Content | This Lilaeopsis species from the southern part of South America is not well known in the aquarium hobby. It has up to 30 cm tall, nearly terete, hollow, culm-like leaves. Typical for the Lilaeopsis genus are the crosswise furrows on the leaves.
With its height, Lilaeopsis macloviana is well suited for the midground, as transition to the background. Associated with Eleocharis acicularis, Lilaeopsis macloviana allows the creation of very naturally appearing layouts.Due to its low temperature requirements, it is also highly recommendable for unheated aquaria.
Common Name: Lilaeopsis Macloviana
Origin: South America
Height: 4-8”
pH: 6.0-7.0
Care: Medium
Light: Moderate
Co2: Not necessary
Propagation:
Growth Rate: Moderate | Echinodorus tenellus is a carpeting aquarium plant used by aquarists worldwide. Echinodorus tenellus has a striking resemblance to the Hairgrass plant but differs in the texture and size of the leaf. Also commonly called pygmy or dwarf chain grass, this fast-growing plant is native to regions of South, Central and North America. Highly recommended as a foreground and mid-ground plant due to it’s stunted growth, Echinodorus tenellus is easy to grow and has very little or no demands for optimum growth. With moderate levels of carbon dioxide, sunlight and a nutrient rich substrate, Echinodorus will grow in no time. In the natural habitat, this plant grows in submerged condition.
Appearance: The leaves of Echinodorus tenellus can grow as much as 5 to 10 cms long and have a feather-like appearance. Although it bears resemblance to hairgrass plant, the leaves of E.tenellus are coarser, larger and thicker which lends a rugged natural look to the aquarium. The rosette leaves have a rich green hue when subjected to optimum lighting conditions. Otherwise, they tend to become reddish brown in color.
Hard/Soft plant: Hard plant
Ideal water temperature conditions: Echinodorus tenellus prefers a wide range of tropical temperatures between 19 and 30 degree Celsius.
Ideal lighting conditions: Echinodorus tenellus can tolerate moderate to bright lighting requirements for optimum growth.
Optimum water pH levels: Echinodorus tenellus thrives in water having pH levels range between 5 and 7.5.
Uses and Advantages:
1) Echindorus tenellus is a versatile aquatic plant. It is ideal as a carpeting plant for medium to large size aquariums and as a background plant in nano aquariums where carpeting plants are used in the foreground.
2) When planted between stones, it creates a softer tank environment. Otherwise, the dense foliage gives a rugged natural look to the aquarium.
3) The leaves of Echinodus tenellus serves as a hiding place for small fishes and fry. They provide a nesting place for spawning fishes.
Did you know?
Echinodorus tenellus sends out runners and plantlets appear along with their length. Once roots appear, the plantlets can be snipped and replanted in the substrate. New plants will develop in no time. | Common Names: Wendt’s Cryptocoryne, water trumpet
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Alismatales (Arales)
Family: Araceae
Native Distribution: Sri Lanka
Aquarium Placement: Anywhere
Requirements: Stable conditions
Plant Description
Native to the island of Sri Lanka, Cryptocoryne wendtii is one of the most common and widely used aquarium plants available today. It is also one of the most variable species, with several color variations including reds, browns, greens, and several mixes of those. To add to the variety, the texture of the leaves can vary greatly within the species, as can the leaf size, ranging from 5 to 18 inches.
It can also be one of the easiest plants to grow and cultivate, even if it does have some finicky moments. Cryptocoryne wendtii can tolerate low light or high light, and seems to respond with longer foliage in lower light conditions. While it responds to CO2 injection, it will grow perfectly fine without it. The plant only requires stable conditions and some time to adjust after being introduced into a new setting.
Uses in Aquascaping
This variably sized Cryptocoryne can be used as a foreground plant in larger tanks with good light, assuming a variety is chosen that tends not to grow too large (such as the green varieties), or as a nice focal point in the midground of moderately sized aquariums. In smaller tanks it can be used as a distinct background plant where its leaves may reach the top and bend over to float along the water’s surface.
Its rosette growth form provides contrast to clumps of stem plants and can be used to separate the aquascape into well-defined groups or sections. The aquascaper can also take advantage of this growth form by using it to hide the bottom portions of stem plants, as stem plants tend to shed the leaves on the lower portions of the stem because they are deprived of light.
A well-planned grouping of Cryptocoryne wendtii can be used to make an attractive focal point or to draw focus to an adjacent area of interest. The wide variety of color and texture forms available within this species gives the aquarist a vast array of choices that will best suit the intended use.
Propagation
Cryptocoryne wendtii can be very easy to propagate. The grower only needs a portion of root with a living node to grow a new plant. However, growth is generally slow and it can take several months to have a full-sized plant develop.
