hoppycalif

Today I am trying out the method Tom Barr recommended for establishing a ground cover before filling the tank with water. I'm using one pot of Glossostigma elatinoides, cut into nodes and planted "dry", in Black Fluorite Sand, with Diamond Black as a lower layer. This is in a 10 gallon tank, with 30 watts of CFL coiled tube bulbs, with good DIY reflectors. I just spent an hour and a half planting the glosso - reminded me of the videos I see of people in Asia planting rice. The substrate is soaked, but no water is visible. Here is what it looks like now. Note that one pot wasn't enough to completely cover the substrate. But, fortunately, I intended to leave a bare area for some Rotala after I fill the tank.



I plan to post pictures as the glosso grows, assuming it does grow. Has anyone tried this and failed?

bigstick120

Glosso is a real demanding plant and defiantly not slow growing!

I could see the advantage of doing this with dwarf hairgrass or HC due to demands and growth rates.

Either way looks like a fun experiment to try out. I assume you have the tank covered.

hoppycalif

This is a standard 10 gallon tank with a "perfecto" hood and light on it, so it is covered. I used a bit of plastic wrap to cover the slot for the HOB filter.

A big advantage I found while planting this way is that there is no risk of the tiny plantlets floating up and frustrating me. Some of those are just barely covered with substrate now, something impossible to do in a tank of water.

I picked glosso instead of HC because I will have no CO2 for this tank, just Excel, and I'm not at all sure HC would do well that way. It is just a learning exercise anyway. The open area will be for learning how to prune a dense stand of Rotala to get a good round bush, and maintain it. Just one more thing I need to learn.

Amazon_Replica

I have glosso running rampant in my 125, i transfered a clump to my 55, it hasn't died, but hasn't established either. I'm curious to see your results.

John P.

Thanks for documenting this. I will be doing the same with Lilaeopsis soon.

Thanks,

NeonRob

I know it's only been 5 days, but have you noticed and new growth or death yet? Also, how did you make your DIY reflectors?

hoppycalif

First: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...gal-light.html is how I made the reflectors.

Second:
The plantlets all look about the same, with a few yellowing leaves here and there, but only slight growth so far. A possible problem is that the tank temperature isn't steady, since there is no water in it. It varies from about 65F early in the morning to 75F late in the lights on time. I think it will be another couple of weeks before any significant growth can occur.

hoppycalif

Here is the glosso after one week. It is obviously growing. And, no algae that I can find.


I'm guessing that a couple more weeks is all it will take to get it grown in enough so I can fill the tank with water

jazzlvr123

hmm i don't know why but i cant see the pics you posted. glosso should take about 3-4 weeks to carpet a tank in emmersed conditions depending on how densely you plant it. it also helps to open the top every other day to let some fresh air/Co2 into your tank. good luck

hoppycalif

Two weeks after planting the glosso, here is how it looks:



So, now what? I'm wondering if the plants will spread out or just keep growing taller. And, is this the time to add water, or is it critical when the water is added? I would really like to wait another two weeks before adding water, so should I shear these - "mow the lawn"? Or, perhaps cut the tips off and plant them too, to get a thicker growth? I'm open for suggestions.