Why is my Downoi growing like this?

[davej]

What do you think is causing this type of growth in my Downoi?

I have it in a 55 gallon tank with ADA Aquasoil
I dose EI religiously
i have 4-55 watt 9325K GE PC bulbs on for 8.5 hours a day
I have pressurized CO2 with a pinpoint controller
My Ph is set for 5.7

HC is doing well
Utric is happy and spreading fast
But I am not sure why the downoi is growing with such large separation between the leaves.

I posted this on The Planted Tank Forum without much luck, Thought I would
try it here as well.
What are your thoughts?
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[Steve Hampton]

My initial thought is too short of a photoperiod. I've had success with 10-11 hours...in my anecdotal experience when I see large gaps between nodes it is often a lighting issue.

 

[travis]

Tall P. helferi, IMHO, is likely a result of low light.

 

[Frolicsome_Flora]

I would say light as well, but you have loads of light above the tank. Is the plant in any major shadow at all?

I woudlnt say that your photoperiod is too short.. lanky growth is more a sign of insufficient light intensity, rather than anything else.

If you have no shadows, maybe your tubes need cleaning, PC tubes do get pretty mucky after a while.. might be that unless theyre really really old ones, but even then, you have so many of them I doubt that would be it.

 

[Tom Barr]

Try 10 hours and perhaps a 5000K bulb in there as well.
You have tons of light and this is a low light plant.

Regards,.

Tom Barr

 

[davej]

Thanks all will give 10 hours a try.

 

[BHornsey]

Try 10 hours and perhaps a 5000K bulb in there as well.
You have tons of light and this is a low light plant.

Regards,.

Tom Barr

Hi Tom,
I've got some of this and I'm also finding growing quite leggy. According to Tropica it should grow bushy given "good light conditions and a substrate rich in nutrients"
At the moment it in an open area of my 30G under a 70w MH.

Are you saying you get best results with less light or a bit of shadow?

 

[Jules]

I think it needs ALOT of potassiumsulfate,it just loves it!
Feed it with it and youll see it will become both greener and bushier.
Good luck!