Eriocaulon ratnagiricum

[Capraquaria]

I managed to acquire some Eriocaulon ratnagiricum. It should arrive early next week. I am pulling my 60U out of its extended dark start this weekend, and figured it would be an intriguing addition at the base of the large stones. (Not my image, this was from the seller):



I did read Dennis Wong's 'how to grow' for this species, which was very helpful, and will add some APT Jazz in the areas that I plant it as it seems it wants a fairly rich soil. Tank is 0KH, remineralized RO with APT Sky initially to dGH 6 when I initiated the dark start.

However, despite being sold as 'inert', the Sensei stone I acquired from AFA is most definitely not proving to be entirely inert. I haven't drained the tank yet, but will this weekend when I start planting, but this morning KH is holding at 0, but dGH is currently sitting at 10! There is a vein of quartz-like crystal running through the largest stone, presumably calcite, as it is driving the GH up, and leaving KH unaffected. Calcite reportedly can run in some Magura/Sensei stone. I am already reconsidering the type of shrimp for this tank based on the higher GH level, but I am wondering if anyone has experience with this plant in a tank with higher GH? This Erio is KH sensitive, and the tank is ok there, but I am wondering if the excess calcium in the water column, pushing that higher GH, might be less than ideal for this Eriocaulon?

I did consider sealing the vein of calcite with cyanoacrylate glue, and covering it in riccardia to maybe slow the leaching/rise in GH, but I think most of the rocks have at least some of this material running through them to varying degree, and I am expecting that the leaching could increase once the CO2 is running, and the pH drops. Regardless, if anyone has experience growing this lovely little spiky Erio, please share!

 

[Burr740]

If KH is holding dont worry about the gh. Pin cushion erios like the little rat are not picky. They will grow fine in sand with rich enough water. If you have fresh aquasoil there is literally nothing to worry about. Honestly Id skip any additional root supplements. Thatll just get them used to it, and wired for it. Then it becomes a need to keep the whole system running smoothly

Having said that, if the plan is to dose the water extremely low, or if using other apt stuff that calls for it, then yeah its best to follow whatever the protocol is.

 

[Capraquaria]

Thatll just get them used to it, and wired for it. Then it becomes a need to keep the whole system running smoothly

Ha! That sounds like me, and coffee Thank you, though. Hopefully the GH will settle down, but I will keep an eye on the KH. I am not sure exactly what is causing the spike in GH with this rock, but as it may have the capacity to prematurely exhaust the CEC of the soil in the tank, I will need to keep an eye on that, and refresh the soil as needed. I am excited to try growing these little Erios!

 

[snowballs99]

I grew those on and off for a few years lol.
Down to my last 3 unfortunately. Gotta set up a tank with way higher co2 to make these things happy.

They really like fresh aqua soil. Like I don't think I've grown them in good condition in old soil that's nutrient depleted.

 

[mrmoss]

My prediction is that those erios will melt on you some even overnight when you plant them in your tank. Ive been wrong plenty and plenty of times so you can prove me wrong but please dont take my comment/s to be an offense. Gh I've never gone that high but thats not my reasoning. I believe that those erios come from a very high co2 input that the erios enter a shock state when the gas is not met. Best bet best method would be to crank up the gas then lower as the plants acclimate.

 

[Capraquaria]

My prediction is that those erios will melt on you some even overnight when you plant them in your tank. Ive been wrong plenty and plenty of times so you can prove me wrong but please dont take my comment/s to be an offense. Gh I've never gone that high but thats not my reasoning. I believe that those erios come from a very high co2 input that the erios enter a shock state when the gas is not met. Best bet best method would be to crank up the gas then lower as the plants acclimate.

Well, I hope they don't melt, but I won't know if I don't try. Dennis did state in his article that this plant is more demanding for light and CO2. It's a new tank, with new soil (dark started 6 weeks). Planting most of it today, and the plant list has evolved quite a bit with other more light/CO2 demanding species, and there will be no livestock for a while. Yugang reactor and CO2 are set up, and ready to roll as soon as the plants are in (note to self, never put a yugang inside a 60cm cabinet ever again). These Erios won't be shaded in the foreground (I purchased the wider WRGBII Pro to ensure better light coverage for this tank due to the hardcape), and I only purchased a few to try so it won't be a massive loss if they don't work out. Most of this scape will be TC, except for the rats and the sphaerocarpa mini, so I will be running the co2 fairly hot to start anyway. The sphaerocarpa mini is also prone to dissolving if its needs aren't met. The ratnagiricium arrives Tuesday. Last tank was low and slow, this one should be a bit more fast and furious (so probably more likely to crash and burn on me, ha!). Will probably bump up the water changes the first few weeks, too, just to keep the GH in check. Every aquarium is different, and they all throw their own curve balls one way or another. We'll see

 

[riioKen]

KH 0 and GH 5.5, In my tank I have Hygrophila chai, quinquangulare, xyris difformis.

The ratna is clearly the hardest to grow.

But when it grows, it's a gorgeous plant. It doesn't split easily (IME), but if you cut it in half, this is the result after 2-3 months from a "single half"

 

[mrmoss]

Well, I hope they don't melt, but I won't know if I don't try. Dennis did state in his article that this plant is more demanding for light and CO2. It's a new tank, with new soil (dark started 6 weeks). Planting most of it today, and the plant list has evolved quite a bit with other more light/CO2 demanding species, and there will be no livestock for a while. Yugang reactor and CO2 are set up, and ready to roll as soon as the plants are in (note to self, never put a yugang inside a 60cm cabinet ever again). These Erios won't be shaded in the foreground (I purchased the wider WRGBII Pro to ensure better light coverage for this tank due to the hardcape), and I only purchased a few to try so it won't be a massive loss if they don't work out. Most of this scape will be TC, except for the rats and the sphaerocarpa mini, so I will be running the co2 fairly hot to start anyway. The sphaerocarpa mini is also prone to dissolving if its needs aren't met. The ratnagiricium arrives Tuesday. Last tank was low and slow, this one should be a bit more fast and furious (so probably more likely to crash and burn on me, ha!). Will probably bump up the water changes the first few weeks, too, just to keep the GH in check. Every aquarium is different, and they all throw their own curve balls one way or another. We'll see

Fingers crossed and Godspeed to ya. This species is so beautiful I wish more people grew it and it was in circulation more than it is now

The goal would be to at least have 1 or more plants survive then you can progress from there

 

[Burr740]

The best thing about this one is it doesnt throw seed stalks like most of the pin cushion types

When it comes time to split them I can say from experience resist the urge to quarter them into 4. If your prone to greed and impatience like me youll think theres plenty of meat in the middle to make 4. And occasionally it works out. Ive had 3 out of 4 make it but its more likely that 2 or 3 melt away if you try to get 4 out of 1. Its far less risky to just cut them in half (Im also hard headed and prone to ignore the first 5 times something doesnt work)

A little fyi, if your seller is DC I believe these are coming from rich ferts in the water and soil that is not neccessarily fresh. Dont hold me to that, mightve changed