Hi,

I am wondering if my tank would properly support Red Lotus plants. I have a
75 gallon that has mainly dwarf and small sag's and val's with some
medium-tall crypts and some shorter crypts that were potted when i bought
them. (sorry can't remember the types of crypts right now). I have a lot of
open water space and have a 4 x 65 CF Coralife fixture. 2 10000K & 2 6500K
bulbs. I would love to have 3 or 4 of these pretty plants. A display at a
lfs where i live has some and they are are really pretty. Currently i don't
have CO2 but plan on getting it after i move in a month, could this properly
support these plants? I do fertilize now using Seachem products. I don't
have any current algea problems thanks to some suggestions on this group.
oh yeah, my substrate is Florite that has had Seacheam root tabs pushed in
several times over the last year or so. i use 2 canister filters.

thanks.

I have a lot of
open water space and have a 4 x 65 CF Coralife fixture. 2 10000K & 2 6500K
bulbs.

You've got almost 3.5 watts per gallon. With that much light, you must have
CO2. If you can't inject CO2 right now, remove or turn off two of the bulbs.

Red tiger lotus will grow well in your tank, once you start injecting CO2.
They are heavy root feeders. In addition to the Seachem Flourish tabs you
currently have, you may have to give them some Jobe's spikes, too. (Or
something with nitrate and phosphate.)

I have a tank much like yours, and I've found these to be easy plants to keep.
But they get huge. You may find three or four of them are too much, unless
they are the only plants in the tank.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Thanks for the info LeighMo. I will be getting CO2 for sure after my move.
Your tank has some pretty Red Lotus. I have to get some of these after I
move. Do you have any green ones in your tank somewhere or just the red
ones?



"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
I have a lot of
open water space and have a 4 x 65 CF Coralife fixture. 2 10000K & 2
6500K
bulbs.

You've got almost 3.5 watts per gallon. With that much light, you must
have
CO2. If you can't inject CO2 right now, remove or turn off two of the
bulbs.

Red tiger lotus will grow well in your tank, once you start injecting CO2.
They are heavy root feeders. In addition to the Seachem Flourish tabs you
currently have, you may have to give them some Jobe's spikes, too. (Or
something with nitrate and phosphate.)

I have a tank much like yours, and I've found these to be easy plants to
keep.
But they get huge. You may find three or four of them are too much,
unless
they are the only plants in the tank.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

I agree with what LeighMo has said about the room these plants take up. I bought
one plant and now and all the off shoots have taken over nealry 1/2 of my 90
gallon. The pruning will begin this weekend.

Chris

LeighMo wrote:

I have a lot of
open water space and have a 4 x 65 CF Coralife fixture. 2 10000K & 2 6500K
bulbs.

You've got almost 3.5 watts per gallon. With that much light, you must have
CO2. If you can't inject CO2 right now, remove or turn off two of the bulbs.

Red tiger lotus will grow well in your tank, once you start injecting CO2.
They are heavy root feeders. In addition to the Seachem Flourish tabs you
currently have, you may have to give them some Jobe's spikes, too. (Or
something with nitrate and phosphate.)

I have a tank much like yours, and I've found these to be easy plants to keep.
But they get huge. You may find three or four of them are too much, unless
they are the only plants in the tank.

Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Your tank has some pretty Red Lotus.

Thanks. There are actually two different kinds of red Nymphaea in my tank.
Nymphaea zenkari, AKA red tiger lotus, is the big one. Nymphaea daubenyana are
smaller plants, and their red is more orange-ish than the Zenkari (which has a
purplish tint).

I have to get some of these after I
move.

One will probably be enough. Tiger lotus grow very quickly and throw off
babies like crazy. Plant one, and you'll have a dozen of them before you know
it.

Do you have any green ones in your tank somewhere or just the red
ones?

I've got a couple of green ones, but they are at the back of the tank, and tend
to blend in with the other green plants. They are smaller than the red tiger
lotus, probably because they are crowded (in the back left of the tank, behind
all those stem plants) and don't get as much light.




Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

LeighMo, what did you do about feeding your fish and fertilizing your plants
while you were gone? I have a 2 week trip to Europe in a couple of weeks
and I am trying to figure out what to do.


"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
Your tank has some pretty Red Lotus.

Thanks. There are actually two different kinds of red Nymphaea in my
tank.
Nymphaea zenkari, AKA red tiger lotus, is the big one. Nymphaea
daubenyana are
smaller plants, and their red is more orange-ish than the Zenkari (which
has a
purplish tint).

I have to get some of these after I
move.

One will probably be enough. Tiger lotus grow very quickly and throw off
babies like crazy. Plant one, and you'll have a dozen of them before you
know
it.

Do you have any green ones in your tank somewhere or just the red
ones?

I've got a couple of green ones, but they are at the back of the tank, and
tend
to blend in with the other green plants. They are smaller than the red
tiger
lotus, probably because they are crowded (in the back left of the tank,
behind
all those stem plants) and don't get as much light.




Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

LeighMo, what did you do about feeding your fish and fertilizing your plants
while you were gone? I have a 2 week trip to Europe in a couple of weeks
and I am trying to figure out what to do.

Your tank should be okay for two weeks. In the wild, fish often go that long
without food.

If I'm going to be away for a couple of weeks, I put in some extra fertilizer
in the days before. I also put some Flourish tabs in the substrate. Right
before I leave, I do a massive pruning, cutting back the plants severely.

For the fish...I try to feed them especially well the week before I leave.
They've always been fine when I get back two weeks later -- fat and sassy,
even.

