voiceless_kat

I bought one of those aquatic bulbs at Walmart that are dry packed and are just dropped into the tank. I have no local access to other aquatic plants. I have a few other low light, hard water plants in there that I received from a friend.

I dropped the bulb into my 55g, and it soon sent out roots and shoots ---very long stems that reach to the surface of the water, with neat red leaves that float there. It now also has some shorter stems with leaves that just sit about 3 inches above the bulb.

Because the stems/leaves are prolific, I can imagine that they may pose a problem covering the surface of the tank, and have to be cut back. Otherwise, I like this plant, and the fish like to pick at it, and the otos like to scoot up and down the long stems.

Anyone else have these bulbs?
Do they also use nitrates..ie are they beneficial?
I am thinking it is a lotus of some kind??

Thanks, Val

capekate

Hi Val
your aquatic bulb sounds like its doing great in your tank! I dont know anything about these bulbs.. but would love to know which kind you bought that is sending out these great shoots already! I'd like to give it a try in my 55g.


~ kate

sirdarksol

http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-36.htm

http://www.plantgeek.net/plant-104.htm

These are the only bulb plants that I could find that have red leaves. Either of these look right?

Dino

It is more likely the tiger lotus.
Barclaya are a lot harder to come by and go thru major availability swings, as they are from Africa and do not have a regular importation.

voiceless_kat

Here are some pic I just took . The leaves do look like the tiger lotus pics. I am thinking the little pack didn't even have a species name, just something like "aquatic bulb"...duh.

So what's the opinion on cutting the leaves on occassion?
Does even this plant use up nitrates??

Thanks.

Val

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mlinden84

they are "nymphaea lily bulbs red or green" (or so says the package)
I got some too...but it looks like you had better luck than I did, it's been almost a month and I don't have any growth from them.

voiceless_kat

I just referenced Plant Geek and Nymphaea and tiger lotus are same family. Mine has been inthe tank about 2 months, and I kept moving it around. Now it is right where I wanted it, has set down a lot of roots, and I am pretty happy with it. I used to have one in Neptune's betta tank also, and it did well. Glad to know I could get it to grow! Plant Geek said it is heavy root feeding, I don't do anything to it.......Yay, just lucky with this one.

Mlinden, is yours still in your tank??

Val

lilsoccakid

i think any plant that is growing will use up nitrates. i have about 15 plants in my 55 gallon (lightly stocked), and my nitrates are always very very low without many waterchanges

Butterfly

When the leaves shoot for the surface if you will pinch them off the plant will stay more compact. In order for it to bloom it has to have floating leaves.
They are also called Dwarf lilys(same family).
Carol

voiceless_kat

I only have a few plants, that may change one day in the future but when I set up my 55 I was so new into fishkeeping. All help with the nitrates is a good thing. Geez, I do waterchanges/siphon vacs every 6-7 days, just cuz I am too nervous to leave it..



Thanks Carol, I think I will nip some of the stems, there are about 10...and I like the leaves showing at the bottom. It would be pretty neat to bloom, although I have the canopy on the top, so you couldn't see it anyway.

I think I will just enjoy it, thanks you guys!

Val

mlinden84

I've got them in my hospital tank. I figured since no fish are in there, I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep the bulbs in there. I got 2 different packs of the bulbs. Only 1 bulb out of about 10 did anything. (it was the other kind of bulb, not the lily one)