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My hortwort is falling apart


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#1 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 10 August 2008 - 07:48 PM

I've been giving it plenty of light and using some Jungle plant care tabs but it is still turning brown and falling apart.

This usually seems to happen to me with hornwort.

Anybody else have trouble growing hornwort?

#2 Guest_uniseine_*

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Posted 10 August 2008 - 08:53 PM

I really don't work with plants.

Hornwort stays green and falls apart if you change too much water at once.

Is your water soft?

#3 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 10 August 2008 - 09:27 PM

Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum, I assume) is pretty sensitive to chemicals and medications. It tends to melt if you use hydrogen peroxide or medications with copper. It definitely likes hard water. I would test the GH and KH. If low, pick up some salts like "R/O Right", to raise the hardness.

#4 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 10 August 2008 - 10:14 PM

It usually grows well for me. I've noticed that only one floating plant per tank will do well. I assume there are only enough nutrients to support one. I have soft water, I add minerals to it to make it moderately hard. It keeps the pH nice and stable, and the plants and fish I like to keep do well.

Edited by schambers, 10 August 2008 - 10:16 PM.


#5 Guest_topminnow_*

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Posted 11 August 2008 - 09:54 AM

I've been giving it plenty of light and using some Jungle plant care tabs...



Try liquid fertilizer.

#6 Guest_mander_*

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Posted 11 August 2008 - 02:39 PM

Is it the only plant falling apart?

Just to ask the obvious, may we assume you don't have carbon in your filter?

#7 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 11 August 2008 - 04:33 PM

It is the only plant falling apart.


I don't really take care of my plants as I should.

But my elodea, java moss and java fern seem to do well

#8 Guest_Gambusia_*

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Posted 11 August 2008 - 04:35 PM

Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum, I assume) is pretty sensitive to chemicals and medications. It tends to melt if you use hydrogen peroxide or medications with copper. It definitely likes hard water. I would test the GH and KH. If low, pick up some salts like "R/O Right", to raise the hardness.



Thanks for that info

#9 Guest_UncleWillie_*

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Posted 11 August 2008 - 06:28 PM

One of my tanks has been left unattended for 3 months over the summer with only the timer running. I came back to a tank stuffed full of hornwort and cabomba. When I got it up and running again, I needed to raise the water level, so I filled up my buckets and put in dechlorinator... I woke up the next morning to a tank full of mush. the hornwort and cabomba had both 'melted.' I even added the water very slowly - one bucket every 30 minutes...
I reckon it was just a harsh change from 3 month old water to newly-treated tap water. I will try to add much slower next time. 3 months of great growth for nothing..

Edited by UncleWillie, 11 August 2008 - 06:29 PM.


#10 Guest_Travis_*

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Posted 09 October 2008 - 04:32 PM

The fact hornwort breaks apart is testament to its success. Each 'broken" section can easily become a mature plant if conditions are favorable. As such, hornwort has the reputation of being fragile. Even too much water movement can trigger a few breaks.

About the "mush" thing- I've never experienced that before. New one on me. It grows like a weed in my tanks (soil substrate, CO2 injection, regular iron supplements, 180+ watts of 6500K probably helps!)

#11 Guest_Travis_*

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Posted 09 October 2008 - 04:33 PM

I've been giving it plenty of light and using some Jungle plant care tabs but it is still turning brown and falling apart.

This usually seems to happen to me with hornwort.

Anybody else have trouble growing hornwort?



Which part is turning brown? are you getting green tips, or are they brown, too?




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