I also try to do a big water change and clean the filter the day before I
leave. If you're not feeding the tank, the filter doesn't get clogged as fast,
so even if you usually clean it weekly, it will probably be okay for two
weeks. (Just make sure all the connections are tight. The last thing you want
is for a hose to work loose while you're away.)

I do a water change and a pruning as soon as I get back. The plants may be a
little pale (from lack of fertilizer), but they'll be alive. Heck, IME,
they'll be massively overgrown.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Yesterday I was visiting a fish store in the Atlanta area that is suppose to
have a good selection of plants....and they did. It's Petland on State
Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge (lots of plants)......anyway.........they had
some Red Tiger Lotus for $19.99, but they were very tiny with very small
leaves. The guy ended up giving me one of the very little ones for $3.99.
I couldn't resist that so I took it. It has about 6 slightly larger than
thumbnail size leaves and it DOES have a tubular. Since it has a tubular,
doesn't this mean it can produce runners and baby plants? I planted it in
the front-mid center of my tank. I am hoping this little guy will establish
itself and grow nicely and eventually look like LeighMo's Tiger Lotus!

Oh, should the tubular be under or above the florite bed? It was hard to
plant without damaging it since it's so small. The tubular is kinda half
under and half above the substrate.

thanks.

"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
Your tank has some pretty Red Lotus.

Thanks. There are actually two different kinds of red Nymphaea in my
tank.
Nymphaea zenkari, AKA red tiger lotus, is the big one. Nymphaea
daubenyana are
smaller plants, and their red is more orange-ish than the Zenkari (which
has a
purplish tint).

I have to get some of these after I
move.

One will probably be enough. Tiger lotus grow very quickly and throw off
babies like crazy. Plant one, and you'll have a dozen of them before you
know
it.

Do you have any green ones in your tank somewhere or just the red
ones?

I've got a couple of green ones, but they are at the back of the tank, and
tend
to blend in with the other green plants. They are smaller than the red
tiger
lotus, probably because they are crowded (in the back left of the tank,
behind
all those stem plants) and don't get as much light.




Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

....they had
some Red Tiger Lotus for $19.99, but they were very tiny with very small
leaves.

Man, that's steep. They probably paid $2 each, if that.

I couldn't resist that so I took it. It has about 6 slightly larger than
thumbnail size leaves and it DOES have a tubular. Since it has a tubular,
doesn't this mean it can produce runners and baby plants?

Even without a tuber, they can produce runners and baby plants. As long you
have enough light and nutrients for them, they will reproduce like crazy. I've
given away dozens. As long as the plant has healthy roots and is of reasonable
size, it's fine.

I am hoping this little guy will establish
itself and grow nicely and eventually look like LeighMo's Tiger Lotus!

It probably will. It's going to take over the tank, mark my words!

Oh, should the tubular be under or above the florite bed? It was hard to
plant without damaging it since it's so small. The tubular is kinda half
under and half above the substrate.

That's good. The tuber stores food for the plant. Once it's used up, it may
rot and fall off. Don't worry, that doesn't mean the plant is dying.

Tiger lotus leaves don't last long. It's normal for older leaves to die off.
As long as new ones are growing in, it's okay.

The leaves will get bigger and bigger, until they eventually reach the surface.
It's best to cut off any leaves that are heading for the surface before they
get there. That encourages the plant to put out more underwater leaves. If
you allow the plant to produce surface leaves, that's all it will grow, and it
will soon shade out the other plants in the tank.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

thanks for the info Leigh, i'll keep the group updated.

"LeighMo" wrote in message
...
....they had
some Red Tiger Lotus for $19.99, but they were very tiny with very small
leaves.

Man, that's steep. They probably paid $2 each, if that.

I couldn't resist that so I took it. It has about 6 slightly larger than
thumbnail size leaves and it DOES have a tubular. Since it has a
tubular,
doesn't this mean it can produce runners and baby plants?

Even without a tuber, they can produce runners and baby plants. As long
you
have enough light and nutrients for them, they will reproduce like crazy.
I've
given away dozens. As long as the plant has healthy roots and is of
reasonable
size, it's fine.

I am hoping this little guy will establish
itself and grow nicely and eventually look like LeighMo's Tiger Lotus!

It probably will. It's going to take over the tank, mark my words!

Oh, should the tubular be under or above the florite bed? It was hard to
plant without damaging it since it's so small. The tubular is kinda half
under and half above the substrate.

That's good. The tuber stores food for the plant. Once it's used up, it
may
rot and fall off. Don't worry, that doesn't mean the plant is dying.

Tiger lotus leaves don't last long. It's normal for older leaves to die
off.
As long as new ones are growing in, it's okay.

The leaves will get bigger and bigger, until they eventually reach the
surface.
It's best to cut off any leaves that are heading for the surface before
they
get there. That encourages the plant to put out more underwater leaves.
If
you allow the plant to produce surface leaves, that's all it will grow,
and it
will soon shade out the other plants in the tank.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

Chris Spierings wrote in
:

I agree with what LeighMo has said about the room these plants take
up. I bought one plant and now and all the off shoots have taken over
nealry 1/2 of my 90 gallon. The pruning will begin this weekend.

A cool note- if you prune the surface shoots (the leaves that try for the
surface) the plant will 'learn" and produce more low bushy foliage. I guess
it's a survival trait for areas with outboard motors

~Empty
--
'You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love till it
kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other
till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains,
children, it's blood... blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may
be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.'
Spike