My Planted 29g Journal. ;)

Austin

Thanks :)

I heard though that the stem plants grew very quickly and mine don't seem to...

I don't MIND slow growth as long as my plants are healthy. XD So that's the only thing that concerns me is that there isn't much growth. Not because I want everything to explode and get huge, but I want it ot be healthy.

LisaC144

Kepp in mind they need to fully root first too. As long as the plants are dying I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you're okay. Heck, you don't even have melting going on like some plants do when they are new. You're doing something right, my friend. Way to go!

stephanieleah

Actually I can't speak for all stem plants but I have stem plant clippings that grow pretty prolifically even when there are NO roots (cuttings), all they need are light on leaves and nutrients from the water column. I have several varieties growing like this now that haven't even started to establish their root system.

Don't worry, Austin, you'll figure out the "secret" to balancing your tank and getting good growth, it just takes patience and close observation. I am surprised to be learning that even my water change schedule affects specific plants and their growth patterns (noticeable differences!). Your tank looks marvelous, you have lots of time to fine tune : )

Sometimes the best thing to do is to stay out of the way and let mother nature take it's course.

Austin

Thanks! :) ^_^ I was reading up about crypts earlier (which quite a few of my plants are) and it said it takes over a month for them to fully root and start taking off. Though I also read crypts like more soft, acidic water which my water is the opposite of. I'm going to assume it's the same for my sword and dwarf sag rootwise. I think my sag might slowly be starting to get going and my sword has only turned over one new leaf since I got it but hopefully it'll get settled in. I noticed the Wisteria grew a little from last time but not much. :)

I think I'm just lucky none of the plants melted yet... *knock on wood*

I wish stem plants had better roots lol. They can be annoying in that they aren't anchored down and are easily messed up T.T lol but yaaa I think they should be growing a bit better but I guess like you said hopefully I'll learn what works...

willow

looking great actually i think.

aunt kymmie

I have lots of crypts and they are doing great, they are probably my most favorite of the plants that I keep. We have the same water so I know yours will settled in and soon take off!
Once again, your tank looks really great!

Austin

Kymmie: I am starting to fall in love with my crypts as well. :D They are actually starting to grow pretty well, and are beautiful. I cannot think of the names, but 2 of them are doing really well. (back left corner and middle back (this one, you can see in the new pics. It's leafs are not as long as originally, but it has lots of new leafs, shorter, but I hope they will grow taller eventually), though you can't see this one yet... it has lots of leaves, but it needs to get larger leaves, which I think it will eventually) The other ones are the smaller ones in the left side in front of the rock. Tons of them in one bunch. I was thinking of breaking them but and planting them, but I was afraid this would kill them. I broke up like 3 off of it and planted them and they are doing fine so I wish I had broken them up. Anyways, they look nice and are doing well. :D

Anyways, sword plant is growing it's second leaf this week. This is better than the 3 overall in the month+ I've had these plants. Hopefully it is rooting and taking off. I think the other stem plants have grown a bit as well. And the dwarf saggitaria subuluta (sp?) is starting to get used to my tank. Not so many dead leaves around that area anymoire and it's starting to look nice. :)

And I think I can see some small roots coming from the Anubias nana... almost to the rock. XD Hopefully it attaches soon. :D It also has grown a new leaf recently! :D I'm happy to know it's not dead. ;) Lots of algae on the leafs, though, or the leafs are just dying. Now sure it grows quick enough to replace the algae covered leaves, though :S So hope it does alright.

Oh, and sorry for the lack of pictures! These 2 were taken today.

Attached Images

	007.jpg (115.0 KB, 33 views)
	013.jpg (112.4 KB, 33 views)

karjean

You did a really great job Austin with the aquarium, all your pictures turned out really great. Now you make me want to get more plants for my aquarium....

Austin

Thank you! ^_^ I honestly think the tank looks way better than the pics. The pics make the plants look too bright. Maybe I'll fix that somehow for the next pictures...

Austin

4/17/2010

001.jpg

002.jpg

003.jpg

004.jpg

005.jpg


Just took these pictures. I just decided to upload all 5.

I trimmed down my water Wisteria and planted them each as seperate stalks. Hopefully this maybe helps. It doesn't seem to be doing as well as some of my other plants.

As you can see, the Ludwigia and rotala indica are growing, but slowly. I think if they ever reach the top I'm going to let them grow along the surface a bit. (: My crypt in the middle back is getting large! I moved a corkscrew valsneria from my 10g that was doing decent. Now I think it's dead. Just can't get any to live......

If anyone happens to see this, and know the answer, I got a question : Is it ok if some of the older leaves of my plants grow algae on them, or is this occurrence mean something is wrong with the water/lighting/nutrients? Thanks!