Trimming back plants

Jay · 07-13-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Do me a favor, don't dispose of this near any natural water source. That's how a lot of lakes have ended up with so many weeds.

A responsible thought! You can get a list of banned plants from your local natural resources dept. There are a lot of aquariums out there with invasive plants which have been banned by their state because of their invasive nature.

Jay

taiarain · 07-13-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelkat

Do me a favor, don't dispose of this near any natual water source. That's how a lot of lakes have ended up with so many weeds.

Good point! I'm an avid composter so it kinda slipped my mind that the trimmings could end up anywhere other thana compost heap.

Taia

kelkat · 07-14-2006, 07:48 AM

I live near a large lake. We've ended up with fish and plant life that was never intended for our area because of people dumping out tanks and/or boaters not cleaning their propellers. Now they want to bring in more nonnative species to deal with the existing problem.

LadyViper · 07-15-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

Sounds like a fast growing invasive weed type. Just get the scissors and trim it back aggressively until you are happy with its size and shape. Use a fish net to scoop out dislodged leaves etc. Most aquatic plants respond well to aggressive pruning. I just took about 5 pounds of Bracopa out of my tank, it will grow back in a few days.

Jay

Did you mean Bacopa? I didn't realize that was an aquatic plant, I have only seen it planted out of water.

Growing back in a couple days...Good Lord, do you ever get tired of pruning?

Jay · 07-16-2006, 09:30 AM

Yes, Bacopa, my bad.

There are several different submerged aquatic varieties. I introduced it a while back to bulk up my "plant mass" (an algae elimination strategy) while I was growing out some other plants. It grows like the weed it is!!

Jay

fishboy · 07-27-2006, 01:21 AM

Ah so its an algae elmination strategy? I like that!
Does it really work?

Jay · 07-27-2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Ah so its an algae elimination strategy? I like that!
Does it really work?

My planted tanks are algae free (well, you really have to search for it

)

Jay

ahill3780 · 08-18-2006, 07:53 PM

Yeah, the theory behind it is that you have as many plants in the tank as you can that will soak up all the nutrients in the water before the algea have time to feed on it. More plants, less algae. Yes, it works.