Plant growing out of control!

[nugrad2005]

We have a 10g planted tank for our guppy babies. There is a plant that is right under where the filter return is and its grown about a thousand times faster than its counterpart which is on the other side of the tank. Its really getting out of hand how fast this plant grew and the one on the other side looks pathetic compared to it, but perfectly healthy.

Is this because of the increased waterflow over the plant or for some other unknown reason. If we put a powerhead on the other side would the other smaller plant start growing like crazy also?

-Dan

 

[justDIY]

well, the plant nearest the outflow of the filter would receive more nitrates, because of the nitrogen fixing bacteria that live in the filter, also, those bacteria also consume oxygen and produce co2, so co2 concentration would be higher, but I can't imagine those levels would be measurably higher, since the filtered water is mixing right away with tank water in such a small space

you are proibably correct that it is due to the increased water current

 

[Bearfan]

Are they the same plant? Different plants grow at different rates. My Wisteria (also spelled Wysteria) grows so much I have to trim it weekly while my Java Fern is a slower grower. I've actually allowed a large portion of my tank to the wisteria to provide thick cover for smaller fish. It gives it a water's edge appearance. I have little to no motion on that side, and my other side has my Emporer providing current.

 

[nugrad2005]

No they are the exact same plant. We just bought another for the middle. We hope it grows like crazy.

We put in an air stone to help with water movement/gas exchange on the other side of the tank. Hopefully this will encourage rapid plant growth on that side of the tank.

-Dan

 

[Guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong (seems to be happening a lot today) no Co2 in that tank, right? if no co2, no problem with an airstone. if co2, you will drive much of it off using an airstone.

what kind of plant is it? just trying to figure out if there is another reason than waterflow. Try to learn from other's situations when possible.

 

[nugrad2005]

It think there is plenty of CO2. There are about a million fancy guppy babies(not really, but there are certainly alot).

I believe they are amazon swords. Thats what they look like.

Also i'm not sure i used the correct terminology. What i called an airstone is just a little air pump that makes bubbles in the tank.

Hope that helps.

-dan

 

[Guest]

It think there is plenty of CO2.

Yeah but as long as you don't add any co2, just natural from the fish, you'll be fine with basically any bubbler device.

Amazon swords are tricky. I have babies that came from the same mother plant, trying to grow them large in another tank. 1 is 3-4 times bigger than the others, and i have them in pots, have moved them around, the one big one keeps getting bigger the others kinda sit there looking pitiful. So basically i have a similar situation to yours, I haven't found a solution to it. Perhaps some plants just have more vigor than others? I'm outta ideas. Hope your efforts pay off!