Rotala doing something weird

[Harveyman]

My rotala, not sure what kind, for some reason has been growing well... you just have to see this:


Why is it doing that?

It is a 29 gallon tank, pH= 7.0, nitrate is around 10. 48 watts of light. Dosing flourish 2.5 ml twice a week, and flourish nitrogen 20 ml every other day (water sprite and anacharis eat nitrate like candy)

 

[fort384]

What are we talking about? The fact that it is bent over? It is rotala rotundifolia btw. Is it close to the filter output? It doesn't look particularly healthy. Are you dosing any potassium or phosphate? What kind of light is it? T5ho I am guessing at that wattage?

 

[Harveyman]

The fact that it is bent over is more puzzling to me. It looks a lot better than it did before I replaced the lights (which are t5 HOs). There are two bulbs: one 5,000K and one 6,500K. It is not any where near any sources of water flow. I am not dosing any potassium or phosphate (should I).

 

[fort384]

Maybe. If it isn't near the outflow, the stems may be weak from a nutrient deficiency. Are you running any co2 ATM? Is there a good root system developing with the rotala?

 

[Harveyman]

I am running diy co2 at around 1 bubble per second. I just tried pulling gently on the base of the stem and it didn't want to come out, so I assume it has at least some roots. Would a better shot of the stem tip help?

Edit: the temperature is 70 degrees F by the way.

 

[fort384]

Do you have a PO4 test kit?

 

[Harveyman]

No, I might be able to get one later this week.

 

[Harveyman]

Just out of curiosity, what should the phosphate be at?

 

[fort384]

0.25-0.5 is good in higher light tanks.

 

[Harveyman]

Ok, thanks. I'll let you know what the level is when I get the test kit.

 

[Harveyman]

Unfortunately I wasn't able to find a phosphate test, I am going to try another store tomorrow.

 

[Harveyman]

I just ran the test and it came back at 5 ppm. I think that might be bad, so I did a 25% water change.