This plant, Rotala wallichii...is a Sleeping Beauty :D....okay, this is not the only aquatic plant that obviously display the circadian rhythm (biological clock), there's many more. But this is the only one that I have in my tank now :D
The Rotalla walichii is quite an interesting plant, it will fold it's leaves, mostly towards the tip during the night, and will bloom with it's leaves wide open during the day...very interesting to observe :D
Having this plant in a tank, is like having 2 different scape, though it doesn't alter the scape, but the folding and unfolding of the leaves makes the tank looks different :D
This was taken at night...
...And this is during the day
Here's some behavior of the plant in my tank...it starts to bloom in the morning, and sleep at around 2 hours after sunset. They are pretty fast grower, trimming about every 2 weeks, but sometime I will let it grow longer to form an overhanging red canopy. Given enough light, the tip of the plant will turn red, otherwise it will not exhibit it's potential colour in poor lighting. I will say it's a moderate to high lighting plant. And yes, this is more suitable as a background plant.
So I guess that's a bout it, for what I have to say about this plant :D....The Sleeping Beauty, Rotala wallichi :D
Posts
borneo,
hi. tat plant looks cool. sorry for longtime no reply. been bc lately.my plan r growing abit. but got some the leaves getting yellowish. wat happen?the top green.bottom getting yellow..
CLIVE
Hello, how have you been?
Plant becoming yellow...got many reason, can be lighting, can be not planted properly, may I know what plant species is that, and how is your lighting?
i just send u an email. got some pics. can u help me out pls. the spiecies. i not so sure.. i just get from aqua shop.
Okay, read and replied your email :D
finaly i found a shop selling hairgrass. but its so so expensive!! rm15 for like 2inch X 2inch size. is it consider expensive??
Owh that's nice...RM15 is ok, just a little expensive...how much are you expecting the price to be?
But 2x2 inch, is quite a lot if you use it wisely, spread them into individual plants and plant them like planting paddy :D
Ohhhh... can use like tat huh!!!! okok.. i thought the square block just plant it.. seems so little to me. can separate it. thx for guide.
my neon tetra not eatting. dunno y.. n diying one by one.. is it i mix guppy fish together?!
Yeap, 1 pot is a lot if use wisely. Of course if you want to plant densely, maybe you might need few pots.
Here's a diagram how to grow glosso, but you can also use it as a guide on how to grow hairgrass, especially how to cut the plants into individual plantlet to be planted...
http://borneosucker.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-grow-glossostigma-elatinoides.html
Your neon could be stress, how many left? mixing with guppy, should be no problem, since today commercial bred guppy can withstand a wider range of water parameters. But please do not add any more fish in the tank until you have done planting.
ok. thx. can i ask u ..do u messure ur Ph in ur tank?
No, I seldom, very very seldom do that, unless I want to know, or something goes wrong when water quality is a concern. But I do have a pH test kit around.
Keeping good practice of tank maintenance, like periodic water change, cleaning filter, and etc will keep your tank in top condition.
But of course, it is also good to monitor your water parameter often, since you are new, I highly suggest you do, so don't take my advice for not checking your water parameters.
It is also good to know the water parameters of your local tap water or water source you use for your aquarium, because that is what you are putting into your tank.
Most plants can tolerate a wider range of pH compare to fishes. So do some homework about the fish you plan to keep, and don't buy all the fish you like to keep at once from LFS, and introduce all the fishes into your tank in one go...bad idea!
emmm.. i usually use filter water..not direct from tap. :)hope can help bout tat.
Filter water is fine, but it's better to check also :D
ok.. by the way.. can i use garden soil for aquarium.?1st layer i put garden soil. then layer it wit some graval. r u suing garden soil too?or u buy from shops?
Garden soil get from?
haha, I also dunno what type of garden soil you referring to, if its similar as what I use, then should be ok. Mine I get from gardening shop, cost around RM5(just an average price, usually lesser than this) per pack. Sometimes, they sell RM10 for 3 packs.
yup.. i refer to tat. haha. gardening soil.black in colour. but i wash so many times.. the water will get dark.
Yo, no need to wash the potting soil, just use it straight from the pack. Pour it as much as you need, then cover with sand or gravel.
You only need to wash the gravel and sand. Soil no need wash.
HUH!!! god! i wash it. emm.. nvm.. i redo again. thx. i wish to get a gloso.. but as u said need powerful lights. so i still finding the lightning parts.
hairgrass more suitable for you as a start :D
Haha that's why I suggest start with a smaller tank :D
but i dun have smaller tank! maybe my rooms small aquarium.. haha.. its 1ft X 1/2ft tank.. so small.. hehe.. hairgrass.. ? emm.. ok.. i will get it 2dat.. n the lightning as well..
by the way.. i saw the pic of urs.. tat got 3 fans there.. is it a must have a fan?!
Hehe, 1ft tank may looks small, but it can be a nice tank, if you scape it well :D
I'm also goin to rescape my 1ft(approx) tank also.
