Rolata Indica and E. Stellata

PeteyPob · 02-26-2005, 07:36 AM

Hi everyone,

I have both of the plants above and noticed on them that the new growth doesnt have color like when I received them. They are growing green, am I lacking a nutirent. I have 2.3wpg. Thanks!
Pete

hoffboy · 02-26-2005, 08:04 AM

From the Tropica website R. Indica description...

"Unlike other Rotala species it is relatively undemanding, although it needs good light to produce red leaves. It forms side shoots willingly, becoming compact and bushy. This also means that it is hard for light to reach the lower leaves, so the plant should be pruned frequently. Also known as Rotala indica."

My guess is that 2.3 wpg is on the low side.

bellisb925 · 02-26-2005, 12:45 PM

I have 2.6 wpg in a 50 and the only time the indica turns pink is when the plant reaches the top of the tank. We just don't have the light unfortunately.

Anthony · 02-28-2005, 11:09 PM

I have 3.25 wpg, and mine is the same way.

Anthony · 03-15-2005, 05:27 PM

Is e. stellata's coloration more determined by light or nutrient content?

ThatNewGuy · 03-15-2005, 06:05 PM

Might also be a lack of iron. I think Iron is needed to get those nice red leaves.

Anthony · 03-15-2005, 08:53 PM

But what influences it more?

Stu · 03-15-2005, 11:03 PM

Light, and lots of it!

I have 5W/gal and my Rotala grows pinky/red where it gets full light. I also have some stems that are partially shaded by ones above, and these grow bright green instead, due to the reduced light.

Even with 5W/gal (power compacts), the colour is nowhere near the extreme red when I first recieved them, but I actually prefer the colour now.... it looks more natural to me as I'm not a fan of neon coloured plants!

The growers must be using high intensity MH lights or similar to achieve such intense colouration.

**AaronT** · 03-16-2005, 05:26 AM

Lights are only a part of the equation. I've been growing stellata for some time now. It needs lots of everything...nitrates, phosphates, micros, and iron. Phosphates and iron are the two most important. Lots of people will run low phosphates in their tanks thinking that it will keep algae at bay. That couldn't be further from the truth. I run 2-3ppms a lot of the time and the plants love it. Another tip for stellata is that it likes warm temps. I keep my tank at 80 degrees and it goes nuts for it. Your lighting ought to be sufficient considering the size of the tank.

With the indica try running the tank with 5 ppm or lower nitrates and keep up on the iron dosing. IME rotalas of all kinds show more color in this environment. The catch 22 is that they won't grow as quickly.

Another thing you don't mention is if you have pressurized CO2? That's a big factor as well and is a sound investment if you are serious about the hobby. The initial cost is rough, yet maintenance is virtually nothing.

*plant snobery side note* There is no such thing as E. stellata. The proper name is now Pogostemon stellata. If you want to be even more of a snood the plant we all refer to as 'broad leaf' stellata is actually just stellata and the other should be referred to as 'narrow leaf'. Okay...I"m done with my curmudgeoning now

Anthony · 03-16-2005, 06:06 AM

No pressurized co2. I DIY my tank keeping it steady at 45ppm in the morning and ending at 27 ppm at night. Tank pearls everyday!!! Growth is great. I'm now trying to manipulate the full colors out of my plants.

PeteyPob · 03-16-2005, 06:48 AM

I didnt know your plants were supposed to pearl everyday. Mine only do it when I od a water change, does this mean I am not getting a good suppply of co2. My co2 ppm measures at 35.

**AaronT** · 03-16-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteyPob

I didnt know your plants were supposed to pearl everyday. Mine only do it when I od a water change, does this mean I am not getting a good suppply of co2. My co2 ppm measures at 35.

That is not pearling. That is the gases in the water clinging to everything when the tank is being refilled. Notice the glass, filter inlet/outlet, and heater "pearl" also.

It is not necessary to produce pearling everyday. I turn my tank down just a smidge under the rate that causes pearling and my plants are healthy and grow just fine. If you have 35 ppm then you are fine with CO2.

