Why Dwarf Baby Tears are one of the HARDEST Plants to Grow!

[@vincentfox4929]

This is a criminally undersubscribed channel.

[@sincysunil6339]

Only channel that gave honest review on baby tears… such notorious plant to care for!

[@TarasTankFriends]

Hello, I came over from Stubbs Aquatics. I have tried this plant a couple of times without success. This explains so much of why I wasn't successful, thanks! Great video! 🙂👍

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Hope you have some success the next time you try it!!! Let me know how it goes!

[@raywells2858]

I started a planted Aquarium as a side to my reef tanks about a year ago and this was one of the first plants I put in my tank. Without CO2 or Fertilizers, this plant quickly over grew my 20 gallon tank and its now in my 55 gallon tank as the main plant as well as my 10 gallon Nursery Tank for the fry from my Angelfish pair. Yes adding CO2 would probably get me better results Ill admit. Yes it needs to be trimmed regularly especially if algae starts growing on it! To cut down on detritus build up and algae formation that it broings I often times use a turkey baster or a Koralia Nano 425 power head to "blow down" my Baby Tears putting all that garbage in suspension so my mechanical filtration can remove it from the tank.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

I have seen on rare occasions dwarf baby tears growing lengthy, however, it is quite difficult, and I haven't had any success myself. There could be a chance that you have regular baby tears (Micranthemum umbrosum), which are a different species compared to dwarf baby tears (Micranthemum callitrichoides 'Cuba'). This might explain the easier growth and taller growth as regular baby tears can grow 10 - 15+ cm while dwarf baby tears can grow 3 - 5+ cm according to Tropica. Tropica Links: Regular: tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Micranthemumumbrosum(048)/4475 Dwarf: tropica.com/en/plants/plantdetails/Micranthemumcallitrichoides%C2%B4Cuba%C2%B4(048B)/4477

[@longebane]

@@TropiscapeAquaticsit’s also possible he has MC

[@marlonallansupetran7120]

It also needs lower water temperature, go higher than 26°C you'll push it to it's limits.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

True! Although, I think temps above 25°C is already pushing it

[@meminustherandomgooglenumbers]

Good info, thank you! 😁👍

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@av15hek70]

Thanks 😮Bro

[@TieWolf]

Mine is taking over and I don't have Co2 injections or added ferts. I layered the bottom of my tank with raw red clay (just a box from Hobby Lobby to be honest) and put Seachem Black Flourite sand on top. These plants carpeted so fast! The most I have done for Co2 is added liquid Co2 maybe once a month. I have stayed away from it for years understanding it is deemed difficult, but now it is overwhelming my tank (beautifully of course!) It is a nearly 10 gallon tank and took maybe 4 or 5 months to fully cover the bottom of the tank.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

There's a chance that it could be regular baby tears or pearlweed instead of HC 'Cuba'. However, I have heard of some people successfully growing it without much like yourself. I tried to do the same in the past, but it didn't go too well... I might try again in the future with a similar setup. I think the sand really help given their small roots

[@TieWolf]

@@TropiscapeAquaticsDefinitely the dwarf baby tears variety! I just double checked what the regular baby tears plant looks like to be sure. I am not sure what my winning ticket was with them since it was my first time trying them out so it is hard to add comparison. Fingers crossed for ya!

[@gabrielcrespo966]

Hey, you did great 👍🏽

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Thanks!

[@Ventosis]

I've grown it in Eco Complete which is a non fertilized and about the size of regular aquarium gravel ( I did use root tabs). The most critical thing is co2 which needs to be pretty high (lime green) and consistent. Light needs to be medium to high. It also melts if you get toward the high 70s in temp. Algae is really hard to get rid of if it gets established because H2O2 and algicides melt it and manual removal is basically impossible.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

I agree with the notion that CO2 is the most important aspect when it comes to this plant. And avoiding algae of course lol

[@hend-3192]

Ive built my very first aquascape on 360 litre aquarium, completely noob. With hc cuba & been running for 3 months, my led seller encourage me to full power co2 (yellow co2 indicator) for first 3 weeks, with no fauna, it works. Now, with fauna, i put timer to turn on my air buble (ugf) every hour in 10 minutes during co2 injection & lights on. And the air buble will turn on when there is no co2 being injected. I put hc cuba on sand (with root tab), fine soil also with root tab and on the rock, they are able to survive. Dosing fertilizer every single day, usually if the manufacture recommended to dosing twice / three times a week, im lowering the dosage (cause daily) and by 1 week it is the same dosage as manufacture recommended dosage.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Full blasting CO2 is a ballsy move that even I would never do. But, if it works, it works! 👍 Just curious, but why do you use an air bubbler? They are not common in high-tech tanks. I don't use any in mine at all

[@hend-3192]

