Echinodorus “Aflame” tissue culture

[*Ci*]

I’ve ordered an Echinodorus “Aflame” (purple) tissue culture and would like to give them a good start. My two semi low tech tanks (5-10ppm co2, med to low light, EI ferts) are 24” deep and I find that small plants don’t fare very well at the bottom where the PAR is low and they are shadowed by the larger plants.
So what advice do you have? I thought about replanting the small swords into net cups and suspending them up high or even just have them free floating in a net cage closer to the light. Or would it be better to set up a whole new farm tank (I could probably scrape up the components at minimal cost, but there would be no cO2)?

 

[anewbie]

The one i have growing in blackwater (not co2 injection - inert substrate with root tabs) isn't doing too bad (it started as tissue); but it does require good dose of light and lots of nutrients. I had someone who used to grow them outside in buckets with dirt and direct sunlight and even then he said they struggled. So i'm not a lot of help there but blackwater (very soft acidic water) does seem to help.

 

[Yugang]

semi low tech tanks (5-10ppm co2, med to low light, EI ferts)

This is interesting, could you tell us more?

 

[*Ci*]

This is interesting, could you tell us more?

Click on my journal button for the “Tale of Two Osakas” (I should update it!)
Today both tanks, a 68g and an 84g, are filled with low demand plants in a jungle style.

Both have lights with approximate PAR readings of 44 at substrate level, 70 at mid level and 160 at the surface.

Co2 is very approximate less than 1pt. drop in pH. I had it turned off for almost a year (with no noticeable difference), but recently put it back on, and I am working on adding Co2 spraybars to get some better stability.

Ferts are following rotala butterfly’s recommendation for Low Light/Weekly EI, so after a weekly 50%water change, I dose:
10 ppm NO3
1 ppm PO4
10 ppm K
.1 ppm FE

Both tanks are algae free.

 

[Burr740]

Ime it converts very easily from tc. But it does need good light shining on it. Maybe clean out some space in front and let them grow out, even though its not necessarily where you want them to wind up

Baby swords can do great floating until they get roots. Dont think tc would survive the transition floating...but Ive never actually tried it either

 

[anewbie]

I'd be a bit concern the par is on the low side for this plant. I did not float mine but i had a wrgb2 on the aquarium. Also mine had roots and wasn't too tiny - probably sat on the shelf a while.

 

[*Ci*]

Yes, they will definitely need more light. Maybe I will try a few different methods, depending on how many plants come in the tissue culture.