Fan is for cooling the temp when water is hot. If your tank temp is cool, then no need fans. If you use a 4ft tank, and it gets hot, fan is not effective, and you need to get a chiller, which can cost you RM800 and above depending on model.
but how come the tank will hot?! since we already need heater inside! i got a themor heater inside. i fix it at 25-26 temp.
yup small tank looks nicer.. :P my tank start to build up now. getting so green...
by the way. y ur tank looks so clean?!!n r u using another tank to filter it?!i just using those like a small retangle box tat put above the tank to filter it.. is it enuh?
haha.. i seems so trouble to u.. ask alot :P sorry bout tat.
There's many way a tank can get hot. One obvious reason is when the light is on, temperature will rise. Also the ambient temperature (surrounding temperature) will affect your tank temperature. You don't need a cooling device if you place you tank in an air-conditioned room. In most case, a heater is just not necessary especially in Malaysia. Most of us strive to keep our tank within 25-28C. Unless you are living in cold country, then a heater is necessary :D
Well I don't understand why you have a heather there, and setting it at 25-26C, will the heather on? Is Ipoh cold?...check your tank temperature.
Haha, why my tank looks clean? Always keep it clean owh :D...change water, trimming, clean the aquarium glass, etc.
No, I don't have another tank for filter. I only use a small canister filter. And I don't like using the rectangle box filter above the tank, and I never recommend that kind of filter. Because it simply is not a good filter. A hang on back filter is much better than this box filter if you ask me to choose either one :D Plus the box filter only take up space above the tank, which where I wan to place my lights.
my hse mostly on aircon. maybe tat makes it cold.the lights will on sometimes.. its auto detect.
bout the clean> do u change water often?did those green thing come out.. wat it call alrge?did u valcum ur carpet?how u maintain the graval?
the hang back filter.. seems not so power to me.is it really tat effective? bout the space.. i do agree. bout bout water filtering. i not so sure. cos my 1ft tank also using hang back pump.it seems not much help cleaning.
So that explain your cold environment :D
Generally water change once a week is fine :D
If you got algae attack, then frequent water change owh...even every day is also ok to combat the algae bloom. But that's not the only way to battle algae, many other ways.
I change water almost every week, sometimes every 2-3 days.
Haha...green thing?...which type of algae you refering to? Green water? algae growing on the glass?...n many more types of algae...If just change water, never do any cleaning, the algae won't come off.
Nope, I don't vacuum my carpet. And what do you mean by how I maintain the gravel?
The hang on back filter is definitely not strong and not suitable in large tank. I would say it is more effective than the overhanging box filter. But I won't say it's the best filter. What do you expect a filter to clean?
When we talk a bout filter, we talk about
1. physical filtration
2. biological filtration
3. chemical filtration
So what you expect a filter to clean? :D
Physical filtration is to remove suspended particles. Biological filtration is to create a colony of beneficial bacteria in the filter media which will break down those harmful ammonia from fish waste into nitrite and then further break it down to the harmless nitrate. Chemical filtration is to keep the water chemistry in the right condition.
A good filter system is not cheap. Just because everyone is using the cheap overhanging box filter doesn't mean that it is a good filter. That filter just only serve one purpose, physical filtration :(
And if you are telling me the LFS guy suggest this filter, it's because it's cheap, and easy to sell, most LFS never bother about the knowledge of their customer about keeping fish. All they know is to sell. And when you come back to them complaining, then they know you are serious, they recommend you the expensive filter, and if you buy it...they now make money from you 2 times :(
Hey, I'm gonna charge tuition fee like this hehehe....get a book :D
WOW... u so bad.. need to charge me!! i thouhgt this a hobby.. haha..
hehehe...:D
If I charge you, will you consider or not? :D
hmmm... i thought i meet a good person.. haha.. seems like u charging as well :P joking laaa... i noe i give u alot trouble.. thx for tat
Haha :D
Got a book de?
haha.. no need book.. i found a shop.. tat auntie very nice. teach me everything.explain so details to me. i got bought a light bulbs.she recomment me go for the low cost for beginer.. ;) i think i can go wit my second tank soon. :)
Owh, that's good news :D
So hope you get things done right :D
i hope so. thx
hi, how ru recently? i just bought a T5 lightning. my DIY lights not enuh strong.. it makes much difference...
What is your total wattage of your light now?
Your T5 is T5HO or ordinary T5?
hi, i just bought few plants. i redecorate my tanks. i send u pic ok... ;)
give some comment ok..
Ok, will be waiting for you email :D
Hey bro, can do me a favour arr?...sign up a google account and become a follower of this blog la, make my life easier a bit, so I know who comment me instead of using Anonymous, I have to do guess sometimes :(....haha :D
borneo..
hi.. y i see so many websites.. all tank pic must got heater? but u ask me no need put. i already pull out the heater.. is it ok for the plant? do u use those Fertilization liquid?cos i not using soil under tank.. i use gravel.
