[Green024]

Is it just me? Or does Blyxa tend to slowly rise up out of the substrate over time?
This is going to be the 3rd time I will be having to replant my floating bush of blyxa, they are all hanging in there by just a few lonely, healthy looking roots.

I have them in a 45 gallon tall,(Eheim 2215, 2 nano powerheads, pressurized co2, 1x39 watts of t5HO, dry ferts, Eco-complete substrate, 50% water change weekly) with no fish that could possibly be the cause. (oto cats, guppies, green neon tetras, and RCS)

 

[timwag2001]

i notice in my lower light tanks that it does that

 

[Green024]

hrmmm, this tank is on the medium to high light side. Maybe it does it in all settings.......
Right now its I refer to it as my descending algae farm.( I initially had 4 t5HO's on it...., been struggling with BBA every since)

 

[reybie]

Mine does too but it's because my cories and other bottom dwellers like hanging out by the base and they displace the substrate.

 

[accordztech]

Mine does that but overtime the roots catch my sand and it doesn't do it. But if it starts growing new shoots it starts lifting. Mine grows pretty fast

 

[timwag2001]

bba is more than likely a co2 issue. if you double that i would say you have mid to high. right now i say you have low to mid lighting

 

[captain_bu]

I have this problem at times and suspect it is from my cories looking for food.

 

[Green024]

Soo its just a very bouyant plant is what it is coming down to it seems...
Thanks for the input folks!

 

[timwag2001]

never had that problem once under 4wpg of t5ho. but it does it in my 20 long with 2 30" t5ho bulbs

 

[yikesjason]

Also, as the blyxa grows from the top, it sheds the lower leaves and you end up with long stocks below the live plant. Once you have good healthy growth, it shouldn't be much of a problem. The lower leaves won't shed so much.

 

[Option]

It sounds like an anchoring problem. Blyxa are known to be problematic when you first anchor/plant them in the tank...but once you plug them deep enough on the initial planting, they will develop extensive roots and long too! I uprooted one of my blyxa last week (to transfer to another tank) and the plant itself was maybe 2-inches tall and the roots were like 6-inches long!!!! (more just kept coming out as I pulled the plant up)

BTW, if you have any fish or animals in there that will disturb the gravel or substrate near the plant...this does not help. But if you leave the plant alone long enough for the roots to dig down (a couple weeks) then they develop deep roots!! And they're safe after that.

 

[GitMoe]

My Blyxa also has 6"+ roots after being in the tank for about 3 weeks. 55w light over my 30c. Of course thats hight light. almost 8wpg... pressurized Co2 and ferts.