Anthony · 03-17-2005, 03:38 AM

You said plenty of nitrates for color in stellata. I though that reduced nitrates would help better with coloration?

**AaronT** · 03-17-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony

You said plenty of nitrates for color in stellata. I though that reduced nitrates would help better with coloration?

That is not always true with plants. Also, it depends on your definition of reduced nitrates. You don't ever want to go below 5 ppm or you might be looking at algae city real soon.

PeteyPob · 03-23-2005, 03:44 AM

Its been about 3 weeks and my stallatas dont seem to be getting any red in them. I added a light fixture that pumps 4.7 wpg, less than a week ago. My nitrates are at 20 phosphates 1.5-2 and potassium is getting in there too.. I dose my trace with the csm+b plus extra iron pretty hard to hopefully put more iron into the tank. I put 1 tbs + 1tsp into 250ml and dose 15ml into the tank from that. I dont know how much iron is in the tank, I guess im reliant on the csm+b to put enough iron in there.There is no negative effects to my tank the way I dose it but doesnt seem to help them either. I have my temp at 83 deg. Any clues?
Thanks!
Pete

02-26-2005, 07:36 AM	#1
PeteyPob Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 930	Rolata Indica and E. Stellata Hi everyone, I have both of the plants above and noticed on them that the new growth doesnt have color like when I received them. They are growing green, am I lacking a nutirent. I have 2.3wpg. Thanks! Pete

02-28-2005, 11:09 PM	#4
Anthony Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Covington, LA. Posts: 1,071	I have 3.25 wpg, and mine is the same way. __________________ 40 gallon SeaClear Acrylic, 192 watt Orbit Lunar PC, Filstar XP2, Filstar XP1, JBJ Regulator, Rhinox 5000 glass co2 diffusor, 9 watt UV sterilizer, Hydor Inline Heater, Pool Filter Sand substrate Filstar pimp #53 How comes shoppings so stupid, looks at all this stuff I haves, what do I do's with it.

03-15-2005, 05:27 PM	#5
Anthony Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Covington, LA. Posts: 1,071	Is e. stellata's coloration more determined by light or nutrient content? __________________ 40 gallon SeaClear Acrylic, 192 watt Orbit Lunar PC, Filstar XP2, Filstar XP1, JBJ Regulator, Rhinox 5000 glass co2 diffusor, 9 watt UV sterilizer, Hydor Inline Heater, Pool Filter Sand substrate Filstar pimp #53 How comes shoppings so stupid, looks at all this stuff I haves, what do I do's with it.

03-15-2005, 08:53 PM	#7
Anthony Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Covington, LA. Posts: 1,071	But what influences it more? __________________ 40 gallon SeaClear Acrylic, 192 watt Orbit Lunar PC, Filstar XP2, Filstar XP1, JBJ Regulator, Rhinox 5000 glass co2 diffusor, 9 watt UV sterilizer, Hydor Inline Heater, Pool Filter Sand substrate Filstar pimp #53 How comes shoppings so stupid, looks at all this stuff I haves, what do I do's with it.

03-15-2005, 11:03 PM	#8
Stu Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ramsgate, Kent, UK Posts: 405	Light, and lots of it! I have 5W/gal and my Rotala grows pinky/red where it gets full light. I also have some stems that are partially shaded by ones above, and these grow bright green instead, due to the reduced light. Even with 5W/gal (power compacts), the colour is nowhere near the extreme red when I first recieved them, but I actually prefer the colour now.... it looks more natural to me as I'm not a fan of neon coloured plants! The growers must be using high intensity MH lights or similar to achieve such intense colouration. __________________ *Eheim Pimp #121* 80 litre "Planted" tank

02-26-2005, 08:04 AM	#2
hoffboy Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 308	From the Tropica website R. Indica description... "Unlike other Rotala species it is relatively undemanding, although it needs good light to produce red leaves. It forms side shoots willingly, becoming compact and bushy. This also means that it is hard for light to reach the lower leaves, so the plant should be pruned frequently. Also known as Rotala indica." My guess is that 2.3 wpg is on the low side.

