Planting Cryptocorynes

[An t-iasg]

I have three Cryptocoryne wendtii "Bronze" and two C. becketti "petchii". The bronze crypts are small now, about 2-3 inches tall, and the petchii are just tubers now, although at one time they were about 5 inches tall. I have done some googling and I read that both crypts' size is listed as 10-15 cm. I know size and appearance can vary according to your light, nutrients, etc.

I would like to know how you guys would plant these two crypts. Would you put one in back and one in front? I have 5 large wendtii and lutea for the very back of the tank. These crypts were large at one time, but they are only about 5 inches tall now. The tank is a 5 gallon tank with 8 watts of NO fluorescent lighting. Which of the petchii or bronze wendtii would you put in the mid-ground and which one in the foreground?

 

[Jchillin]

I line my crypts along the sides of my tank...especially the bronze. I have too many plants running along the back and mid-levels to put them anywhere else.

I just made room recently to add some to the middle but I'm afraid to move them.

 

[An t-iasg]

That's why I thought I would ask first and then plant, so I don't have to move them! The large ones are all along the back and sides now. The middle is still empty, and that's where the bronze and petchii will go - but this will be a fairly crowded crypt tank!

If you want to move some crypts to the middle of your tank, look along the other ones to see if you can find a new runner. I saw a very small crypt alongside my large lutea. I cut it off at the roots, and neither crypt melted. The little one was attached by a runner, and I let it go a few weeks until it was long enough to cut, and had a few roots of its own. It didn't take long from the time I noticed it to cut it - only about 2 weeks.

 

[czcz]

I like the sides too, especially in the spots that do not get much light. I think the color of wendtii bronze looks great and its nice to get it in spots where colorful stem plants do not thrive. In a 5gal I would put them at the same depth in the tank (near the middle) but at opposite sides, fwiw. I do not think either crypt would mind the shade under your betta beds, in case you are looking for plants for that spot.

 

[rich311k]

I have mine planted under my swords. They like the shade and are growing well. Mine are just mixed in on the sides and back.

 

[czcz]

Apologies: did not see this is a crypt tank. Is this your next betta tank? That is really cool.

 

[An t-iasg]

Yes, this is my new betta tank! I have torn down the 5 gallon hex and started this regular 5 gallon tank. Kelsie, the betta that was in the hex, is now in a 2-gallon QT and not doing well. If he recovers, he will have Kloey's old tank - the one with the sunset hygro. The new betta, also in a 2-gallon tank right now, will get this new crypt tank.