Rotala macrandra ‘Mini Butterfly’

[Akshay]

Hi all,

Having a bit of an issue with Rotala macrandra 'Mini Butterfly'.

It's planted in ADA Amazonia and is getting around 160–180 µmol/m²/s PAR (about 180 at the tops and 160 at the base).

• 6-hour photoperiod
• pH drop of 1.1 (degassed 7.3 → 6.2 at lights on)
• Temperature 24–25°C
• Ca 21 ppm
• Mg 7 ppm
• KH 0

The plant just doesn't seem happy. The leaves are much smaller than I'd expect and don't have that nice lustre or richness of colour. Growth isn't terrible, but it definitely isn't looking its best.

everything else in the tank is doing really well, so this seems to be specific to the Mini Butterfly.

Ferts are all DIY , added daily just before lights are on for Macro & 15-20 mins after light on for Micro Fe is a mix of EDTA, DTPA & Fe gluconate

Nutrient	Weekly added
NO₃	10.507 ppm
PO₄	2.310 ppm
K	14.581 ppm
Fe	0.487 ppm
B	0.0152 ppm
Mn	0.0700 ppm
Zn	0.0900 ppm
Cu	0.00600 ppm
Ni	0.00140 ppm
Mo	0.00350 ppm

Really dont know what else I can improove

a few weeks back had boosted the Zn up in the micro blend which I thot was an issue, was expecting an improovement in 6-7 days , but seems like no improovement at all
Thanks

 

[Koan]

leaves are much smaller than I'd expect and don't have that nice lustre or richness of colour.

Rotala is very prone to tip stunting and poor color if there are fluctuations in nutrients, especially nitrate or CO2, and also if the nitrate is low.

It can also stunt if your micros are high, that iron looks high to me? Paging @Naturescapes_Rocco, @Burr740

How to grow Rotala macrandra & its varietals

Rotala macrandra is a popular aquarium plant that has the reputation of being hard to grow well. It favors soft-water and requires good quality lighting and consistent fertilization to grow into good form. Tip stunting of Rotala macrandra is a common issue, especially for hard water tanks...

www.2hraquarist.com

You're showing 10 PPM NO3 over the week, as dosed daily. Maybe try raising it to target 20 PPM consistently during the week?

Is your Rotala in a place where it is getting consistently adequate flow for CO2?

 

[Akshay]

Rotala is very prone to tip stunting and poor color if there are fluctuations in nutrients, especially nitrate or CO2, and also if the nitrate is low.

It can also stunt if your micros are high, that iron looks high to me? Paging @Naturescapes_Rocco, @Burr740

How to grow Rotala macrandra & its varietals

Rotala macrandra is a popular aquarium plant that has the reputation of being hard to grow well. It favors soft-water and requires good quality lighting and consistent fertilization to grow into good form. Tip stunting of Rotala macrandra is a common issue, especially for hard water tanks...

www.2hraquarist.com

You're showing 10 PPM NO3 over the week, as dosed daily. Maybe try raising it to target 20 PPM consistently during the week?

Is your Rotala in a place where it is getting consistently adequate flow for CO2?

Did have a bit of an issue with co2 dipping, that was fixed almost 3 weeks ago
Less co2 was injected just for 4-6days

Thank u for sharing the article @Dennis Wong has such a wealth of knowledge on the website
Dont know how i had missed this article

 

[Akshay]

Rotala is very prone to tip stunting and poor color if there are fluctuations in nutrients, especially nitrate or CO2, and also if the nitrate is low.

It can also stunt if your micros are high, that iron looks high to me? Paging @Naturescapes_Rocco, @Burr740

How to grow Rotala macrandra & its varietals

Rotala macrandra is a popular aquarium plant that has the reputation of being hard to grow well. It favors soft-water and requires good quality lighting and consistent fertilization to grow into good form. Tip stunting of Rotala macrandra is a common issue, especially for hard water tanks...

www.2hraquarist.com

You're showing 10 PPM NO3 over the week, as dosed daily. Maybe try raising it to target 20 PPM consistently during the week?

Is your Rotala in a place where it is getting consistently adequate flow for CO2?

Did have a bit of an issue with co2 dipping, that was fixed almost 3 weeks ago
Less co2 was injected just for 4-6days

Thank u for sharing the article @Dennis Wong has such a wealth of knowledge on the website

Rotala is very prone to tip stunting and poor color if there are fluctuations in nutrients, especially nitrate or CO2, and also if the nitrate is low.

It can also stunt if your micros are high, that iron looks high to me? Paging @Naturescapes_Rocco, @Burr740

How to grow Rotala macrandra & its varietals

Rotala macrandra is a popular aquarium plant that has the reputation of being hard to grow well. It favors soft-water and requires good quality lighting and consistent fertilization to grow into good form. Tip stunting of Rotala macrandra is a common issue, especially for hard water tanks...

www.2hraquarist.com

You're showing 10 PPM NO3 over the week, as dosed daily. Maybe try raising it to target 20 PPM consistently during the week?

Is your Rotala in a place where it is getting consistently adequate flow for CO2?

The ferts are dosed daily
Macros 30 mins before lights
Micros 30 mins after light