Only light source are 3 X 36 watt T8 tubes.

5600k x 2

glowlux

Bulbs were in when got tank a few months ago so prob need new ones and maybe different bulbs, but am happy so far with growth.

What is 5600k--warm white? They look pretty happy so light must be Ok. Don't forget the light will be good because it does not have to penetrate the water.

The bulbs were in the tank when I bought it secondhand.

Thats the only thing written on the bulbs so cant tell you much more.

Ive got some Osram 840 36w daywhite bulbs here also, that I was given.

Might swap them at some stage, but all seems to be good for now.

You are right Alan about the light and water but there is also the glass cover between the plants and the light, so its not as good as it could be.

If the plants like the light (and they look like they do) I would leave it as is. You could use gladwrap insted of glass on the lid because its main purpose is only to retain the moisture.

Finally

We have a flower, or three :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

To you non plant fanatics, This is the result I have been trying to achieve.

Although its only one plant for now, hopefully the others will follow suit.

Now for the hard task, What species of crypt is it???

off to do some research now.

In case you dont know what to look at :lol: :lol: :lol:

This pic is from www.nationaalherbarium.nl/Cryptocoryne

I am guessing mine is Wendtii, as it looks very similar to pic.

(I think I missed the flowers at their best )

A better pic with a new flower.

Good one. Have you tried pollinating the flowers?

Not yet Alan.

What is the best way to do this??

Do I use a tiny paint brush

Do i need two flowers or can the flowers self pollinate?

Im going to increase the photo period by 10 min this week, and continue to increase for several weeks until its about an hour longer.

Hopefully this will encourage some of the others to flower too

I am not sure with Crypt flowers. Are they bisexual (male and female). If they are a fine brush should be OK.

Update:

Still no more flowers from any of the others, but the Wendtii is on to its sixth flower now.

Took all the plants out of the small tank that was inside the main one and filled the main one with about two or three inches of water. Added some PMDD to new water, and put a small powerhead to circulated the water so no cold spot form.

Heres some pics.

I need to clean the glass :oops:

They are looking pretty healthy. What temperature do you have them at?

Currently sitting at 27 degrees.

The lights are on and its hot in the fishroom.

Usually sits about 25ish

I have to admit that I have never tried to grow Crypts emesed but with Echinodorus sp. any change seems to stimulate them to flower. shorten or lengthen lighting period, change type of light, changes in temperature or changing from emersed to submersed or back seems to get them going.

Change the rules and see what happens, it doesn't want to be too gradual either.

I increased the photo period by an hour a week or so ago. I dont really want to pla round too much with the water temp etc as I would hate to see them go into a melt.

Ill give them a few more weeks and will see what happns.

Any update on your project?

Got some good vegative growth now on most plants. I expect to see some more flowers soon. Will post pics when some appear.

I knew that growing crypts was slow work, but didnt think Id have to wait this long.

Here is a short video of my setup. Enjoy

The suppier called this plant C Cordata, time will tell as the pic above shows what I think is a new flower. A first for this plant. :bounce: :bounce: :lol:

I do hope it is C Cordata, as the flowers of this species that I have seen on other sites is of a neat yellow flower.

Will update pics as the flower develops.

And then today when the lights came on, I was greeted with this :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

oh wow. look at it go! that's a pretty cool looking flower. almost lilly like.

oh wow. look at it go! that's a pretty cool looking flower. almost lilly like.

That would be because Crypts,Anubias and lillies are all part of the family Araceae

The following is taken from Wikipedia.com

Araceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like hood. The group also goes by the name of Arum family and species in this family are often colloquially known as aroid. This family of 107 genera and over 3700 species is most diverse in the New World tropics, although also distributed in the Old World tropics and north temperate regions.

Picture of Cryptocoryne Wendttii "red" grown emmersed.