I did not expect to grow Rotala macrandra in a non-CO2 tank from the first beginning. My aquarium was set up 1 year ago, I dosed glutaraldehyde daily as the carbon supply, until January I used up glutaraldehyde. The tank became a real non-CO2 tank since January. I also stopped dosing nutrients from that time. To my surprise, Rotala macrandra survived and kept growing till today.
This was my tank, the pictures were taken 2 days ago.
My aquarium is a 3-foot 50 gal tank, I used OMLOPP LED from IKEA 80 cm x 2 for the aquatic plants, and another 3 mounted 25 cm above the aquarium for the land part. Two months ago I elevated the lighting for the land part from 25 cm to 31 cm, and increased the OMLOP LED 80 cm from 3 to 6 for the Phragmipedium. Rotala macradra is doing well so far after changing the lighting.
Rotala macrandra:
View attachment 248004
I use Kanuma pumice as the substrate in the aquarium. The CEC of Kanuma pumice ranges from 30-50 meq/100g, it is a good substitute for ADA aqua soil or Akadama. In addition, the color of Kanuma pumice is bright and it is cheap here (in Taiwan). The KH of my aquarium is maintaining at 1 dKH due to Kanuma pumice, while the KH of the tap water is 3.75 dKH.
I use activated carbon as the filter media. Activated carbon has an incredibly large surface area per unit volume that is beneficial for growing microorganisms, thus more CO2 productions.
I suppose that low light, lower KH due to Kanuma pumice and activated carbon that provides more surface area for microorganisms are the main factors that help Rotala macrandra grow in my non-CO2 tank.
This was my tank, the pictures were taken 2 days ago.
My aquarium is a 3-foot 50 gal tank, I used OMLOPP LED from IKEA 80 cm x 2 for the aquatic plants, and another 3 mounted 25 cm above the aquarium for the land part. Two months ago I elevated the lighting for the land part from 25 cm to 31 cm, and increased the OMLOP LED 80 cm from 3 to 6 for the Phragmipedium. Rotala macradra is doing well so far after changing the lighting.
Rotala macrandra:
View attachment 248004
I use Kanuma pumice as the substrate in the aquarium. The CEC of Kanuma pumice ranges from 30-50 meq/100g, it is a good substitute for ADA aqua soil or Akadama. In addition, the color of Kanuma pumice is bright and it is cheap here (in Taiwan). The KH of my aquarium is maintaining at 1 dKH due to Kanuma pumice, while the KH of the tap water is 3.75 dKH.
I use activated carbon as the filter media. Activated carbon has an incredibly large surface area per unit volume that is beneficial for growing microorganisms, thus more CO2 productions.
I suppose that low light, lower KH due to Kanuma pumice and activated carbon that provides more surface area for microorganisms are the main factors that help Rotala macrandra grow in my non-CO2 tank.
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