Need a change

[Michael]

Hi all, I have a 300 gallon planted tank. I'm going crazy (in a good way) with it. No algea problems and the plants are growing insanely. That's my problem, plant growth. I trim my E.Stelatta back but in a matter of a week I need to pull it out and cut it way back again. Same with my Cabomba, each stem grows about 16" a week. I added two Apon bulbs two months ago, they are now circling the tank. I'm pulling them this week and selling the to my LFS. I need a change.

I am looking for suggestions on grassier plants that range from 6" to 16". I am selling off all my Stelatta, Apons and Vals. Anyone interested??? let me know.

The tank hase CO2 and high light and dosed with ferts from G. Watson daily. Lighting is four 96w 6700k and three 150W 10,000k MH.

Here is a pic as it sits now

Thank you

 

[phanmc]

beautiful tank, hate to see you give up the scape because the plants grow too quickly. Have you tried cutting back on the amount of lights, perhaps just use 2 of the CF lights or just use the MH by themselves?

Some options for grass like plants are:

Sagittaria
Blyxa japonica
Blyxa aubertii
Eleocharis vivipara
Eleocharis acicularis
Cyperus helferi

 

[Tom Barr]

Driftwood and rocks do not grow.
Crypts are a good solution as well, many are tall and grassy as well.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Michael]

I have 5 large pieces of driftwood and 2 extreemly large rocks plus many small. I am looking for plants that will require high light and are more managable.

 

[Tom Barr]

Low light makes everything more manageable.
If the high light tank has slower growing plants, what happens when things go wrong then? the plants grow in and then they stop at a certain size.

Then you have trouble.
The faster growth/higher light tanks have problems that occur much faster and more intense. You remove the faster growing plants, you also remove the balance from such tanks. You can doa little of both, some fast, some slow growth plants, but you loose more and more stability as the % changes.

You can easily mange things by simply reducing light, you do not need nearly as much as you have been led to believe.

Then if you neglect things, nothing is that bad, you save $, the tank is more stable and you can grow everything you want without such trade offs.

Topping and other pruning methods can make it easier as well.

Regards,
Tom Barr