Hornwort dying...?

[brancasterr]

Hahaha, anyways. I'm going to replace it with some more Anacharis. Do you guys think 3 of them would be a good amount of foliage for a 10g tank or should I do some more?

[Mister Sparkle]

Originally Posted by dramaqueen

I think the word is moulting and not melting. lol

Some of us have been calling it that for a long time...I don't think I've ever actually heard anyone refer to it as moulting. Usually, if that word is being used, they are talking about shrimp!

[Mister Sparkle]

Originally Posted by brancasterr

Hahaha, anyways. I'm going to replace it with some more Anacharis. Do you guys think 3 of them would be a good amount of foliage for a 10g tank or should I do some more?

The thing about anacharis/elodea is that it reproduces like crazy. No need to get a ton right at the start, because you'll see these little buds start coming off your parent stalks in very little time.

[brancasterr]

And what do I do with the buds, Mister Sparkle? Do I just snip them off and replant them? Or float them for that matter?

[Mister Sparkle]

They will actually grow with roots attached, and it sort of depends. To take them off yourself you kind of have to mutilate the parent stalk. It'll live, but it will look funny. But, if you're taking them off yourself, you really want to make sure you keep the roots for the babies because, after all, that's what you're after!

If you can wait long enough, and it's hard to be that patient, they will eventually just detach on their own. At this point, you can capture and plant the new stalks.

It's very easy...of course, that's what makes it a weed! lol

[brancasterr]

How longgg does it take for them to detach on their own?

[Mister Sparkle]

1-2 months after the roots hit the floor. It's a very inexact estimate, I know...nature hates a schedule!

[brancasterr]

The roots of the babies?

On another note, I think the hornwort is actually making a recovery. However, I still don't think I wan't to keep it in the tank. It sheds like crazy!

[Mister Sparkle]

Originally Posted by brancasterr

The roots of the babies?

Affirmative.

[Mister Sparkle]

If you pull up the tank I have pictured under my aquariums, you'll see some of the anacharis roots I'm talking about. I'll take new pics soon of the new set-up in there. Most of the parent stock are gone now, and I've rooted all the babies.