Most growers will pull up a larger plant and split it apart into clumps of smaller plantlets. These are simply replanted a few inches apart to allow for some growing room. It also reproduces via runners, or rhizomes, that develop from the roots. In nature it also reproduces from seed. There are many hobbyists who grow these Cryptocoryne emersed, trying to mimic their natural environment and to encourage the development of interesting and beautiful flower structures.
Notes: Many hobbyists who first get Cryptocoryne wendtii into their aquariums will see a sudden deterioration in the plant and may think they have somehow killed it, even while other plants are thriving. It is important to keep in mind that these plants, while easy to maintain and grow once established, are finicky about changing conditions. Any sudden or drastic change in their surroundings can trigger this mysterious crypt melt. While the plants may seem to have suddenly died, a little patience by the hobbyist will shortly be rewarded by new leaves coming up from the otherwise healthy plant’s roots. | Anubias barteri var. glabra is a medium-sized Anubias that comes from rainforest streams in West Africa. There are several different forms of the variety glabra with more or less elliptic to lanceolate leaves. It is also sold under the names Anubias minima and Anubias "Kruising".
The variety glabra is as as undemanding and robust as many other Anubias forms. It grows well as epiphyte on the hardscape as well as fixed to the substrate (don't bury the rhizome!). Its narrow, lanceolate leaves are an interesting contrast to other, rather broad-leaved Anubias forms.
Anubias barteri var. glabra is widely spread in West Africa, from Guinea to Gabun. The plant forms dense populations on river banks and rocks in and on forest rivulets, where they often share the same habitat with Bolbitis heudelotii and Crinum natans.
Synonyms |
Anubias lanceolata N. E. Brown, Anubias minima Chevalier |
Trader names |
Anubias "Kruising" |
Complete botanical name |
Anúbias bárteri var. glábra N.E. Brown |
Family |
Araceae |
Genus |
Anubias |
Difficulty |
very easy |
Colour |
medium green, dark green |
Usage |
Epiphyte (growing on hardscape), Cichlid proof plant, Midground, Nano tanks, Foreground, group |
Height |
10 - 20cm |
Width |
10 - 30cm |
Growth |
very slow |
pH value |
5 - 8 |
Temperature tolerance |
12 - 30°C |
Carbonate hardness |
0 - 15°dKH |
General hardness |
0 - 30°dGH |
Propagation |
Rhizomteilung, Splitting, cutting off daughter plants |
Can grow emersed? |
yes |
| Glossostigma Elantinoides is a low growing aquatic plant that originates from New Zealand. It is a perfect foreground plant that if given sufficient lighting and nutrients can grow into a thick carpet of green foliage. The leaves are small and round with a beautiful bright green coloration that can nicely offset any neutral toned substrate.
High lighting and Co2 injection is necessary to keep this plant low growing. Vertical growing thin stalks are an indication of lack of lighting while yellowing leaves can mean nutrition deficiency. Thin leaves can also hint at a lack of Co2. This plant can grow quickly and require regular trimming when kept under proper conditions.
This plant can grow submerged or emersed in dry start aquariums and Wabi Kusa. Because this plant is small with tiny roots, it can prove difficult to keep planted into the substrate. In this case, dry start can help by allowing time for the roots to anchor into the substrate before flooding the tank.
Family Name: Phrymaceae
Origin: New Zealand
Height: 1-2”
pH: 6-7.5
Care: Medium to Difficult
Light: Medium to High
Co2: Required
Propagation: Cut new growth along with roots
Growth rate: Moderate to Fast | Aquarium plant from tissue culture in closed cup.
This miniature version of the well-known Alternanthera is characterized by compact growth and a slower growth rate. It is particularly suitable for small aquariums or as a foreground plant in larger aquascapes. By careful trimming, it is possible to create a dense, red violet carpet of approximately 5 to 10 cm height. High light intensity and addition of CO2 improves the plants growth and overall appearance.
Synonyms |
Alternanthera reineckii ''rosaefolia minor'' |
Complete botanical name |
Alternanthéra reinéckii Briq. |
Family |
Amaranthaceae |
Genus |
Alternanthera |
Difficulty |
medium |
Colour |
red brown, crimson, reddish |
Usage |
Accent (red), Midground, Nano tanks, Street (Dutch style), Foreground, group |
Aquascaping |
well-branched, bushy, very colourful plant for accents |
Height |
5 - 30cm |
Width |
5 - 10cm |
Growth |
medium |
pH value |
5 - 7 |
Temperature tolerance |
4 - 30°C |
Carbonate hardness |
0 - 14°dKH |
General hardness |
0 - 30°dGH |
Propagation |
Cuttings, Splitting, cutting off daughter plants |
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