How to grow : Background stem plants in a planted tank

A video on trimming technique; using Ludwigia Arcuata and Hemianthus glomeratus as examples to grow dense bushes.
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Music by Chris Zabriskie

[@ADUAquascaping]

This is awesome man. What did you use to draw the diagrams and animation? I really miss my stem plants. I just got some rotala sp. Ceylon. I guess it is rare in the States. That is what I am still trying master. The timeframe, I can eventually get primo growth with minimal algae, but usually takes longer than 10 weeks. Live and learn, I am getting better at not making so many mistakes initially. Glad you are uploading videos. Tank is looking insane!

[@ADUAquascaping]

I am going to put a link to this video on my trimming video, if you don't mind. It would be good for hobbyists to see this method as well...

[@Craigo5000]

your scape videos are the most descriptive and informative on KZbin. Well done!

[@2hrAquarist]

Heh thanks

[@chubrown79]

5 years later and still helping people. Thank you!!

[@SimTV2022]

Make that 9!

[@2hrAquarist]

ADU Aquascaping Sure thing man... I'll be setuping another 3ft tank next week, may take awhile to have more vids

[@AussieAquatic]

Outstanding explanation and great diagrams.

[@vanessamurphy135]

Omg this video and graphic is so unbelievably helpful!!! I feel like I finally understand how to get that lush look. THANK YOU

[@KrispyAquascape]

Great explanation video. Love your tank man.

[@zardashtar8503]

Hello . Can I ask why my stem plants not grow? I have pogostemon erectus and ludwigias and limnophila aromatica. My tank is 4 month. I’m using ro water and nutrients. And co2. And chihirios rgb vivid. But it’s 4 months my plans just growing 4 cm

[@izmar]

Great video. Thanks for the tips. I need to do a trimming now!

[@s.t.internationalaquariums841]

Nice video!

[@aristotlehasan7832]

May i know the species besides the arcuata ? The green one ? thanks !

[@martinwelters370]

Great clear explaining.

[@christophernoto]

Well done! Good information, appropriate and attractive graphics, and nicely grown aquaria. Bravo, and thanks.

[@Rhiro808]

Thanks for these videos. Very informative and easy to follow with your diagrams and actual demonstrations.

[@AleMaia]

Thank you very much!!!!

[@ematoo978]

Nice. Good basics, very important and first seen here. Thxs :))

[@tomshaji]

0:33 which plant? Green colour

[@fahvm4362]

is it ok to mix plants with grass? The plants or grass will not compete and die??

[@chizpa305]

Great explanation on the trimming!

[@benlau747]

well explain, graphics help me a lot thanks!

[@benattokaran]

Hi Dennis, I'm using ur APT complete in my dutch tank and using as recommended as per bottle but 4 times / week. I would have excepted my Rotana (green and Ceylon) to have much more stronger growth. Tank information is only 30cm high, co2 yes, light Chihiros WRGB2, PH6.4, notrate-5ppm, dGH3, dKH1. So my question to u, this is a light intensity problem or maybe need to dose a little more than recommended.

[@ambarishambarish6448]

Hi sir what is the fertilizer?

[@tactiyon]

SG FOR THE WINN

[@GrzegorzJezewski1977]

Witam pomożesz mi ustawić nawożenie chcę spróbować EI. Zbiornik 305 L brutto 250L netto 170cm-40-45cm dzięki Oświetlenie 0.8w/l.Pozdrawiam

[@aquaticliving6019]

ive had a dense bush for years (;

[@mavisaab]

Greetings, a query, you who have much experience in planting, 8 hours light recommended, should I place the 8 hours straight or I can do it ranges, for example start with two hours, turn it off 15 minutes and so on, at the end of the day light hours add 8 ?, thanks in advance.

[@mimron1486]

hi Dennis, need your advice... how to make aromatica bushy? is trimming like on your arcuata? thanks before.

[@2hrAquarist]

Fortunately, yes exactly same way

[@mimron1486]

@@2hrAquarist thank you.

[@simonpidgeon949]

Very good video , drawing also helps to show trim patterns, this will help Newbies like me learn how it’s done 💯👍👍

[@AquadesignAquascaping]

Dennis this is helpful. And i have done this before. Though some plants are not that good. Would you recommend this method for Pogostemon Erectus? I have been avoiding doing it to mine as the plants seems to look better when i just replant the tops. But it does not look bushy this way and i am in fact thinking of replacing it.

[@2hrAquarist]

+AQUADESIGN by aquamaniac Yeah, it works better for some plants than others. Pogostemon erectus works well, I'm using it currently... it's recovery time is not as fast as ludwigia arcuata, and it doesn't branch as much but it takes trimming better well without stunting

[@RickyKenerlyCichlids]

Good job on giving instructions!

[@shinbi6739]

wow this is awesome tip.. amazing and thx:)

[@2hrAquarist]

+Shin Bi (신비) Thanks !~

[@drag9nfly]

outstanding and clear explanation

[@julieknight3059]

Very useful information for me as a new comer to the planted tank. Thank you,

[@aliaksoy2495]

I loved this aquascape. Cant stop watching several times at once. I will try to imitate it

[@anthony91688]

Awesome video. Very clear and easy to understand.

