Trimming The Jungle?

Demeter
  • #1
I need some tips on trimming plants. I've got one tank in particular that is full of crypts. Before the crypts went wild they were a lovely little arrangement in this same 10gal tank, only about half as tall as the tank itself. Things were going great in my low light dirted betta tank. Happy fish, happy plants which would send up a runner here and there. The piece of wood looked great among these plants.
3-31-17

3-31-17 sorority.JPG

5-6-17

5-6-17.JPG

9-21-17

Otabek's tank 9-21-17.JPG
10-26-17 After I moved my 4 female bettas to their 29gal planted tank and placed my big boy in the plants started getting taller, and taller and the runners started coming up non stop. I've been pulling runners left and right too keep things under control. Can't see the wood anymore

Otabek's tank 10-26-17.JPG

6-7-18
And now... Can't see anything but crypts. The leaves got taller and larger with the stems much longer as well.

6-7-18.JPG

I've thought about trimming down some of the cyrpts up front to nothing but stubs, in an attempt to "reboot" them. I'd like them to grow low and compact like they were when I had the girls in here. Of course I could just leave them be, but it's a mess. The fish are fine though and I even added 5 brown cherry shrimp which quickly became a couple dozen.


Anyone have experience with trimming crypts? If I were to trim them to stubs would they regrow differently?
 
EbiAqua
  • #2
TrI'm off the outer leaves as close to the base as possible. The new growth in the center will be shorter.

I love how healthy they look and the shade they provide!
 
Demeter
  • Thread Starter
  • #3
I think I'll give that a try! The betta shouldn't mind too much but the loaches might have a bit of a fit after losing some of their cover. I'll only do the crypt wendtiI and leave the other type (really tall, planted in the back) alone.
 
Mcasella
  • #4
Also trim new taller grown leaves, that way it is like a train mowing down dandelions (weeds grow on train tracks, the ones that grow tall lose their heads, the plants learn to only grow to a certain height or be damaged). Only new leaves until you can get them back to their height you prefer, a brighter light likely will cause them to grow lower.
 
Demeter
  • Thread Starter
  • #5
Okay I did a water changed yesterday and also trimmed things up. I debated on trimming the crypt to the left as well but decided to leave it for now.

Before

7-2-18.JPG
After

Trimmed down.JPG
 
Mcasella
  • #6
Okay I did a water changed yesterday and also trimmed things up. I debated on trimming the crypt to the left as well but decided to leave it for now.

Before
View attachment 452450
After
View attachment 452449
You might see some algae grow on your anubias coffeefolia but otherwise the light getting though will only help.
 
Demeter
  • Thread Starter
  • #7
I haven't had algae in this tank for at least a year, so lets hope not. That tiny anubias is a good 3yr+ and still hasn't grown much. If the light getting through helps, should I trim up the crypt on the left too? It's blocking quite a bit.
 
Mcasella
  • #8
I haven't had algae in this tank for at least a year, so lets hope not. That tiny anubias is a good 3yr+ and still hasn't grown much. If the light getting through helps, should I trip up the crypt on the left too? It's blocking quite a bit.
I would wait and see how the trimming affects the tank first.
 
Demeter
  • Thread Starter
  • #9
Update: Crypts have regrown shorter and smaller

98599BCE-2D79-49ED-B1C3-AB8C22360008.jpeg

May trim the last tall crypt but Otabek likes resting on the leaves.
7CC94D0D-7C7F-4DC0-B2C0-8D37666BB534.jpeg
 

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