Rotala Wallichii Melting In Every Tank

[Fishpuns]

I've been attempting to grow this for a few months now. At first I planted it according to this and other sites I read on it's care, but it immediately began melting. So I've since tried varying conditions, from warm water to cool, from high light to low, from no ferts to root tabs to osmocote. Now, I'm down to a single stem and it doesn't look great.

Any advice? Do I need liquid ferts? Should I stop trying to plant it and see if does better floating? My best guess atm is it's preference for soft water, I have rather hard water. But I have a good number of different plants, several of which like soft water and they're doing just fine after some adjustments to their light and ferts. What am I missing?

 

[APColorado]

Tried growing this in the past and from my experience it needs high light, CO2, ferts and soft water to thrive.

It is considered a stem plant and absorbs its nutrients through the water column so dosing with liquid ferts over root tabs.

 

[Fishpuns]

Tried growing this in the past and from my experience it needs high light, CO2, ferts and soft water to thrive.

It is considered a stem plant and absorbs its nutrients through the water column so dosing with liquid ferts over root tabs.

I can try liquid ferts, but it's probably a lost cause without CO2 and soft water then. That's a pity, it's so beautiful. Thank you!

 

[APColorado]

I can try liquid ferts, but it's probably a lost cause without CO2 and soft water then. That's a pity, it's so beautiful. Thank you!

It is. Beautiful plant. I gave up also because I don't have soft water