Planting of HC and how much is too much of 'Excel'

[gary35111]

Hi,

Recently, I have tried setting up a nano tank with only Echinodoras, some moss and HC. As I intend to keep CRS or even breed them inside, my ADA soil is only about 1-2 cm depth. I have much difficulty planting the HC and I sort of just stuff them into the soil with the leaves and stem together, cover most of it up to prevent them from floating and leaving only 50% of the green exposing. Is this the right or even acceptable way of planting HC? :angry: They are so tiny that I almost feel like smashing the whole thing trying to plant them the normal way. I don't care the rest of the buried HC but is it still possible for the exposed one to grow with the way I plant them?

Also, I am not using any CO2 but Excel. My tank is small with length of about 19 cm, width 13 cm and height 15 cm. Given my tank size, how much of Excel is recommended? I have dosed 1 and a half capful of Excel :wall: and I think I might have overdosed. I was told of how Excel can be harmful to shrimps, the tank is empty of other lives now so only the plants are inside. I need some advices from the experts and I will alter the dosage of my Excel if it need be.

Thanks.

Gary

Thanks.

[retardo]

The HC will take root without too many problems in the way you have described.

Re: Excel, I use I capful on a 10G tank 2x/week on a non-CO2 tank. The dosage you mentioned sounds excessive to me. You may need only 1/4-1/2 capful for a tank your size.

[spinex]

I using Excel too. Mine is a 6gallon nano. I doze about 2ml every 2 days. The shrimps are okay with it. I got cherry and crs.

But then seem like certain plants can't take Excel well.. i tried APP and Glosso ..both can't make it.

For liquid fert i dosing Lushgro Aqua 2ml everyday and 2ml of Seachem flourish once or 2 times a week.

Now i'm thinking to get CO2 set ...

[Muddy Waters]

Sorry guys... would anyone tell me what HC and APP mean?

[retardo]

HC=Hemianthus callitrichoides

don't know about APP.

[NanoDave]

APP is Ah-Pek Plant :)

[retardo]

is there a scientific name?

[kimco]

is there a scientific name?

Elantine Triandra

KG

[silane]

Has anyone tried floating HC without Co2 ? Does it grow well?

[retardo]

HC grows very well without CO2 and free-floating.

[Robin]

I have some HC floating right now. It's currently in a mat. Will floating it cause it to lose it's mat density?

[imi_sky]

It won't loose its density but it will not grow in very lush or spread very fast if it's planted in a mesh^^, none the less it'll still grow. As for excel, it says 1 capful for 20g? If I'm not wrong, if you dose over that amount it's considered too much^^

[Robin]

My mat is not as thick as before, and is become loose. There's no current. Probably has something to do with it turning brown right now.

[azn_fishy55]

I dose Excel in my 30 gallon high light tank and everthing grows fine.I dose about a capful of it everyday,I have heard about people over dosing it to get rid of algae problems but don't dose too much or it'll make a dent in you bacterial population.I have no experience in dosing excel with shrimp.As for the HC or any small foreground plant,I had a much easier time planting them with twesers and such.

[NULL]

Two questions about Hemianthus callitrichoides:
I have HC, which came in a pot, here in the forum I have seen "HC mat" in form of a carpet, which seems much more convenient to work with.
- Where you resident, are those common and/or cheap?
- When you buy it, that holds the mat together(mineral wool, nylon-net...)?

[Nickel]

I planted my HC onto ADA soil. Got my HC from Silane and when he gavge them to me, was tightly packed like a mat.

After some times in my tank it spreads and more loosely now, though growing very well, including some odd ones floating at surface of tank.

I think it depends on the growing space you allow them. Too big area, they will extend as far as possible for space. I am think to use plastic sheet to 'fence off' a small area so they cannot spread out but grow tightly within the area. Extend the area if need more space over time.

Not sure above will work. Anyone can offer some experience how to grow them tightly packed ?

[retardo]

HC sandwiched inbetween two sheets of stainless steel has worked well for propagation and keeping it a nice and clean looking mat, but it tends to grow a little slower. Floating HC is the fastest way to grow it because it is closer to the source of light.

[NULL]

Thank you retardo for answering my second question.
And floating was interesting, I have preconceivedly ruled that out.
I have a surface-intake at the moment in that tank, so I have to try that later or elsewhere.