NEKvt

I tried crispus too. I planted in the spring when the water in my tank was a lot warmer than the water I took the plant out of, I think that may have done it in. Wanted to try again this summer but have no room for it now. There are lots of cool plants in local ponds, and great fish too that are commonly overlooked by aquarists. A bonus is that in most cases you don't need a heater to keep them

davemonkey

So I wonder if having these species (the natives of non-tropics) would be similar to keeping some of the Apon. species that have to have a rest period (a dormancy).

Perhaps if I still have these Potamogetons by December I'll pull them out and put them in wet soil outdoors and let nature do the rest, just try to imitate their natural life-cycle. I think if I did that I'd also leave some in the aquarium to get a true test out of it. (But that's several months away.)

iceblue

Currently keeping some P. Crispus that I got from AquaBotanic about a year ago and have not had any problems with it other than its runners popping up where I don't want them. Tank temp anywhere from 74 to 79.

davemonkey

Well, that's good news. I just looked at a distribution map on the USDA Plants Database and they both share a distribution of EVERYWHERE in the contiguous states and parts of Canada. It seems, then, that they can in fact adapt to a 'tropical' lifestyle in an aquarium (at least for a year).

The P. nodosus petioles have been getting longer and it's looking now like either a background plant or like it may eventually only have floating leaves (unless trimmed). How does the P.crispus look? Does it keep many leaves under water?

iceblue

It has not shed any leaves. It is a very fast grower like P. gayi. The leaves are almost transparent and release quite a bit of oxygen. The only problem is maybe that there is an inch between internodes of the leaves, so needless to say it is not a "bushy" stem plant.

davemonkey

Update:

Well, my lighting was insufficient for it I believe. It got slightly shaded by a tall sword and my light was only moderate to begin with. The submerged leaves were really nice and bronze/green with a slight crinkled look. But, the lower portion of the plant was completely shaded and just rotted away after a few weeks. I think it would be a great plant for higher light aquariums, though.

-Dave

Avalon

Thanks for experimenting with it. I always wondered about the plant that inhabits our ponds...and this is it! I think I'll grab a handfull next time I'm out there and give it a go. There's another one we have I'd like to try as well.

davemonkey

Experimenting with natives is fun, and CHEAP! If you decide to try some, I'd be interested in how it turns out for you!

Robert Hudson

P. crispus is easy to grow in the aquarium. It is a very prolific grower, and will grow in most any water conditions. Its actually not native to the USA, but is found introduced all over the country. It is classified as a nuisance/invasive plant in some states, but not federally. Its known as "curly pond weed". I sell the plant.

Your Potamogeton looks cool! Reminds me of a Cryp.

aquabillpers

In the wild (in New York) in starts to die back in August and has returned to its roots, so to speak, in a month or so.

Also in the wild, it spreads along the surface in strings many feet long.

Are you saying that this does not happen in tropical tanks?

Bill