[leo1234]

Hi all i have a quick question about this plant. I have this plant and it doesn't seem to be growing bushy like it suppose to, and it seem like there are growing roots out of the substrate. It grows more stemy. Should i trim the top? Am i missing something?

As for my setup it is a 56 gal column tank with zoo meds t5ho one with
10000 k and othe is a plant bulb. No ferts other than root tabs. Lights is on for 9 hours a day. And substrate is akadama double red line.
Thank you,
Leo.

 

[somewhatshocked]

For S. repens to really thrive, you'll need to provide high light, plenty of CO2 and plenty of ferts. Those are your issues.

In situations without CO2 and plenty of ferts, it becomes more of a skinny stem. You should trim and replant the trimmings until you get the plant density you desire.

 

[leo1234]

Ok thanks i can put more light over them i have an extra t5ho fixture laying around. But i am worried that i will get a ton of algea without the ferts and co2. As for plants i only have pellia/subwassertang in there. Here a pic.

 

[keithy]

I believe jake made that suggestion about high light only when you have ferts and co2.

 

[leo1234]

As you can see in the pic. The tropica is stemy. This pic is when i did a trimming.
Sorry for the bad pic.

 

[somewhatshocked]

Yeah - definitely don't add more light unless you're running pressurized CO2 and dosing ferts.

You appear to have a sparsely planted bunch of plants. The only way to get the desired look you want without CO2/ferts is to trim and replant to make a thicker, more lush grouping.

 

[leo1234]

Oh i see what u mean thank you.

 

[Tinanti]

This plant has a real name, Staurogyne repens. Can't we use it? Why use a Tropica catalog number instead?

 

[TexasCichlid]

I would rather type tropica 49 than staurogyne repens. -- The aquarium hobby is riddled with trade names, is it that big of a deal?

 

[BriDroid]

I've had this plant for a while and when I was running T8s with no CO2 (only Excel) I had very similar growth to what you are describing. The only way to get it to put out any kind of side shoots was to cut the top off and replant it. The cut side would then sprout one or maybe 2 side shoots.

Not that I've gone with better lighting and CO2, the plant is really taking off. All of them have at least 2 side shoots and the are spreading out across the substrate instead of growing up to the light.

If you want to keep your same light and no CO2, just continue to keep cutting the tops off and replanting. It might take longer to fill in, but you'll get there.

 

[Tinanti]

I would rather type tropica 49 than staurogyne repens. -- The aquarium hobby is riddled with trade names, is it that big of a deal?

Trade names that are often inaccurate, misleading, confusing or just plain made up. And is typing out that name really so burdensome? We don't have to be totally scientifically accurate at all times, but golly, I think we can at least put up a little bit of effort. Not to hijack the thread...

 

[jart]

Here is a thread you may find useful:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/tips-on-the-perfect-staurogyne-repens-carpet.18388/

 

[HybridHerp]

This plant has a real name, Staurogyne repens. Can't we use it? Why use a Tropica catalog number instead?

Are there different varieties of this species though? If so, I could understand differentiating by calling it something like S. repens var. tropica. Even when I plan out my tanks though, I like trying to write everything down in scientific name, and then common name.

 

[Centromochlus]

Trade names that are often inaccurate, misleading, confusing or just plain made up.

My personal favorites are water snowball, fairy moss, and el niño fern.

 

[leo1234]

Here is a thread you may find useful:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/tips-on-the-perfect-staurogyne-repens-carpet.18388/

That was a very good thread on them thanks.

 

[plantbrain]

Leo,

I think CO2 and leaving the light the same would serve you well. Excel might toast the Pellia.

As is, the pellia(Cavan will hate this as it's not the name either, it's Monosoleneum) will beat up on the Staurogyne repens for the CO2, and since you have very little and what is there is nabbed by the Monosoleneum, it's not looking good.

Keep the low light.

Add the gas, this will maximize the light use efficiency and remove any CO2 competition BETWEEN plant species. You may need to add some ferts to the water column here and there.

 

[O2surplus]

OMG! I just lucked out to stumble across this thread. I was going to post a picture of this plant, and ask what it was? I received a small portion of this plant from a fellow forum member a few months ago. It's growth has been amazing to say the least. It really seems to enjoy high light, plenty of nutrients, and lots of CO2. This is the best substrate carpeting plant that I've ever had. I'll never have to bother with Glossostigma ever again!

 

[Tinanti]

Are there different varieties of this species though? If so, I could understand differentiating by calling it something like S. repens var. tropica. Even when I plan out my tanks though, I like trying to write everything down in scientific name, and then common name.

Only the standard plant we've all had is kept. There is another one... but it's not available yet. Anyway, the abbreviation var. is a botanical designation applying to a botanical variety (ex: Anubias barteri var. nana - http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-12556). The term is often used for cultivars, plants from a certain area with no botanical standing*, etc. In that case, the name followed by 'red' or whatever in single quotes is appropriate.

* Though it would really be better to say Proserpinaca palustris from Maryland instead of the name and then 'Maryland', for example.

 

[leo1234]

Just a little udate on my sturogyne repens. So far i added more light to them to see if they would grow more and did a rescape. And to my surprize they are growing quite well even with the extra light there is barely any algea!!
Here are some pic's of my tank rescaped. Any comment's and suggestion are welcomed!!

 

[plantbrain]

Just wait and have patience, it'll grow in fine from here.