@TropiscapeAquatics @TropiscapeAquatics at first, i was planning to built waterfall theme (using ugf), but since I've had problem of space (60cm depth still wasnt enough for me 😂). So i decided to change to mountain & valley aquascape and planning to a highly demanding plant, with ugf still in tank because the gravel & sand was already there and im being lazy Turn out, the tank will be benefited from the ugf, since i use Dr. Kevin Novak (anoxic plennum) method with bubbler. And also ive watched some video including yours that the aeration needed for 02 in a planted tank for their growth during night time. The reason i let my bubbler on for 10 minutes every one hour (during co2 being injected) is because I see my fish gasping for air.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Are you using a CO2 drop checker to make sure that you're not going overboard with it? You should never be within the range of CO2 where livestock are gasping for air. Furthermore, if you're pumping a lot of CO2, check your pH levels. CO2 inherently decreases the pH while it is turned on, and pumping a lot of it can decrease pH levels to the point where it can stress out livestock. Actually, you don't need aeration at night. The only reason to use stronger aeration is for situations where you cannot turn off your CO2 at night. None of my planted tanks use an air stone and all of my livestock are perfectly fine!

[@hend-3192]

@@TropiscapeAquatics ive put the drop checker below my inlet very close to substrate. Checking ph daily during co2 injection.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

You shouldn't need to put the drop checker near the substrate. It's usually near the top for visibility. There's also no need to test pH that often if your drop checker is green. Drop checkers more or less measure pH, and having it be green means pH is around the 6.4 - 6.8 pH range. Blue would be a higher pH, while yellow is lower. I rarely measure pH in my CO2 injected tanks

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Do you think I should try to recover the HC 'Cuba' or should I completely redo my tank? Let me know!

[@DetectiveLopez.]

Start again with Monte Carlo it's easier to grow and looks similar

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

@@DetectiveLopez. I did eventually start over but I'm still using HC 'Cuba'. I love the challenge it gives me lmao

[@DetectiveLopez.]

@Tropiscape Aquatics Increase the co2 ,Dennis said 95% of problems with Cuba are not enough co2

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

@@DetectiveLopez. Yup! I've also found that they just grow small and straight up if there isn't adequate CO2 and light levels.

[@itsndgo]

A few shrimp some snails and that’s all the fertilizer you need I can throw anything in my tank and it does just fine with little to no maintenance

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

They may be able to grow, but the real challenge is their overall health in both short and long-term. Here's a little challenge is you want one. Tonina Fluviatilis, Rotala Macrandra 'Varigated', and Utricularia Graminifolia are all notoriously known for their difficulty. If these plants can grow well in your aquarium, I want your secrets! I've failed growing T. Fluviatilis in the past, and I don't want to touch U. Graminifolia for a long time...

[@itsndgo]

@@TropiscapeAquatics anacharis ??? That stuff is growing so much in my tank I had to give some away to a friend. I love that stuff. Here is a list of plants I currently own and are thriving. (Most pretty common plants) Anacharis , Sword Plant, Anubias, Hornwort, Baby tears, Water sprite, and some red plant I don’t know the name How can I send you pictures so it doesn’t sound like I’m lying. (Also I told you my secret in the first comment🤣 that’s all you need seriously)

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Anacharis is very easy to grow and is great for low-tech environments. Those plants that you listed are technically on the easier side, I wanted to throw you a challenge if you're up for it 😉 I might be able to identify that red plant if you do have a picture of it to send. You can easily send it to the Discord server if you use Discord.

[@itsndgo]

@@TropiscapeAquatics oh so sorry when I googled tonina fluviatilis I thought it was anacharis. And yes I would love to join the discord server !! that would be awesome.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

@@itsndgo They do look similar, I'll give you that! I also prefer Anacharis to Tonina. Anacharis is just so much easier and grows superfast unlike Tonina Here's the Discord invite link: discord.com/invite/NuVphNdNfC

[@stubbsaquatics6080]

Excellent video.. This plant is used on external filters in koi ponds on the outside of trickle towers.. commonly called mind your own business or Soleirolia. I am wondering if started as an immerrsed then moved to emersed would work... Just a thought as many of the plants we buy start out as immerrsed then die off when we plant them submerged Good info on the Monte Carlo as an alternative.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

A plant called 'Mind your own business'! That's quite the name for it lol! There's a method for starting planted tanks called the Dry Start Method. It's essentially growing plants emersed in the tank with high humidity for a few weeks before flooding. The high humidity would help the plant grow submerged growth making it easier to maintain at the start with a relatively low chance of plant melt. I've found that HC 'Cuba' does way better when it's used with the Dry Start Method.

