Redecorating/Increasing Plant Growth
 

Hey Forum

A couple questions. First, on the cutting of Elodea and that mystery plant in the picture. How can I create a more lush elodea plant? I'm afraid that cutting the tips will cause the stem to die out. Also, my valliisnera has deep(ish) roots and many runners (as you can see). Can I take these out, separate them, and re-place them in the back (see pic below) without too much damage to the plant?

Also, what kind of plant is this, and does it need to be separated? It looks like a bunch of little plants, but when I got it it looked like it was all attached to one.
Attachment 55377

My second question is about re-arranging the plants in my aquarium.
Here's what they look like:
Attachment 55378

Here's what I was thinking (pretend it's a good drawing):
Attachment 55379

Tell me what you think.

The mystery plant I think is Vallisneria, probably daughter plants from the Giant Vall. Vallisneria also looks best when clumped, so let the runners and daughter plants appear where they do but if you don't want it spreading beyond that then just cut off the runner. The daughter plants can be replanted.

Elodea can be cut along the stem and the top (growing) tips replanted. The lower portion may not do well, depending upon light and nutrients. Or it can be left floating.

The mystery plant is separate. I planted it separately from the vallisnera (in the beginning anyway).

I will go ahead and cut the elodea stems. I'm hoping this will encourage more growth. I use to plant them in the gravel, but they would always end up floating no matter what I did.

It has a leaf veining structure like Vallisneria, but it could also be Sagittaria subulata. The leaves look a bit narrow and long for either of the chain Helanthium species, but they can't be ruled out.

Yes, I believe the dwarf sagittaria is it. Thank you Byron :)