Amazon sword emersed!!!

Hi guys. I was at a guy today to pick some stuff up, and his amazon sword was growing outside his tank.

He isnt running any special lighting or any ferts. He just doesnt vacuum etc.

He doesnt even have special ferts. Now it makes me think.

I want an open top tank like that.

Also want plants growing out my tank too.
Wish i took pics

 

Many plants if left will grow emersed.
Amazons, Tiger lillies and loads of others will all do it.

 

Looks amazing though.

 

Looks amazing. I want a setup like that

 

If left untrimmed, with enough lighting, most low tech plants like bacopa monnieri, ludwiga, pennyworts, and lots of others will grow out of the tank.

Check out some albums of @mattie

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/album.php?albumid=437&attachmentid=36324

 

Thanks @Jaco83

 

I wish I had that type of growth in my planted tanks.

 

CO2 (DIY) and medium light (around 3W/liter) works for me.
I try to keep the surface water movement to a minimum as especially Brazilian pennywort seem to grow better that way
Seems like they don't like it if their leafs get wet constantly once emerged.
I don't used any fertilizers in my tanks plants but I do tend to overstock somehow.

 

@mattie, looks really good!! Had the same experience with the brazilian pennywort. if the top leaves stay dry, they tend to climb out everywhere!

 

I heard emersed plants melt when they are submerged

 

If they were grown emersed, the leaves have changed to allow o2/co2 exchange via the atmosphere. Once they are then submersed, there is no atmosphere for the exchange to happen, so the leaves has to change again to allow this exchange of gasses to happen under water.

So yes, they will usually drop the emersed leaves, and grow new submerged leaves. Usually the whole shape and appearance of these leaves and plant will differ completely in the Submerged and Emerged states.