Utricularia graminifolia pearling, tell me your secrets!

[jamesdson]

My UG is growing really nice and healthy. but it doesn't pearl like i see in the youtube videos! suppppeer jeaalous!

currently using fishneedit 2x24 HO light, about 15 inches from the soil surface in my 60F.

i do feed the plants fertz regularly and use pressurized co2. using the same co2 in my other tank and they're pearling like crazy.

TELL ME YOUR SECRET GUYSSS!!!
k thanks lol.

[HD Blazingwolf]

It allllllll comes down to light and c02.. and 5% ferts.

Flow does make a slight difference as well. If u wish to make it happen, push the flow of co2 rich water directly over it or a few hours then turn off the filters/ powerheads in ur tank. There will be less flow to dissolve the oxygen and u will see pearling. This is only valid if u have enough light to drive growth fast enough to produce visible oxygen bubbles

[jamesdson]

hmmm okay thanks! I'll try to work something out

[HD Blazingwolf]

Specific information about ur tank will help a lot.

Fishneedit lights are not very "powerfull" lights.. so keep that in mind on ur adventure

[jamesdson]

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

Specific information about ur tank will help a lot.

Fishneedit lights are not very "powerfull" lights.. so keep that in mind on ur adventure

the UG is in the ada60f. I'm aware of lack of PAR from fishneedit (I get what I pay for lol). I read that UG doesn't have a lot of surface to pearl like glosso would and they thrive better in medium light. I'm also afraid to lower my light that may cause algae problems because I currently don't have a par meter. still I'm being indecisive of what I want to do (should I just leave it the way it is since they're healthy? or should I experience something that I could learn from;good or bad). my drop checker shows solid green color and UG shouldn't require more co2.

does anyone use fishneedit light in their shallow tank? how low is it appropriate for my light fixture to be?

oh I also use Ada soil if that even matter because I also read that they get most of their fertz from the water column. but I could be wrong! let me know

[HD Blazingwolf]

Plants will get ferts from soil or water, and may choose one over the other but again can get it either way. Aquasoil just garauntees it will always be there

Green is a good drop checker color. But u can go more. The experience is up to u, if u drop the lights increase co2 slowly... pearling doesnt mean plants are growing well, its just a sign some have that they are growing fast

[plantbrain]

UG is mandatory CO2 enrichment. It will do poorly with low CO2.
See my 120 Gal tank journal for UG growth, pruning, replanting etc.

[Rainer]

Originally Posted by plantbrain

UG is mandatory CO2 enrichment. It will do poorly with low CO2.

What's the natural habitat for this to require so much CO2 - rapids?

[jamesdson]

Originally Posted by plantbrain

UG is mandatory CO2 enrichment. It will do poorly with low CO2.
See my 120 Gal tank journal for UG growth, pruning, replanting etc.

i am currently reading through your journal (it's long as heck!!)

since my tank is really shallow, do you think i lose more co2 because it's not giving enough time for small bubbles to diffuse (naturally) into the water before it escapes the water surface?

[HD Blazingwolf]

Originally Posted by jamesdson

i am currently reading through your journal (it's long as heck!!)

since my tank is really shallow, do you think i lose more co2 because it's not giving enough time for small bubbles to diffuse (naturally) into the water before it escapes the water surface?

how are u diffusing?

[ThatGuyWithTheFish]

Originally Posted by Rainer

What's the natural habitat for this to require so much CO2 - rapids?

No, most plants like that actually grow on river banks, where it has moisture and open air for CO2. Most demanding plants do not grow fully submerged in the wild.

[jamesdson]

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

how are u diffusing?

i'm using regular archaea diffuser. not their brown micro-micro one.

[HD Blazingwolf]

do u have good flow around the diffuser? that will largely affect how its distributed throughout the tank and how well it gets diffused before reachingthe surface

[jamesdson]

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

do u have good flow around the diffuser? that will largely affect how its distributed throughout the tank and how well it gets diffused before reachingthe surface

hmm seems good. well the drop checker is green. should be good enough anyways.

[HD Blazingwolf]

Color is a decent indicator. Mine is yellow and as my plants fill in and grow closer to the light i increase my co2 further...
I use my plant growth as a co2 indicator. If its not high enough then my plants arent growing properly and its noticeable