Propagating Rotala Rotundifolia (Rotala Rotundifolia)

Propagating Rotala Rotundifolia

(Rotala Rotundifolia)

By Joy Twentyman-Crock

I’ve grown Rotala Rotundifolia in two different high light setups with amazing results.

It’s been grown in a 2.5 gallon standard with a 26 Watt Power Compact shop light fixture and a 5.5 gallon standard with a 36 Watt Power Compact Fixture by Coralife. I perform 50% water changes once per week on both tanks. CO2 is supplemented using two 1 liter bottles to generate CO2 and a DIY inline CO2 reactor powered by a ViaAqua Powerhead 180. This provides CO2 levels above 60ppm in the 2.5 gallon tank and about 45ppm in the 5.5 gallon tank. I dose 20ppm KNO3, 1ppm KH2PO4, and 8ppm Flourish Potassium three times per week. In addition I dose 1ml of Flourish Comprehensive in the 2.5 gallon tank and 2ml in the 5.5 gallon tank.

The Rotala Rotundifolia spreads so fast that I have to thin it at least once every two weeks in both tanks. Stems both grow longer and put out lateral shoots making for a bushier plant. Under higher light the leaves that aren’t being shaded by the rest of the plant will turn some very nice shades of pink and red. When I trim, I usually use a combination of topping and removing of extra plants. Occasionally I’ll replant the tops if I’m trying to get an area to fill in.

Rotala Rotundifolia is a relatively undemanding plant that will reproduce rapidly if provided with reasonably good growing conditions. In fact it grows almost too well in the 2.5 gallon tank, crowding out the other plants if I let it go too long between trimmings. It will grow under lighting anywhere from medium light to very high light. It makes a great background plant in smaller tanks and a nice midground plant in larger tanks.

Bibliography

PlantGeek.Net 2002-2006, Plant Guide [On-line] http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php, April 17, 2006

Tropica.Com Tropica Aquarium Plants A/S [On-line] http://192.38.244.204/go.asp?show=products, April 17, 2006

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Author Bio:  Joy Twentyman-Crock has been keeping aquariums as a hobby off and on since 1996, and while she occasionally kept live plants in her tanks it wasn’t until 2005 that her focus shifted to keeping planted aquariums. She is a member of a local fish club, Eastern Iowa Aquarium Association (EIAA), and actively participates in its Horticulture Award Program (HAP) sharing the plants that she propagates along with the knowledge she gains about the plants while growing them. She also works to help educate the other members about keeping aquatic plants so that they can enjoy their beauty and avoid many of the common mistakes that beginners make.

 

EIAA Website - http://www.finflap.com