02-26-2005, 12:45 PM	#3
bellisb925 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Belmont, CA USA Posts: 175	I have 2.6 wpg in a 50 and the only time the indica turns pink is when the plant reaches the top of the tank. We just don't have the light unfortunately.

03-15-2005, 06:05 PM	#6
ThatNewGuy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 145	Might also be a lack of iron. I think Iron is needed to get those nice red leaves.

03-16-2005, 05:26 AM	#9
AaronT Collectoritis Patient (View User Tanks) PTrader: (176/100%) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: MD, USA Posts: 2,030	Lights are only a part of the equation. I've been growing stellata for some time now. It needs lots of everything...nitrates, phosphates, micros, and iron. Phosphates and iron are the two most important. Lots of people will run low phosphates in their tanks thinking that it will keep algae at bay. That couldn't be further from the truth. I run 2-3ppms a lot of the time and the plants love it. Another tip for stellata is that it likes warm temps. I keep my tank at 80 degrees and it goes nuts for it. Your lighting ought to be sufficient considering the size of the tank. With the indica try running the tank with 5 ppm or lower nitrates and keep up on the iron dosing. IME rotalas of all kinds show more color in this environment. The catch 22 is that they won't grow as quickly. Another thing you don't mention is if you have pressurized CO2? That's a big factor as well and is a sound investment if you are serious about the hobby. The initial cost is rough, yet maintenance is virtually nothing. plant snobery side note There is no such thing as E. stellata. The proper name is now Pogostemon stellata. If you want to be even more of a snood the plant we all refer to as 'broad leaf' stellata is actually just stellata and the other should be referred to as 'narrow leaf'. Okay...I"m done with my curmudgeoning now

03-16-2005, 06:06 AM	#10
Anthony Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Covington, LA. Posts: 1,071	No pressurized co2. I DIY my tank keeping it steady at 45ppm in the morning and ending at 27 ppm at night. Tank pearls everyday!!! Growth is great. I'm now trying to manipulate the full colors out of my plants. __________________ 40 gallon SeaClear Acrylic, 192 watt Orbit Lunar PC, Filstar XP2, Filstar XP1, JBJ Regulator, Rhinox 5000 glass co2 diffusor, 9 watt UV sterilizer, Hydor Inline Heater, Pool Filter Sand substrate Filstar pimp #53 How comes shoppings so stupid, looks at all this stuff I haves, what do I do's with it.

03-16-2005, 06:48 AM	#11
PeteyPob Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 930	I didnt know your plants were supposed to pearl everyday. Mine only do it when I od a water change, does this mean I am not getting a good suppply of co2. My co2 ppm measures at 35.

03-17-2005, 03:38 AM	#13
Anthony Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Covington, LA. Posts: 1,071	You said plenty of nitrates for color in stellata. I though that reduced nitrates would help better with coloration? __________________ 40 gallon SeaClear Acrylic, 192 watt Orbit Lunar PC, Filstar XP2, Filstar XP1, JBJ Regulator, Rhinox 5000 glass co2 diffusor, 9 watt UV sterilizer, Hydor Inline Heater, Pool Filter Sand substrate Filstar pimp #53 How comes shoppings so stupid, looks at all this stuff I haves, what do I do's with it.

03-23-2005, 03:44 AM	#15
PeteyPob Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33/100%) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio TX Posts: 930	Its been about 3 weeks and my stallatas dont seem to be getting any red in them. I added a light fixture that pumps 4.7 wpg, less than a week ago. My nitrates are at 20 phosphates 1.5-2 and potassium is getting in there too.. I dose my trace with the csm+b plus extra iron pretty hard to hopefully put more iron into the tank. I put 1 tbs + 1tsp into 250ml and dose 15ml into the tank from that. I dont know how much iron is in the tank, I guess im reliant on the csm+b to put enough iron in there.There is no negative effects to my tank the way I dose it but doesnt seem to help them either. I have my temp at 83 deg. Any clues? Thanks! Pete

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