True low tech carpet plant....

[Iain Sutherland]

Just thought i would post how impressed i am with Tropica's hydropiper elatine. i have this growing in my 40cm shrimp tank with an 11w cfl and 0.5ml ferts daily and also in a high tech 60cm. In both tanks it grows at a good rate but like a weed with co2.
I could be mistaken but believe it is the same plant as 'monte carlo' just being sold under a different name. I have heard its currently being analysed for true classification.

Either way, it opens up some opportunities for low tech scapers out there.

This went in the shrimp tank 5 weeks ago

28 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

 

[squid102]

Interesting... I couldn't get 'monte carlo' to take in my low tech Aquanano. It died off with all the hallmarks of co2 deficiency.

 

[sciencefiction]

It's lovely looking, a bit like my bacopa australis in colour but smaller leaves. Great looking tank.

 

[oldbloke]

I can't find it on the tropica site

 

[squid102]

Try this: Plant Details

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Its pretty new so may not be listed on shop websites yet. Ed stocks it at freshwatershrimp if you want to get hold of some.

 

[oldbloke]

 

[AshRolls]

Does anyone know how well it roots and sends out runners in gravel as opposed to amazonia / nutrasoil ?

 

[Iain Sutherland]

hey ash, never tried it in gravel, mine is EBI gold shrimp soil which has no nutrients at purchase but does have good CEC i believe. As long as a plant is happy most dont seem to mind what the substrate is much.

 

[AshRolls]

Thanks Iain, I think I'll give this a go in my low(ish) tech. At the moment I have lilaeopsis novae-zelandiae , it looks good but it is a very slow grower! (only 1-2mm on each blade leaf per month).

 

[sparkyweasel]

I can't find it on the tropica site

It's under Elatine hydropiper, not Hydropiper elatine.

 

[oldbloke]

It's under Elatine hydropiper, not Hydropiper elatine.