Larry Little

Daniel, I think you've nailed it. I couldn't remember the word "stolons"; the "mother" sends out stolons then each "daughter" extends mote of them. I need to go back through and try to find the Crypt species. Thanks, man, I really appreciate it.

From what I have read, Crypts propagate by rhizomes, right? The plants we had used runners. The plants were not grasslike at all. I could put a couple of these plants in a 30 gallon tank and within 6 months, the entire substrate would be covered to the point of needing to be thinned out. Honestly, the prolific propagation along with its unfussy requirements might have resulted in it being banned for all I know. I really regret not keeping it going.... THanks for all of your responses. If any of you stumble across this plant, give me a holler.

Hi guys -- I think I need to give some clarification. The "mystery plant" is definitely not a Saggitaria. each plant grows in a rosette form like Cryptocoryne wendtii, but propagates by free runners like Vallisnaria spiralis and once established, just as rapidly. Definitely not a stem-type plant like Potamongeton.

Hello friends -- I'm new to this forum and starting off with a doozie. I'm trying to find information on a plant species; I have absolutely no idea what the name is. How's that for a start? Anyway, it's a fairly low growing foreground plant that was plentiful, easy to grow and propagate, and the last time I saw it was around 1979. The best way I can describe it is it looks like a generic Crypt. type with 3" - 4" long narrow leaves on short stems. The tops of the leaves are a medium to dark green with undersides that are wine colored to maroon. Here's the kicker; they freely propagate by runners like Vallisneria spiralis.. Just two or three of these plants can propagate to cover the substrate in a 20-gallon tank in just a few months. As I said, several families of us would pass it back and forth to start new tanks. We couldn't kill the stuff. I got out of the hobby for a few years and Have been trying to find this plant since getting back in a few years ago. Is this ringing any bells for anybody? I'd dearly love to find this plant again; if any of y'all have any ideas, please gew back with me. Thanks

Thanks Ken, I was away from the hobby for a while. I'm not technologically savvy, mostly due to cost. But, I do it for my own pleasure and to lower my blood pressure, so I'm good.

Hello -- My name is Larry Little; I'm a 65-year-old "Old-School" aquarium keeper. My mom was in the hobby from her childhood and I don't remember a time without at least one tank going. In 1980, I wrote my Master's Paper on maintenance and display techniques for both public and private aquariums. Looking back at it, I think it's "antiquated" (ahem). I currently have three tanks in operation. My 60-gallon is my tetra tank decorated with Arkansas hard limestone and driftwood. It contains 6 Colombian bue and red tetras plus small schools of orange flame tetras, serpae tetras, and Bloodfinsi. I also have 2 different Plecostomus, 2 Otocinclus, and 2 Sterbae cories. I have it planted with Vallisneria spiralis and several Crypt. species. The tank has been operating for 2+ years. My 40-gallon tank is somewhat similarly decorated except for replacing the limestone with large (potatoto butternut squash sized) river rocks. I have one gorgeous (but lonely) blue ram, 4 small angelfish (just added), a school of glowlight tetras, 2 Otocinclus, and one clown plecostomus. I redid this tank about 6 months ago after repairing a leak. The same vallisneria and crypts are joined by Java ferns. My last tank is my desk tank decorated similarly to my 40. It's my "odd" tank I built in College; its dimensions are 48"L x 6"W x 12"H., containing roughly 15 gallons. It contains sparkling gouramis, pygmy cories, and two species of shrimp. This tank is pretty much all vallisneria. Two of my tanks have developed growths of filamentous algae which I control by manually removing every couple of weeks, As long as I keep it controlled, I really don't mind it too much as it's a good oxygenator. Oh, I almost forgot: I also have a pair of Amazon redfoot tortoises. I've had my male for about 35 years since about a week after he hatched. My female came to me as an adult about 10 years ago. Rounding things out are 2 cats, two dogs, and best of all, one very patient wife. I'll wait until later to get on other forums to ask questions (just typing this has taken me about 45 minutes). Bye for now, Larry