Removal of stem plants

[Mattant1984]

Hi all,
I am running a low tech fluval flex 34l with no co2, low light and easy plants.
Everything is growing really well however I have 2 issues:
1. The stem plants are growing so quickly that I feel like all I do is trim trim trim!!
2. With it being a low tech system the stems are also growing quite leggy.

Due to this I am thinking of removing all the stems and going with more slow growing and also more compact plants such as ferns, anubias, buce and crypts. This should help with the maintenance and also look better in the small tank.

I really wanted to know if removing the stems would cause any issues with algae etc and should I do it slowly or just whip them all out??

Many thanks

 

[G mac]

I did exactly this with my flex a few months back. So pleased with the outcome. I lowered the light intensity but kept the lighting period at seven hours. I dose everyday with TNC Lite and carry out a 50% water change each week. Zero algae on the plants.

 

[Mattant1984]

I did exactly this with my flex a few months back. So pleased with the outcome. I lowered the light intensity but kept the lighting period at seven hours. I dose everyday with TNC Lite and carry out a 50% water change each week. Zero algae on the plants.

Oh glad to hear it worked out OK. I'm currently only running my lights at 50% and running for 6 hours a day so I'm hoping algae won't become too much of an issue

 

[G mac]

I did put a photo of it somewhere on the forum but I'll post it again here, when I find it.

 

[G mac]

Here it is.

 

[Mattant1984]

Here it is.

Looks awesome that's exactly the sort of thing I'm going to go for, an island scape with low maintenance plants 🪴

 

[Mattant1984]

I also wanted to know if the removal of the stem plants would cause less ferts to be needed??

 

[G mac]

I also wanted to know if the removal of the stem plants would cause less ferts to be needed??

Maybe but I've kept up with a regular daily dose and given that all the plants are healthy and growing, with no sign of algae, I'm going to stick with 1.5 ml of TNC Lite daily.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

1. The stem plants are growing so quickly that I feel like all I do is trim trim trim!!
2. With it being a low tech system the stems are also growing quite leggy.

That is <"often the problem">. I'm not going to say "I told you so", but you have a thread ...... <"Ideas for stems">

Have a look at @G H Nelson 's <"Using stem plants as a filtering aid at Start Up!"> I think it might help you at the moment. I like <"Ceratopteris and Ceratophyllum"> as my "stems", but any fast growing plant will do.

Because I'm not interested in aesthetics I use the <"two submerged floating plants"> as my "stems".

Definitely the Frogbit, but then again I'm a <"Frogbit obsessive">, and treat this forum a bit like "Frogbit Anonymous"................"My name is Darrel, and I am a frogbitaholic" .

Due to this I am thinking of removing all the stems and going with more slow growing and also more compact plants such as ferns, anubias, buce and crypts. This should help with the maintenance and also look better in the small tank.

That is the route I've gone down, basically the <"slower growing the better"> and just <"floating plant(s)"> as my stems.

I also wanted to know if the removal of the stem plants would cause less ferts to be needed??

They will, you can either follow @G mac's approach, although it would be reliant on your tap water supplying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), or just use the <"Duckweed Index">.

cheers Darrel

 

[bazz]

I really wanted to know if removing the stems would cause any issues with algae etc and should I do it slowly or just whip them all out??

I personally would do it slowly to avoid upsetting the balance as much as possible especially if you otherwise happy with everything else. If you are going for a minor reset and remove them all at once be prepared to do some extra water changes and keep your eye on things for a couple of weeks.

 

[Mattant1984]

Hi all,

That is <"often the problem">. I'm not going to say "I told you so", but you have a thread ...... <"Ideas for stems">

Because I'm not interested in aesthetics I use the <"two submerged floating plants"> as my "stems".


That is the route I've gone down, basically the <"slower growing the better"> and just <"floating plant(s)"> as my stems.

They will, you can either follow @G mac 's approach, although it would be reliant on your tap water supplying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), or just use the <"Duckweed Index">.

cheers Darrel

Thanks Darrel,

I will take a look at those threads later, I am definitely going to keep the floaters (amazon frogbit and dwarf water lettuce) as I do feel they are a real benefit and will also shade out some of the slower plants I will add such as anubias.

 

[Mattant1984]

Hi all,

That is <"often the problem">. I'm not going to say "I told you so", but you have a thread ...... <"Ideas for stems">

Because I'm not interested in aesthetics I use the <"two submerged floating plants"> as my "stems".


That is the route I've gone down, basically the <"slower growing the better"> and just <"floating plant(s)"> as my stems.

They will, you can either follow @G mac 's approach, although it would be reliant on your tap water supplying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), or just use the <"Duckweed Index">.

cheers Darrel

Just look at my old post and yes you did tell me so 😂😂😂

 

[Mattant1984]

I personally would do it slowly to avoid upsetting the balance as much as possible especially if you otherwise happy with everything else. If you are going for a minor reset and remove them all at once be prepared to do some extra water changes and keep your eye on things for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the tip 👍