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buying emersed plants

Crossocheilus

Crossocheilus

Member
Joined
23 Mar 2014
Messages
539
Location
Oxford
I've always been confused about which plants you buy are grown emersed and which are in their submerged form. I think 1 2 grow is emersed but most pots are submerged?? As for emersed what is involved in the switch from emersed to submerged? Complete die off?? Are emersed plants or submerged plants better to buy?
I fear I must sound like an idiot but just need clarification 😕
Thanks
 
Emersed plants are easier to transport, last more if kept in well conditions (much easier to find the right conditions out of the water than in the water, we all know this 😉 ), retailers avoid algae problems and for customers emersed plants looks nicer when bought (stems do not bend, etc.). As discussed in another thread, at least where I leave, most of the LFS are changing their classic plant display tanks for plant cabinets misted every few minutes. They have huge collections of healthy plants that can be kept perfectly for months in their pots or in the jelly (those ones do not need any special plant cabinets). The truly aquatic plants (Vallisneria, Najas, Egeria, etc.) remain in the fish tanks sometimes not in the best conditions.

Concerning the adaptation to your tank, I never had any problem with emersed plants... At least with a dozen of species. In most cases they have worked much better than plants swapped with someone, not sure if it was due the plant genetics (I have tried several producers and believe me, there is a huge difference in the quality/strength of plants) or to the adaptation of plants to the new environment. I'm not sure but maybe it is easier for a plant to change from emersed to submersed, than from submersed in conditions A to submersed in conditions B... It would be nice to have an expert opinion in that sense

Jordi
 
Hi
If you can supply ample amounts of Co2 you should really not have that much problem getting the plants adapting to underwater.
This where most scapers fall at the first hurdle....
To much light not enough Co2 and flow, plus inhabitants already in a new planted set-up,being impatient,no fertilizer routine....all can have a direct affect on getting the plants adapting to under water life.
My advice is do not have or add fish/shrimp till the plants a growing well and reasonably established and free from problems....usually a few months...for the less experienced scapers.
Cheers
hoggie
 
Thanks for all the replies guys, really informative! Hoggie, yeah I was thinking I would need to be patient, learning the ins and outs of high tech before adding livestock, but no cleanup crew means more work for me, oh well.
No one's actually said what the process of emersed to submerged involves, is there die off of everything above the substrate before it starts to grow new submerged growth?
 
Hi
Depends on the species...Crypts may go through a whole leaf melt in some cases, then regenerate new growth from the base.
Luwigias seem to hang onto their leaves till new ones emerge.
Rotalas usually do the same......its a bit of hit and miss with the transformation with each species.
I usually remove most of the leaves from Rotalas/Ludwigias which are in the emersed mode...this helps to encourage new growth...plus keeps the aquarium from getting too polluted.
Grasses seem to fair better...as do Vallis/Sag species.
Cheers
hoggie
 
Thanks Hoggie, so it sounds like as long as flow, ferts and co2 are good emersed plants will do fine and the change to submerged isn't a problem.
 
Not really, its when too much light is used that's what causes most problems.
5 hours a day at start up, get some fast growing stems like http://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Hygrophilapolysperma(050)/4483 or http://tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Hygrophiladifformis(051BDT)/4485...you can use both of these as floating plants also.
Go to the Swap/Wanted/For Sale section and ask for cuttings...of fast growers like the above...these will get your aquarium cycled much faster.
Cheers
hoggie
 
Alright yep, sounds doable, thanks Hoggie! You've been really helpful, getting this all clear. Btw I've got cycled filter media that will help with cycle as well, converting the ammonia from substrate and die off into nitrite then nitrate.
 
I find the biggest melt happens when moving the emersed into a lowtech tank but as long as roots are good new leaves will sprout and the plant usually recovers. If you have no live stock do 100% daily water change before lights on, the plants will get a good gasp of co2 and your water will be usually full of CO2 from the tap. I usually have fish so I do about a daily 75% water change in a new setup.
 
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