a couple of questions

[mousey]

1. Are the Jobes spikes you speak of regular ones like i put around my African violets or are they an aquatic variety?
2. my vals are changing to a funny color-- a few are coming up from the mother plant very pale almost transparent brown. As they mature they are a reddish brown. I have been reading about vals and I do not see this addressed except that they have periods where they die off. Is this true?
I never had this particular problem when i grew them years ago.
I am using Hagen Plant Gro and have 40 watts Fl. on 10 gal tank.
3. I had to prune the val leaves as the wisteria below started to get straggly. perhaps a switch to java fern under the val leaves would be better than trimming?
thanks
Mouse

[pedietz]

Found this answer when researching the same problem...

http://www.plantedtank.net/forum/vie...ight=brown+val

My vals turn brown also when I trim them....
if the brown gets to the base, the whole leaf is dead and is pruned...

I use my finger tip, and not sharp scissors. I'll try those next time.

[Wasserpest]

1) There is no aquatic variety of Jobes spikes that I am aware of, but most recommended is the "Lush Ferns and Palms" flavor, which has a lower phosphate content than the regular ones.

2) This could be a sign of nutrient deficiency. In a high light tank, plants consume more nutrients, faster. Specifically a lack of nitrates causes certain plants to turn reddish color.
There is also a reddish colored variety of Vals.

3) Or, you could throw out the Vals (move into bigger tank, etc.) and stick to slower growing plants for the 10 gal. Many choices.