Mayaca Fluviatilis - Mid Stem Algae

[kell]

I have several stems of this plant that are now 18"-24" (maybe longer!). While the upper segments are happily growing across the top of my tank, the lower sections seem to be attracting quite a bit of algae (see the picture below). I'm guessing that I shouldn't be letting it grow quite so long, i.e., perhaps I should keep it trimmed to a max height of 16" or so. If I do decide to trim it down, would it be better to discard the lower portions of the stems and to only replant the tops? Or would the lower portions stop attracting algae if more growth was occuring at the lower height?

Any thoughts?

[150EH]

It has more to do with flow patterns in the tank, so it really doesn't matter but the tops are the clean healthy end.

[kell]

Hmmm.... so I can discard the lower sections, replant the upper sections, and 2 months from now be in the same situation (all things being equal). Well that's discouraging. As far as flow is concerned I think I have a sufficient amount judging by the way the plants are moving in the tank. Algae - there never seems to be an easy answer (like trimming more vigorously).

Jim

[150EH]

Maybe the algae won't come back, your tank looks very clean except for that little bit from what I can see.

[Judi]

Hmmm.... so I can discard the lower sections, replant the upper sections, and 2 months from now be in the same situation (all things being equal). Well that's discouraging. As far as flow is concerned I think I have a sufficient amount judging by the way the plants are moving in the tank. Algae - there never seems to be an easy answer (like trimming more vigorously).

Jim

Gee, I don't know, hacking off the bottoms, replanting the tops, and pretending the whole thing never happened sure sounds like an easy answer to me. That's what I do.

Seriously, though, even when algae isn't a concern it sometimes makes sense to do that. After a few cycles of vigorous trimming and growth, some stems start to look a bit ratty at the bottom and don't grow as well, and then it's time to pull them up and start fresh. There are also some stem plants that don't respond as well as others to being cut back (some of the needle leafed rotalas, for example), and may do better if you just pull them up, discard the lower portions, and replant.

[SCMurphy]

Trim it down, LEAVE the bottoms about 3 inches high. Discard the middle, replant the top 3 inches. Let it grow to be 6 inches, trim it down to 5 inches, let it grow to 8 inches, trim it down to 6 inches. Are you seeing the pattern?

Dose some excel to knock back that algae.

[jweis]

Hmmm.... so I can discard the lower sections, replant the upper sections, and 2 months from now be in the same situation (all things being equal). Well that's discouraging. As far as flow is concerned I think I have a sufficient amount judging by the way the plants are moving in the tank. Algae - there never seems to be an easy answer (like trimming more vigorously).

Jim

Yep, some plants need more attention than others to look their best. Sometimes, you can play tricks and plant something short in front of plants that look bad on the bottom.