Hehey :D...now much better with name and a handsome pic :D
Do you know where the tank is located? You will need a heater if you live in cold country. Eg. now in UK is summer, but it's still cold, so people there still need a heater to heat the tank water. Where you living bro? What's your tank temperature when you switch off the heater in your aircond room?
You see, most general fish keeping books author are from the 4 season country, so they write base on their experience. Same goes to people on the internet. You see people using heater doesn't meant that you need a heater in Malaysia. In Malaysia it's the other way round, you need a chiller, or a cooler. Unless you are living up in the mountain or highland, that's different story.
I don't use liquid fertilizer. You can use it, basically follow the suggested dosage on the lable :D
haha.. i dun have tempreture tester.. :P
yup. i think i need to get a fert. liquid
now my tank looks so empty.. haha.. i get a javamoss n a carpet plants.. dunno call wat name. will come out Oxigen bubble so nice.
LOL, you have a heater, but don't have a thermometer? A thermometer is much cheaper than a heater. It's a more important tool than a heater :D
Haha...told you to start with a small tank, that big tank, you need more plants = more hole in the pocket :(
Ooo java moss :D nice, how much selling there? carpet plant? how it looks like?
i bought java for rm15 quite big size. not expensive . n i bought Riccia fluitans as a carpet.boss said she had a lot. give me rm10 for tat. quite big also..
haha.. thermometer. i think my hse won't high temp over 28*c. should be ok.. :P
hahahaha.. now i trying small tank to spread tat Riccia fluitans .tat boss said.. this plant need strong lights only got bubble come out.. is it?!
Wah thermometer also dun wan invest arr?...haha
Not bad price...RM15 for java moss n RM10 for Riccia :D
Not really la, riccia need CO2 then pearling :D...high light alone dun really pearl..
oic.. actually how to count the co2? when do we noe tat the plants get enuh co2
There's a test kit call CO2 drop checker to measure the CO2 ammount in the tank. Go to the LFS, ask them about measuring CO2, they should know what to recommend you.
Other method to measure CO2 is by measuring pH and KH and then determine through a pH and KH Chart...hmm...go for drop checker...easier for you :D
oic.. thx. :P
u do noe wat i need.. the easy way.. hahahah...
borneo..
can i ask u.. is it worth to buy a co2 tank..
cos my Diy co2 always need to change every 3-4days . y u said it can last more than 1 weeks.
Hahaha...that's why I can charge you tuition fee :D
haha.. this call exchanging experince maaaa... u alone cannot find out so many things maaa..:P
share share maa.. like tat only call hobies
:P
u so sarcastic... :P
A DIY CO2 tank can last for 2-3 weeks. Many reason for a fail DIY CO2...it can be leakage, ingredient, temperature. Sometime too old yeast also won't work.
And of course, it's much worth it to get a pressurized CO2 tank if you plan to take this planted tank hobby seriously. Only the initial investment is high, after that you only need to pay for refilling. Over the long run, the running cost is much more cheaper than a DIY CO2, more convenient, save your time...and all the good points :D
A well setup 2kg pressurized CO2 can easily last you 3-6 months depending on how you use it :D
emmmm..ic.. i no experience maaa.. so i ask u loh.. cos i 1st time for the plants hobby maa..
really thx to u... when got chance come to ipoh.. give me a call.. i bring u out tour.. hehehehe.. ok! ;)
Hey...let's say playing a piano or guitar is your hobby, do you think you will be able to play well by yourself? Maybe Yes, maybe No. If Yes, maybe it might take you a very long time to learn and figure out. So to cut your time short, you take up some tuition classes, so you can play better music, learn how to play piano or guitar faster. All this save your time, instead to waste time learning to play by yourself. See, but still playing piano or guitar is your hobby.
Same goes to dancing, baking, and almost any hobby, there's a lesson to be learn. Some take it as a hobby, some make hobby as part of their work. To you, you may think it's a simple hobby, get a tank, put water, put fish will do....but that's not it...that's not fish keeping, which doesn't make fish feel home.
Fish keeping is an art. Understanding fish and plants is science. This are knowledge. That's why there are books about fish keeping hobby or similar in bookstore to help hobbyist, to understand better, to cut short their learning time, to make lesser mistake, to improve their hobby skill :D
If I write my book, will you buy it?...it's just same as tuition you see. But of course la I'm not charging you anything. What I want to say is, don't be so timid when it comes to spending money to gain knowledge even it's just a simple hobby, learn to appreciate other people who are experienced n knowledgeable...like investing in their book to learn more.
So look in a different point of view, don't call me sarcastic :(....do appreciate the kind of time I put to help people like you :D...otherwise newbies will have hard time loving this hobby :D
Hehe...bro I'm from Ipoh too, born there :D
Infact my hometown is Kampar and Malacca :D
When I got time, I sure go Ipoh and find you...hehe
Is it.. be4 u said u at east side.. sabah n sarawak!.. i thought u at there...
this noon my riccia bubbling.. so nice.. hehe :) so satisfy to see tat...
I live in Sabah :D but I born in Ipoh.
Yes, riccia pearling is nice :D....