Floating grass ID?

[Laoshan]

Hello,

I got this floating grass from a hobbyist trader. As an extra with another plant I bought. However I forgot to keep the label and now I don’t remember the name. I think it was called water bamboo. Google thinks I must be asking how to grow lucky bamboo in the aquarium, but that does not help me at all.

It is an easy grower with fine roots for the shrimps to forage.

Who can help me ID this plant?

 

[Laoshan]

 

[mort]

Hygrorhyza aristata. It can do very very well in some tanks but not so well in others.

 

[Laoshan]

Great! Thanks for helping me out, I couldn’t have guessed that..

It seems to do well in my tank so far. It doesn’t look so neat, but I like it.

 

[mort]

Those are the first growths, if it likes conditions it can get really thick. The problem I had with it was if nutrients were lacking it would stay spindly and then the roots drag it under the waters surface.

@zozo has grown it and posted about it in the past I believe.

 

[zozo]

I did, for a few years... 🙂 It's a hog for nutrients light and also temperature. It likes it with all in the higher ends if it gets this it will erect its tips and stick vertically out the water like a mini floating bamboo plant. It can grow extremely long with extremely long roots up to 40cm deep. If it's warm enough and has enough light intensity it also can grow emersed as a bog plant.

But as said it's a hog and needs a lot of attention to stay happy... That's why I don't have it any longer, neglected it and it slowly dwindled away.

Never really took a lot of pictures from it, but still could find this.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I had with it was if nutrients were lacking

I tried it as well, but it <"never enjoyed life with me"> either.

Hygrorhyza didn't like me, my tanks were too nutrient poor and /or soft.

It's a hog for nutrients light and also temperature.

I'm guessing that it is a real <"turned up to eleven"> plant, from nutrient rich, seasonally inundated areas where it gets loads of light, as well as having access to <"aerial CO2 etc">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Laoshan]

That does not sound like an ideal plant for my little 35l tank..🤔. Although, close to the LED light and with daily ferts it might stay happy for a while. But I cannot let it take over. Good to hear your experiences with this one.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

That does not sound like an ideal plant for my little 35l tank

I've just found it that it is used in <"Aquaculture to feed Grass Carp">,* so I'm guessing that if it is really enjoying itself it could fill the 35 litre tank every week.

* Hossain, M. et al. (2020) "Use of Asian watergrass as feed of grass carp" Aquaculture Reports, 18,

cheers Darrel

 

[mort]

I never found it a hard plant to manage when it was doing really well. You can just nip off the last few inches of the new growth and chuck the other parts away. It was also a very popular plant that I had no problems swapping locally. I think mine diminished when the emersed growth really took over.