Echinodorus Tenellus vs Root Tablets ~ Anyone?

Angel079

Does anyone else here have Echinodorus Tenellus (Narrow Leaf Chain Sword) ??

When I add the alage crash I added root tablets for the Swords and the E. Tennellus are somewhat close to 1 Tabplet and boy lemme tell ya'll they have EXPLODED I have never seen any plant produce this many runners in such short time

Was just wondering if anyone else had exp with these Plants vs. Root tablets ???

Byron

Angel, I have E. tenellus in my current 90g and the similar E. quadricostatus in my 115g. I have not used substrate fertilizer directly with either species, although there are Plant-Gro sticks next to the larger swords in the same tanks. The pygmy swords have always grown incredibly, considerably longer leaves than the "maximum" lengths given in text books, but that I believe is from the liquid fertilizer. Swords are heavy feeders, and as you did not use any ferts previously (if I'm recalling your prior posts correctly) you will see this type of growth with either form of fertilizer. The larger swords benefit from substrate ferts due to their developed root systems.

Most Echinodorus species are basically bog plants, spending half the year emersed and half submersed (the flood season). Their roots are thus highly developed for nutrient gathering since during their emersed period when they need the extra energy for flowering they have only the roots in the soggy mud and sand for nutrient assimilation.

Echinodorus is one group of plants that absolutely benefit from nutrient additives. My larger swords which were thriving with just liquid fert twice a week, doubled in size within three months of my adding the substrate sticks.

Byron.

Angel079

Yea after the algae "crash" in the new 55g i then after the black out added root tablets to the swords. Hadn't noticed anything 'unusual" with my Amazon's but the E. Tenelluseven thou they're good few inches away from the Amazon where I put the tablet just really EXPLODED.
I'm just worried in a way that's the plant is "burning" itself out, I mean I seen good growth before, but not a new shoot every single morning almost, its wayyyy fast growing. Or you think they'll produce X runners and then stop eventually??

Byron

All the E. tenellus in the 90g is from one plant. I planted it in October 2008 in the then-70g and it sent runners throughout the tank. When I moved the plants and fish from that 70g into the present 90g in July, I broke it apart and used the largest plants here and there. Since then these have spread via runners, and every couple of weeks I pull some out and toss it onto the compost (can't find people to take it).

The E. quadricostatus in the 115g all came from one plant I bought at the local club auction back in 1998. I pulled another two runners each with 3 or 4 plantlets out today when I did the pwc.

These two species are very fast growing/spreading plants when conditions are to their liking.

B.

Angel079

See I never had them before, I often had the Kliner Sword (sp?) for the fronts and figured I''d buy 1 of these and see how I like it, thank God I didn't buy like 10 of them, my 55g would be outgrown in less then 1 week lol

So you say its just normal growth, not burning themselves out yea?