apistogramma agassizii tank mates

[cjtabares]

I still prefer frog bit but each to their own; the thing about these plants is they hate current - a little current can ruin a 30x30 area of floating plants

Hi all,

I'm a Frogbit fan as well.

Cheers Darrel

I didn’t know of frogbit, I like the look a lot.

 

[anewbie]

Is this too much flow?

si=XYNySjXr03CVw8lk

Probably. Floaters really don't like surface flow.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I didn’t know of frogbit, I like the look a lot.

It is not just a "pretty face" you can use it as indication of nutrient levels in your tank as well, have a look at: <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/what-is-the-“duckweed-index”-all-about.73647/">.

Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium (Hydrocharis) laevigatum) is actually my "Duckweed" of choice.

Probably. Floaters really don't like surface flow.

I think that level of surface flow should be fine.

cheers Darrel

 

[anewbie]

Hi all,

It is not just a "pretty face" you can use it as indication of nutrient levels in your tank as well, have a look at: <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/what-is-the-“duckweed-index”-all-about.73647/">.

Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium (Hydrocharis) laevigatum) is actually my "Duckweed" of choice.

I think that level of surface flow should be fine.

cheers Darrel

I would block the holes at the start so the back has less flow or make the holes larger to reduce intensity; or lower the spray bar so the flow is lower leaving the top more tranquil but quite frankly he can experiment and see how it does with the current flow - i just haven't had much success esp with water lettuce when the flow is constant like that.

 

[cjtabares]

Hi all,

It is not just a "pretty face" you can use it as indication of nutrient levels in your tank as well, have a look at: <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/what-is-the-“duckweed-index”-all-about.73647/">.

Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium (Hydrocharis) laevigatum) is actually my "Duckweed" of choice.

I think that level of surface flow should be fine.

cheers Darrel

I would block the holes at the start so the back has less flow or make the holes larger to reduce intensity; or lower the spray bar so the flow is lower leaving the top more tranquil but quite frankly he can experiment and see how it does with the current flow - i just haven't had much success esp with water lettuce when the flow is constant like that.

Ok, sounds good. I ordered a few of the minis last week to block the holes some to try and reduce/disperse the flow. We will see how it works.

 

[cjtabares]

Also, why when I try to post a picture(just posted a reply with a picture) or the YouTube video I posted, it is requiring a moderator’s approval?

 

[MacZ]

Also, why when I try to post a picture(just posted a reply with a picture) or the YouTube video I posted, it is requiring a moderator’s approval?

I think because you still have new member status. We had massive spam problems lately, I guess this is part of the new safeguards.

 

[cjtabares]

I think because you still have new member status. We had massive spam problems lately, I guess this is part of the new safeguards.

Ok thanks. Didn’t happen with my 1st few pictures, so I was confused.

 

[Yvonne G]

Also, why when I try to post a picture(just posted a reply with a picture) or the YouTube video I posted, it is requiring a moderator’s approval?

Sorry about that. Evidently our anti spam program thinks it's spam.

 

[cjtabares]

Sorry about that. Evidently our anti spam program thinks it's spam.

No apologies needed, but I appreciate it.

 

[anewbie]

Just be aware that when experimenting with your water lettuce things with plants can take weeks or months to determine end results; when you first put the plants in the might grow fast if they had new growth that the plant had begun or they might die back as they adjust to a change in environment/water type then they will slowly adjust and it might take a while to decide how things are working. Unfortunately i cannot indicate at what point you can reach a conclusion though i have seen water lettuce die off at times mostly in tanks with too much current.

 

[Ben Rhau]

I would agree with that. I also found that red root floaters do not tolerate any current (and really thrive in the absence of current).

In my experience, the nutrient level in the water also affects the type of growth. When fertilizers are added, I see a lot of small, new growth. In nutrient poor water, I get longer roots and bigger leaves. I've been unable to grow large leaves of water lettuce under any indoor scenario I've tried. I only get a lot of small leaves, which are difficult to clean (similar problems as duckweed).

I almost exclusively use various salvinia plants as my surface floaters, as they tend to be pretty robust in my tanks.

 

[cjtabares]

Just be aware that when experimenting with your water lettuce things with plants can take weeks or months to determine end results; when you first put the plants in the might grow fast if they had new growth that the plant had begun or they might die back as they adjust to a change in environment/water type then they will slowly adjust and it might take a while to decide how things are working. Unfortunately i cannot indicate at what point you can reach a conclusion though i have seen water lettuce die off at times mostly in tanks with too much current.

