]

You're right to be wary about switching in one go.

Personally I'd do it gradually, say in three lots i.e. remove a third of your stems at a time and replace with the helferi (lovely plant BTW - nice choice).

Just keep an eye on any initial algae growth and difference in nutrient consumption (esp. NO3, PO4). I'd imagine any early algae signs will be fine filament algae (IME) that can soon be remedied by upping CO2 output.

Vallis can be a brute, sending out runners all over and ultimately disturbing your substrate when it's time to switch.

Good luck Neil, I look forward to seeing the results.

 

[oldwhitewood]

thank you good sir *bows*

I rekcon you're right, pad out the aquascape slowly to allow the tank to adjust, the issue I have is trying not to let the hygro overshadow my e tenellus as it's a big leaved thing and it's growth is rapid, jutting out of the water surface and everything.