Growing a red tiger lotus in a small tank
Growing a red tiger lotus in a small tank
I'm planning a small 5-10g shrimp tank and I'd love to have a red tiger lotus as the centerpiece. Thing is, I know they can get pretty big and need a lot of nutrients. I'm worried it might not work in such a small space. I'm thinking of using mostly red plants in this tank, so I don't want the lotus to cause any issues with the others.
Re: Growing a red tiger lotus in a small tank
Dosing additional iron for your red tiger lotus could be detrimental to your shrimp, so I'd advise against it. A regular, all-inclusive fertilizer with some iron should be fine for your shrimp, but I'm not convinced it's the best choice for a tank full of red plants. Those plants generally require more iron to maintain their color, which could be problematic for your shrimp, as they're sensitive to metals in the water.
If you let the lotus grow to the surface, you'll be left with a tank full of thin leaf stalks, which doesn't make for a great centerpiece. To be honest, I think it's better suited to being kept small and bushy. In my experience, the roots can take over a small tank and smother out other plants in the substrate. I keep my red tiger lotus in a 4" pot with aquarium gravel and a root tab, and I regularly trim the roots and leaves to keep it under control.
I trim the leaves when they reach the height I want, as I prefer a more compact, bushy look. Even in my 30-gallon tank, I don't let the leaves reach the surface, despite having an open top. I like the red color, but I also appreciate the greenery in my tank, and I don't want to lose that balance. I don't have shrimp in that particular tank, but I think it's worth considering the potential risks. Go ahead and try it if you want, but I think it's one of those ideas that sounds better on paper than it works in practice.
If you let the lotus grow to the surface, you'll be left with a tank full of thin leaf stalks, which doesn't make for a great centerpiece. To be honest, I think it's better suited to being kept small and bushy. In my experience, the roots can take over a small tank and smother out other plants in the substrate. I keep my red tiger lotus in a 4" pot with aquarium gravel and a root tab, and I regularly trim the roots and leaves to keep it under control.
I trim the leaves when they reach the height I want, as I prefer a more compact, bushy look. Even in my 30-gallon tank, I don't let the leaves reach the surface, despite having an open top. I like the red color, but I also appreciate the greenery in my tank, and I don't want to lose that balance. I don't have shrimp in that particular tank, but I think it's worth considering the potential risks. Go ahead and try it if you want, but I think it's one of those ideas that sounds better on paper than it works in practice.
PHPBB-BG.INFO