What is the main points of planting Tonina and Eriocaulon ?

TetraLover

Junior Poster
Jun 8, 2008
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Hello, i come from Hong Kong.:) My english isn't good, but i try my best to talk/discuss with you.

My Little Tank's information:
45x30x30 (cm) , about 35 (L)
two T5 8w (765)
External Filters
It is Non co2 Tank
ADA soild (the black one)
average temperature is 27degrees(using the fan to cool down)
fertilizer : Tropica Plant Nutrition 3ml /week, Seachem Excel 5ml /day

fish: 10 tetras , one dwarf cichlid (some fish and shrimp i don't know their names)
plants: Tonina , Eriocaulon , Microsorium , Cryptocoryne ......
PICT5631.jpg


Last time when i try to plant Tonina sp. "belem" ,after a week its leafs(always not the top of the plants) began to be brown. And than it kept turning brown until it died.:( And while i was trying it, i was using ADA Brightly Light and seachem excel .But now, i have already change my fertilizer.

some photos about it.
PICT5515.jpg


What is the reason?
I like Tonina very much, please help me.
And also, i like Eriocaulon too.
So i want to know the main points of planting them.
Thank you.
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
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Cause seems to be Excel.
Give it CO2, or do not keep this plant.

I used Excel on some Tonia species and they did exactly what happened to you, but I was using CO2 as well. Most species do well with Excel, but I think if you want to grow these species, use CO2 gas.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

TetraLover

Junior Poster
Jun 8, 2008
8
0
1
Tom Barr;29573 said:
Cause seems to be Excel.
Give it CO2, or do not keep this plant.

I used Excel on some Tonia species and they did exactly what happened to you, but I was using CO2 as well. Most species do well with Excel, but I think if you want to grow these species, use CO2 gas.

Regards,
Tom Barr
Oh, why do they want co2 gas more than excel?
thank you:D
 

Dr.Tran

Junior Poster
Mar 31, 2008
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Because excel is not as effective as co2. At best they are a 7 out of 10 compared to co2.
 

TetraLover

Junior Poster
Jun 8, 2008
8
0
1
But i can't add co2 gas because it is expensive to me.(i'm a student)
How can i decrease the co2 running away from my tank?
are duckweeds work?
Thank you:)
 

Tom Barr

Founder
Staff member
Administrator
Jan 23, 2005
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Then try another species if you cannot afford it, use DIY CO2 etc.
Those are the options.

Excel burnt the Tonia manuas I had.
Perhaps other folks have had success with Excel and other species or manuas, I have not. Still, if I am adding CO2 and there's much issue with any plant, adding a bit more CO2 virtually always, (9x out of 10) resolves the issue/s.

You cannot do that with Excel............it's used more as a temporary fix till the CO2 is corrected and it kills some of the algae.

Basically a "restoration chemical", but long term use is fine for some lower light applications, works very well with HC, many stem plants etc etc

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

TetraLover

Junior Poster
Jun 8, 2008
8
0
1
Tom Barr;29599 said:
Then try another species if you cannot afford it, use DIY CO2 etc.
Those are the options.

Excel burnt the Tonia manuas I had.
Perhaps other folks have had success with Excel and other species or manuas, I have not. Still, if I am adding CO2 and there's much issue with any plant, adding a bit more CO2 virtually always, (9x out of 10) resolves the issue/s.

You cannot do that with Excel............it's used more as a temporary fix till the CO2 is corrected and it kills some of the algae.

Basically a "restoration chemical", but long term use is fine for some lower light applications, works very well with HC, many stem plants etc etc

Regards,
Tom Barr
Okay, let me try the DIY co2 system.
I think i can try to make it if it can help me to keep tonina.
If i stop adding excel now, will they die?
My friend had found a species which can be planted at none co2 tank. That is Tonina sp. "uatumg".
And also, i found Tonina fluviatilis can be planted at none co2 tank.
When they grew very tall and i cut them, after that they all died.
But my friend is success! So i want to try this species next time.
Thank you for you comment.:D