dwarf sag is spreading SLOWLY...

[caykuu]

In an area of about 5 plantlets, it took 5 months for 5 runners.

(so many fives)

Quite the contrast to the wildfire rumors I've read about. What could be going wrong?

Substrate is eco-complete (though 2 years old). Lighting is a single t5ho bulb over a 24" tall tank. You can check out the other specs and some photos through the link in my signature.

I haven't been dosing ferts or excel recently, because one.. I'm afraid of an algae bloom... and two... I read a few accounts of excel being bad for dwarf sag. <-- is that even true?

[blue1delta]

i haven't been planted, but for a few months and I have eco complete same lighting plus an actinic bulb that came with my fixture. My dwarf sag is spreading and I just started dosing excel. I have moved mine around a lot too. Maybe someone with more experience can help you...
Do you use root tabs?

[caykuu]

Nah, I don't use root tabs, because I assumed the ecocomplete makes up for that. Thanks for the reply!

[Hoppy]

Dwarf sag isn't a fast growing plant, especially with low light. Mine, in a low light tank, are all looking healthy, but very little, if any growth in 7 weeks. I use Excel at slightly above the recommended dosage, and my substrate is Aquasoil. I also do very light fertilizing of the water.

[shane54]

I have a 30 gallon hex, 24" tall with 90 Watts 6500k cfl bulb. I just planted my dwarf sags 3 weeks ago. Bought 10sags, 4 have produced runners that are 1/2 way grown. My tank has been cycling, had a terrible hair algae problem, and still they seem to be doing well. I have play sand substrate but attribute growth to sand. I have high light in several tanks but my vals n sags are running everywhere in the sand. Just started using excel, ill keep you posted on the effects on my vals n sags.

[blue1delta]

Originally Posted by caykuu

Nah, I don't use root tabs, because I assumed the ecocomplete makes up for that. Thanks for the reply!

You should use root tabs. flourish if you don't mind the price. jobes if you want low cost.

[caykuu]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

Dwarf sag isn't a fast growing plant, especially with low light. Mine, in a low light tank, are all looking healthy, but very little, if any growth in 7 weeks. I use Excel at slightly above the recommended dosage, and my substrate is Aquasoil. I also do very light fertilizing of the water.

Ah, I see- I guess I don't have much to worry about! And WHEW, that's good ot hear about the excel being fine... I'll return to dosing it.

[caykuu]

Originally Posted by shane54

I have a 30 gallon hex, 24" tall with 90 Watts 6500k cfl bulb. I just planted my dwarf sags 3 weeks ago. Bought 10sags, 4 have produced runners that are 1/2 way grown. My tank has been cycling, had a terrible hair algae problem, and still they seem to be doing well. I have play sand substrate but attribute growth to sand. I have high light in several tanks but my vals n sags are running everywhere in the sand. Just started using excel, ill keep you posted on the effects on my vals n sags.

They sound very hardy!
And thanks, please let me know the results of the excel on both!

[caykuu]

Originally Posted by blue1delta

You should use root tabs. flourish if you don't mind the price. jobes if you want low cost.

Do you think the end result to price ratio is more worthwhile for flourish or jobes? I've never tried root tabs before.

[jhays79]

Under high light my Dwarf Sag grows like weeds, literally shooting off new runners and plants every day. That tank is now carpeted in Dwarf Sag. I have some in a lower light tank and it just sits there.

[caykuu]

Originally Posted by jhays79

Under high light my Dwarf Sag grows like weeds, literally shooting off new runners and plants every day. That tank is now carpeted in Dwarf Sag. I have some in a lower light tank and it just sits there.

Ah, I see! Do you inject co2 for your high light tank?

[jhays79]

I did for awhile, DIY style. Then I got tired of doing it so I moved my fixture up higher off the tank after about a six months. By that time the Dwarf Sag had already taken off all over the place.

[caykuu]

Have you experienced any melting/dying off of the dwarf sag or other plants since decreasing light and stopping the co2?

I've been told before that DIY co2 for 55g is too little to be of any great effect, but apparently you've experienced otherwise!

[jhays79]

Plants still look great for me. I can take a pic to show you my tank. I don't think dwarf Sag is a very demanding plant at all.

[caykuu]

It's fine, no need for the photo trouble! It ends up I might need to change my t5ho bulb.... it's almost 2 years old now. How often do you think is necessary to switch to a new bulb?