Question on plant growth

[shawmutt]

Things are going well with my tank, it is teeming with life and everything seems to be working well. However, I have a question about how my plants grow. The rotala and wistera are becoming all roots. I actually pulled the rotala out, trimmed about 4" off the top and replanted it, but it's doing it again. The wistera I just gave up on, I trim it back when it crowds the tank too far, but its really thick, and I'm worried about pulling out a baby fish or a shrimp or eggs.

Is this just the way they grow or am I missing something? Is it time to pull those plants, lose the biotope idea (just India plants), and start getting different plants?

 

[TCTFish]

Sounds like you have a productive environment. If you're really concerned about eggs, shrimp, and baby fish on plants you move, carefully place the plant in a specimen container and examine it well before further action. Test your nitrates too. Nitrates are a natural food source for plants. A little extra may boost growth. Doesn't hurt to test it.

 

[malkore]

some plants will just put out a lot of roots from upper halves of stems. typical of fast growers, like rotala indica and wisteria.

I assume all your water parameters are 'ideal' and you CO2 levels are adequate?

This is just another reason why high light tanks are high maintenance if you want it always looking pristine.