[Jeff Kropp]

I picked up a few stems of this at albany aquarium a few days ago. So far it looks good and is starting new leaves.

I am wondering what are the common problems with this plant. What symptoms should I look for? Please share your trials and tribulations with this species.
___
Jeff

 

[plantbrain]

It's grown very well for me at 3Kh/5GH and lots of light/NO3/PO4/Traces.

Seems to be a pesky plant for others, mine branched a lot, slow growing in general, nice looking plant.
I had 4 stems, then I had 15.

Do not crowd or allow it to be over shadowed, it did not like that.
Substrate was old Flourite.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[gnome]

Hey, Jeff!

I still have that single stem of this plant. It's hanging in there.

The April-June issue of TAG had an article (with awesome photo) about T. fluviatilis written by Ghazanfar. You should read it.

Since this plant has become available in the States, I've noticed some common statements made by those who keep this species:

1) Never allow it to get shaded
2) Keep KH and GH low
3) Maintain acidic conditions
4) Needs strong light
5) Needs good CO2/macros levels

YMMV.

The very top 1" of my stem stays beautiful, but everything below that is pretty hideous. I've topped and replanted a number of times (I've left the bottom stump rooted but it always rots away) and nothing changes.

If you were able to keep the Eriocaulon setaceum alive, you should have no trouble with the Tonina fluviatilis. If I can make it to the next plant swap, you can have my one Tonina. It looks silly all by its lonesome in my tank.

-Naomi

 

[Hanzo]

It looks silly all by its lonesome in my tank.

he he, good to know I'm not the only one doing this. My R. Macranda startet from a half a inch pieces i got in a bag with some apisto's. As soon as it would grow a few inches, I would cut it it 4 pieces and replant them... It did take a few weeks, but now I have more that I can use 8)

 

[gnome]

Unfortunately, I cannot get this darn plant to branch. I topped and replanted it, but that's the only part that would survive and grow. The base portion always rotted away as soon as the top was cut off. Maybe the stem needs to break the surface before it branches, but if that's not the case, then I risk killing the entire stem. I suppose it doesn't really matter if I end up killing it, though. I was thinking of replacing it with some small pieces of Elodea. Since it's an unheated tank, the Elodea should be okay. The darker green will add a nice contrast.

Thanks for the idea, though - I wish I could have grown out more stems. I actually started out with two (third one arrived dead), killed one of them by letting it get shaded over, and managed to clear away the light-obstructing plant before the other Tonina stem showed any signs of degeneration. It's been plugging along ever since, but in a minimalistic way...

-Naomi

 

[tsunami]

Chiming in a little late, but the Plant Finder has descriptions on both Tonina fluviatilis and Tonina sp Belem which make for good reads.

I wrote them both and reflect my own experiences with this plant.

Carlos