[@HiCHRIIS]

i cant understand why its melting away .. i started a Eco system Vase tank with 2 Gallons and no co2 and no filter .. this plant goes nuts and healthy the last 3 months

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

It's not really melting away per say, it's more so weak due to a lack of CO2. Some of the floaters have nice white stems on them. They just don't want to stay anchored. The tank is two years old so it might be time to change it up. The aquasoil is definitely depleted. Also, I've never been able to get it to really grow without CO2. You definitely deserve a medal! Is the tank a Walstad tank? If so, the CO2 produced in such a system might be enough for the carpet to keep healthy.

[@HiCHRIIS]

@@TropiscapeAquatics you can do it brother :) what helped me alot on my journey was the guys from und he channel called „ green aqua“ check them out very good content on this topic :) thanks alot for your content and every piece of knowledge u share with us, much love & greetings from germany☺️

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

@@HiCHRIIS Love those guys. They're one of the main reasons why I got into aquascaping and making these KZbin videos!

[@makoybandianon241]

i used garden soil to grow hc and they do well in my tank.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

That's awesome! For clarification, are you using soil inside the tank or growing HC with dirt outside the tank and then transferring it over to inside the tank?

[@Lunar-Junkie]

@@TropiscapeAquatics use soil in the tank, I would recommend using pond soil rinsing it to get larger debris free and then adding a layer of sand or light gravel over the top to stop it from muddying the water. I recommend 1-1.5 inches of soil then .5-1 inch of sand/gravel. Works amazingly.

[@jordanteos]

Some dude sold me some of these plants and listed it as Monte Carlo, and now I'm trying my absolute hardest to keep it alive in my low-tech tank.😭😭 There's some growth but algae is starting to take over. Any tips?

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

It's gonna be a tough battle, but it is possible. First, determine the type of the algae. Next, physically remove as much as you can, even if it includes trimming the Monte Carlo. Next, take a look at your lighting system (do you need to increase intensity, duration, etc.), fertilizer, water flow, etc. Figure out a long term plan. Take a look at the health of the Monte Carlo and other plants. Are there any signs of nutrient deficiency? If so, what are the steps where you can deal with it? Healthy plants and a balanced tank are the key to dealing with algae in most cases.

[@ivanganchev8066]

I tried this plant many times, every time with success! Just DIY nutrients (KNO3 and KH2PO4) and EasyLife Profito for micro elements. Good light and CO2. If you have enough co2 and good light - this is easy plant. That's all. There's no difficult plants, just low tech aquariums. If you have co2 system, enough light and enough nutrients , you can grow everythig without any issues :)

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Yup, it's all about balance between the three

[@vanessamurphy135]

I can’t tell if this video makes me want to keep trying, or give up lol 😂 my shrimp just keep uprooting the delicate stems. I’ve been like replanting the same cycle of stems for a month now. I guess I’ll keep trying… brb off to replant the same stems I planted yesterday that are now floaters…

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Lmao! You could try to grow some emersed in a container with a lid to keep the humidity in. If it takes off, you've got plenty to put in the tank again!

[@Taris_Univers]

Mine always melt it’s the only plant that won’t grow in my tank the bottom of my tank is garden soul, sand, crushed black gravel

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

There's a chance that the roots aren't reaching the soil and getting any nutrients. If this plant is too difficult, you can try Monte Carlo or regular baby tears, a.k.a Pearlweed. The latter is the easiest one

[@cozmin1424]

You forgot the Utricularia Graminifolia (UG)

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Yeah, that one is another beast on its own. I haven't fully experimented with it yet, but I want to in the future!

[@bornsniper9531]

Wtf 😂🤣😂 it just randomly started growing in my tank. I have no idea where it came from. It’s so healthy and I never do water changes and clean the filter.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

It could be Pearlweed. Pearlweed is very easy to grow and can be used in low-tech tanks without much care. HC 'Cuba' and Pearlweed are similar to one another as they are from the same family of plants and can be mistaken for one another. HC 'Cuba' (Hemianthus callitrichoides) vs Pearlweed (Hemianthus micranthemoides). One of the biggest differences is how tall they grow.

[@RF_NY1]

Looks nice but it sounds like a plant for people who are up for the challenge.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Yeah... It can be quite the challenge to grow, but once it gets going, it looks amazing!

[@gardockis.playground]

Best way to grow it is out of the water 😅

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Lmao true! But, that goes for majority of aquatic plants to be fair

[@gardockis.playground]

@@TropiscapeAquatics most yes 🤣

[@_invertico_]

Awesome video and I am a new subscriber from @stubbs aquatics .I really like the editing

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Thanks you!

[@trashlahn6993]

i just leave it out of water super ez

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

This is something I actually do! I have HC 'Cuba' growing emersed in a hydroponic like system. It's got all the CO2 it can have which is why it grows well out of water!

[@Tango-_-]

AH

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

AH

[@PromilaCecil]

scary.

[@TropiscapeAquatics]

Scary, but not impossible 😉