[@burgundybass]

Well made video. Thanks!

[@nexstar00]

Love your videos

[@Arjalsuperb]

Thank you master 🙏

[@MrSwordstroker]

10K subs! congratulations

[@RiverRatsBackAndysBFF]

Can you tell me what the little round red leafed plant is? Its just to the left of the rock on the right side. Also what is the little fern plant in the foreground? I want these plants. Thanks. I'd like to add that your videos are inspiring and your have a great voice for doing this. Thank you for your time! Oh, nvm I see that it actually states it in your video!!! GJ on ur tanks, its incredible!

[@2hrAquarist]

Daniel Fred Haa thanks and good luck

[@lokajaya1690]

With scary music?...

[@MrEduardojr2004]

TOP!!

[@lebev8269]

Hi, can you tell me the names of the red plants? Thanks..

[@2hrAquarist]

beve rone Ludwigia Sp. Red, Alternanthera reineckii... the orange background plant is Ludwigia arcuata

[@astralloner]

Hi, I really enjoy your instructional videos. Have a question. Is there any way to prevent background plants that produce runners from growing onto the foreground apart from consistently removing them? I have tried that and it tends to pull up the carpet that grows in the foreground as well

[@2hrAquarist]

+astralloner Do you mean roots or runners? Sometimes overly lean water will cause plants to produce more aerial roots than usual, but other than that, I think only regular pruning will stop it. Also, after the carpet has grown in fully, it'll be hard for the stems to anchor

[@donochetti2177]

Thank you!!!

[@Sub1117]

Quick question. Do you think that the trimming contributes to the color of the Arcuata? Thanks

[@2hrAquarist]

No, I'm quite sure it doesn't... if anything the opposite is more true. Trimming can be stressful for plants, hence the caveat that the plants should be healthy. Single stems in open less crowded areas have the best chances of having more color as their access to light & nutrient is unimpeded.

[@2hrAquarist]

Sub1117 I think I remember your tank from the forum now. (thanks to your easy to remember username). I sense some collectoritis of colored stems ha. Your tank is 20 inches tall no (25g tall)? I think you asked about R. magenta also. Standard EI is more than enough for your plant mass, so its definitely not a nutrient issue. You can afford to have significantly more light & find a good way to get flow to the lower areas of the tank. Light calculations for tall tanks are a bit different because of the height. You can use ludwigia sp. red as an indicator; you need at least enough light to turn the plant very red. It's a good indicator for lighting in this case because it doesn't require CO2 or good nutrient dosing to have very red color (isolating lighting as the direct link to coloration).

[@fsu23]

great video, i am curious if you have any advice on suffcient dosing to avoid green dust algae on the glass. I dose Estimative index with a lot of light 156 watts over my 30 gallon. I know it is a lot of light, but i have high amounts of co2 and only 6 hours or so of photo period. Any experience with dosing a high wpg tank like that with EI dosing?

[@2hrAquarist]

Thanks man... The 50gal tank at 0:25 is grown with 2 X 150w Metal halides so its similar in that sense. Hmm... having more plant mass would help, and bristle-nose plecos handle GDA well. Margin for error in very high-light tanks is low - you can also try the MCI method for dosing if there are still algae issues with EI ( www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/algae/69737-method-controlled-imbalances-summary.html )

[@fsu23]

Dennis Wong might have to check it out, but i am also gonna make a DIY light hanging fixture so i can raise my 2 T5HO fixtures higher above my tank, not only to help with maintenance, but more for the intensity directly over the tank which is probably what is causing my issues. I have ludwigia acruata in my current setup too. I like it a lot. Do you have experience with Rotala Macrandra or Rotala Mac (narrow leaf)

[@2hrAquarist]

fsu23 Yes, I do use them frequently. They don't do as well in high temp, high KH (above 8 or so). And they do tend to be boom or bust, so they make great indicator plants. The narrow leaf/magenta is more difficult than the default Rotala macrandra. Putting it in the spot with good flow from CO2 misting and they'll be happy. Lighting need not be excessive, but they definitely can't be shaded. Despite being a stem plant, good substrate seems to benefit as well. Kinda symbolic of the typical high-demand plant (high light/high nutrient/high CO2) I keep a couple of stems in my 3ft for accent : plus.google.com/u/0/109482096067379521499/posts/RcDfANBfKWH?pid=6088226704236347026&oid=109482096067379521499

[@fsu23]

I dont have a lot of trouble growing rotala narrow leaf, or rotala mac.. but keeping them both a deep red is my issue. I have inline diffuser from GLA that blows right over both of them, but it is some kind of deficiency as the lower leaves start to lose color turning back to green then yellowing and dying off. Prob need to increase ferts. My other issue currently is I did a massive trim to my stems not that long ago, and for the first time in 3 years i have a large algae bloom. Trying to do near 50% water changes everyday to see if i can clear it up, but it is tough to try to clear it up. Any suggestions?

[@2hrAquarist]

fsu23 Algae is a complex issue. For old tanks, sometimes clearing up substrate organics/detritus helps. If you removed a lot of plant mass from the tank, perhaps just waiting it out (for the plants to grow back) will work.