Vallisneria gigantea rubra

[faizal]

Hi.🙂 I am planning to grow these low tech. I came across an article here:

Tropical Fish Finder.co.uk - The ultimate UK fish keeping resource for all types of tropical and marine fish, including fish books, articles, fish shops, fish clubs and more.

Says there that the vallis doesn't do well in soft water conditions & one of the golden rule for succeeding with them is that we should plant it in such a way that the crown of the plant should not be planted into the substrate. That it should be 1-2 cm above the substrate. Does anyone have any tips for planting this plant?
Always loved the canopy effect that they produced. Any input from you guys is worth a lot.

Cheers

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi
These will do okay in low tech...leave the white part of the crown above substrate and should be okay.
Found that they send runners out in softer substrate quicker....compared to the coarser gravels.
The plant will benefit from Macro/Trace and water changes.
hoggie

 

[faizal]

Cheers hoggie.🙂 I am planning to use JBL aquabasis plus as a substrate mixed with a generous portion of CaCO3 powder then cap the whole thing with some black colored aquarium soil which wouldn't leech too much NH4 as Aqua soil would. I keep hearing how these plants seem to do well in hard waters & that soft water hinders their growth.
Do you think I am doing the right thing? Probably 1.3 WPG of T8 lighting for about 3-4 hrs initially since it's going to be a non co2 tank.

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi
I had this plant when i had a 4 feet tank using one t8 i think it was a 24 watt bulb....so doesn't require masses of light.
You doing the right thing when it comes to starting a new tank regarging the lighting....i would go 4-5 hours.
Not so sure on the soft water thing...if you have soft water and dose ferts..i cant see that being a problem.
Cheers
hoggie