Hemianthus callitrichoides Cuba

JDMInpsiredDA · 05-07-2008, 02:15 PM

Hey there,

First off, I'm new to this forum. I'm here to learn about Aquascaping in many forms. I like how this forum has a ton of information from experienced Aquascapers and is very active. We'll my question today is..

What substrate have you guys used in growing Hemianthus callitrichoides Cuba?

I have been using Flourite, Florabase, ADA Aqusoil Malaysia but still haven't been able to grow it successfully. I think it's having a difficult time cling on to these substrates. I'm thinking about picking up a few bags of Eco-Complete for my 20gallon long tank and try again.

My lighting for the tank that it's currently in right now is 3wpg.
Co2 bubbles per second is 1 bubble per 28-30 seconds.
Water quality is stable except for ADA Aquasoil raising my pH to 8.0

My HC Cuba isn't dying but just won't grow and it's been near 2 weeks.

Any Advices?
Thanks in Advance.

John N. · 05-07-2008, 03:24 PM

First off, welcome to ASW. I'm happy to hear your loving the new site.

The challenge with Hemianthus callitrichoides is that it doesn't stay down in the substrate. I've had a difficult time getting it to stay in ADA substrate but planting in larger patches with a good sprinkle of Aquasoil on top, and reducing the filter flow for a week helped keep it down. I've grown HC in Eco Complete very successfully.

But I don't think substrates is the main challenge for you and HC. Two thinks that stand out from your description above is, CO2 and ADA Aquasoil's impact on pH. Not knowing the size of your tank, 1 bubble per 28-30 seconds is very low for CO2 injections. On average C02 usually hits around 2-4 bubbles per second. HC loves light and C02, so be sure to increase your CO2. Lastly, ADA aquasoil usually has an acidic impact on pH, and lowers the pH. Something else is causing your pH to rise I believe.

Ultimately, it's only been two weeks. Give it some more CO2 and light, and it'll get growing really quick. Plant the HC in small individual stems across the foreground and it will surely spread.

-John N.

JDMInpsiredDA · 05-07-2008, 04:03 PM

Right now it's in a small 5 gallon tank, I have had it in much larger tank but the plant just dies off so I redid it in a small tank to see how it goes. I'm not sure what's causing the pH to rise so high. Here's a picture taken on the 25th. We'll I just read more about growing HC Cuba from members here and I might try it emerse first then submerge it afterwards. I've been trying to grow this for a good 4 months now over and over and just getting a little frustrated lol.

I also have a 2 gallon one set up also, but much more less seperated than my 5 gallon tank.

Pat7676 · 05-07-2008, 04:55 PM

Could it be the rock that you have in there? I think sometimes that may effect your hardness.

JDMInpsiredDA · 05-08-2008, 10:21 PM

It might been it, I removed it last night and this evening I did a test and my pH is slowly dropping to 7.2. I wouldn't think that rock would of have anything to do with it. We'll I'll let it go for now and just let the cuba get use to the pH that it's at now and see if they're is any growth or not. Thanks

Pat7676 · 05-10-2008, 01:03 AM

There is some kind of test that you can do with rocks something about putting vinger on it. Might want to look into it.

John N. · 05-12-2008, 08:46 PM

I forgot to mention HC loves Seachem Excel if you don't have access to DIY CO2 or pressurized CO2.

-John N.

05-07-2008, 02:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
JDMInpsiredDA Junior Aquascaper Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 3	Hemianthus callitrichoides Cuba Hey there, First off, I'm new to this forum. I'm here to learn about Aquascaping in many forms. I like how this forum has a ton of information from experienced Aquascapers and is very active. We'll my question today is.. What substrate have you guys used in growing Hemianthus callitrichoides Cuba? I have been using Flourite, Florabase, ADA Aqusoil Malaysia but still haven't been able to grow it successfully. I think it's having a difficult time cling on to these substrates. I'm thinking about picking up a few bags of Eco-Complete for my 20gallon long tank and try again. My lighting for the tank that it's currently in right now is 3wpg. Co2 bubbles per second is 1 bubble per 28-30 seconds. Water quality is stable except for ADA Aquasoil raising my pH to 8.0 My HC Cuba isn't dying but just won't grow and it's been near 2 weeks. Any Advices? Thanks in Advance.

05-07-2008, 03:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
John N. Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,242	First off, welcome to ASW. I'm happy to hear your loving the new site. The challenge with Hemianthus callitrichoides is that it doesn't stay down in the substrate. I've had a difficult time getting it to stay in ADA substrate but planting in larger patches with a good sprinkle of Aquasoil on top, and reducing the filter flow for a week helped keep it down. I've grown HC in Eco Complete very successfully. But I don't think substrates is the main challenge for you and HC. Two thinks that stand out from your description above is, CO2 and ADA Aquasoil's impact on pH. Not knowing the size of your tank, 1 bubble per 28-30 seconds is very low for CO2 injections. On average C02 usually hits around 2-4 bubbles per second. HC loves light and C02, so be sure to increase your CO2. Lastly, ADA aquasoil usually has an acidic impact on pH, and lowers the pH. Something else is causing your pH to rise I believe. Ultimately, it's only been two weeks. Give it some more CO2 and light, and it'll get growing really quick. Plant the HC in small individual stems across the foreground and it will surely spread. -John N. __________________ Welcome to AquaScaping World!

05-12-2008, 08:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
John N. Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,242	I forgot to mention HC loves Seachem Excel if you don't have access to DIY CO2 or pressurized CO2. -John N. __________________ Welcome to AquaScaping World!

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05-07-2008, 04:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
JDMInpsiredDA Junior Aquascaper Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 3	Right now it's in a small 5 gallon tank, I have had it in much larger tank but the plant just dies off so I redid it in a small tank to see how it goes. I'm not sure what's causing the pH to rise so high. Here's a picture taken on the 25th. We'll I just read more about growing HC Cuba from members here and I might try it emerse first then submerge it afterwards. I've been trying to grow this for a good 4 months now over and over and just getting a little frustrated lol. I also have a 2 gallon one set up also, but much more less seperated than my 5 gallon tank.

05-07-2008, 04:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pat7676 Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jackson, Mississippi Posts: 753	Could it be the rock that you have in there? I think sometimes that may effect your hardness.

05-08-2008, 10:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
JDMInpsiredDA Junior Aquascaper Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 3	It might been it, I removed it last night and this evening I did a test and my pH is slowly dropping to 7.2. I wouldn't think that rock would of have anything to do with it. We'll I'll let it go for now and just let the cuba get use to the pH that it's at now and see if they're is any growth or not. Thanks

05-10-2008, 01:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
Pat7676 Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jackson, Mississippi Posts: 753	There is some kind of test that you can do with rocks something about putting vinger on it. Might want to look into it.