Saltwater & Reef

fishdud · 03-27-2012, 12:24 AM

Okay so my wallichi is not lookin so hot right now. There are some stems that are growing side shoots while others are dying, needle leaves just floating off. What do they do best in? I have 48 watts over a 36g bowfront, dosing iron and comprehensive and have root tabs underneath it.

**aqua_chem** · 03-27-2012, 03:25 AM

Do you have CO2?

fishdud · 03-27-2012, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqua_chem

Do you have CO2?

Yeah, two bottles of DIY. One through power head and one through air stone.

**aqua_chem** · 03-27-2012, 03:39 AM

That might not be enough, unfortunately. Rotala Wallichii is a very sensitive plant, requiring high light, high CO2, good ferts, and preferring (although not necessarily requiring) soft water.

Bottomfeeder88 · 03-27-2012, 04:21 AM

Fantasic looking plant. Know anyone selling it on AA?

fishdud · 03-27-2012, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqua_chem

That might not be enough, unfortunately. Rotala Wallichii is a very sensitive plant, requiring high light, high CO2, good ferts, and preferring (although not necessarily requiring) soft water.

My drop checker is always around lime green-yellow. I plan on gettin more light and read that it likes to be dosed with phosphates.

fishdud · 03-27-2012, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bottomfeeder88

Fantasic looking plant. Know anyone selling it on AA?

I don't sorry. I got mine from planted aquatic central.

fishdud · 04-01-2012, 01:16 PM

I don't know if It's against the rules to bring up old threads but just wanted to say if It's normal that It's growing and shooting out side shoots but the bottom is melting?

**aqua_chem** · 04-01-2012, 03:06 PM

I wouldn't call this one old at all.

Melting stems usually means insufficient light.

**fort384** · 04-01-2012, 03:24 PM

Agreed with AC. I have had success with Rotala W in the past, but I had very high light, 35+ppm CO2, and was dosing PPS Pro. If the bottoms are melting, your lighting is probably not high enough for this plant. Also, on that large of a tank, it would be hard to consistently keep your CO2 elevated above 20ppm, unless you are changing the mixes every few days consistently.

I also found the best way to get it to color up was to make the tank N limited. I got some great oranges and pinks out of it that way.