I would agree with that. I also found that red root floaters do not tolerate any current (and really thrive in the absence of current).

In my experience, the nutrient level in the water also affects the type of growth. When fertilizers are added, I see a lot of small, new growth. In nutrient poor water, I get longer roots and bigger leaves. I've been unable to grow large leaves of water lettuce under any indoor scenario I've tried. I only get a lot of small leaves, which are difficult to clean (similar problems as duckweed).

I almost exclusively use various salvinia plants as my surface floaters, as they tend to be pretty robust in my tanks.

Ok, thanks you two. I have already ordered more water lettuce, will cover the holes with the filters I ordered and see how they do. If they don’t do well I might try frogbit.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Just be aware that when experimenting with your water lettuce things with plants can take weeks or months to determine end results; when you first put the plants in the might grow fast if they had new growth that the plant had begun or they might die back as they adjust to a change in environment/water type then they will slowly adjust and it might take a while to decide how things are working.

An advantage of a floating plant is that they always have access to atmospheric CO2 <"https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/"> and they have <"relatively little structural tissue">, so that they can respond to changes in nutrient levels relatively quickly.

Pistia stratiotes ("Water Lettuce") is actually a plant that can grow incredibly rapidly in nutrient rich conditions, we have figures for this, because it is used for phytoremediation of waste water <"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57329-y">.

Unfortunately i cannot indicate at what point you can reach a conclusion though i have seen water lettuce die off at times mostly in tanks with too much current.

It is pretty robust when it is happy, so I'm guessing the flow issue was the final straw.

I would agree with that. I also found that red root floaters do not tolerate any current (and really thrive in the absence of current).

In my experience, the nutrient level in the water also affects the type of growth. When fertilizers are added, I see a lot of small, new growth. In nutrient poor water, I get longer roots and bigger leaves. I've been unable to grow large leaves of water lettuce under any indoor scenario I've tried. I only get a lot of small leaves, which are difficult to clean (similar problems as duckweed).

I almost exclusively use various salvinia plants as my surface floaters, as they tend to be pretty robust in my tanks.

Red root Floater (Phyllanthus fluitans) does the same for me. We've had a discussion about this (on UKAPS) and we think it actually needs quite high nutrient levels to be happy <"https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads...d-the-effect-of-nitrogen-n.75172/#post-759633">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Mike Wise]

Also note that water lettuce does not like water dripping on its leaves so closed tops create a problem. My Pistia-covered tanks don't have tops.

 

[cjtabares]

Also note that water lettuce does not like water dripping on its leaves so closed tops create a problem. My Pistia-covered tanks don't have tops.

Well, this could be an issue with the euro brace, there is definitely condensation building on them.

 

[MacZ]

Pistia is illegal in the EU since last year. I'm kinda glad I don't have any left anymore. Here in Germany it's now less of a problem to grow Cannabis for personal use than having Pistia in your fish tanks.

 

[cjtabares]

Botanical are in the tank, more water lettuce should be here today, and driftwood should be here on Monday(can’t wait for this), really like the way this is slowly coming together.

 

[anewbie]

Two other comments - you can turn the spray bar into the glass so the water bounces off the side and that will reduce flow; also quite a few plants will grow excellently submersed in blackwater as demonstrated by this aquarium:

(3 pictures showing progression):
near setup:
may 2023

sept 2024

nov 2024

feb 2025

---
The ec is 18-22 so quite soft. I'll be tearing it down monday to replace with a larger aquarium to handle all those plants

 

[cjtabares]

Two other comments - you can turn the spray bar into the glass so the water bounces off the side and that will reduce flow; also quite a few plants will grow excellently submersed in blackwater as demonstrated by this aquarium:

(3 pictures showing progression):
near setup:
may 2023
View attachment 16359
sept 2024
View attachment 16360

nov 2024

View attachment 16361

feb 2025
View attachment 16362
---
The ec is 18-22 so quite soft. I'll be tearing it down monday to replace with a larger aquarium to handle all those plants

Thanks, I already have it deflected off the glass. Was way too much the other way.

Those look great. I love the look of the long grass(sorry, I do t know what they are).