An Onion plant???

[Kryten]

I have a 19 (UK) gallon tank which is well planted. All of my plants are growing really well now, though they were stunted at first by being put in an uncycled tank

However, I have one plant that the lass in the shop called an "Onion plant" and I can see why. It has a big bulb at the base, just like an onion.

It is growing a centimetre a day, which is really good, but I am noticing brown coloration appearing on the top two inches of some of the leaves. Can anyone help explain. My tank water is just right for the other plants. I only use a 25 watt bulb for a 19 gallon tank, but my local pet store only sells them this wattage. Please help!!!

 

[Jimthefish]

Onion plants are gross feeders with an extensive root system. They need lots of fertilizer in the substrate to grow well. Yours may be showing signs of iron deficiency even if the dissolved iron is fine for other plants.
By the way this thing can grow leaves 6 feet long! Too big for most tanks, certainly for a 19 gallon

 

[Kryten]

I realise this, but it seems fine at the moment, as the leaves are cascading over the water creating a nice little haven, while not blocking out the light.

I have since added a fertilizer tablet inserted under the gravel by the root base and the plant is in a wide open space so it has plenty of room for the root system (did a bit of gardening to sort this out). Thanks for the advice there

I have since wiped one leaf and found the brown discoloration to be a rather hardy algae, which my platy's seem to be making quick work of

Thanks for that, much appreciated

 

[cryosi]

i have 4 of these in 2 tanks! i use tabs and laterite for all the plants! i just trim the leaves when thye too big! i like having some of them on the water surface! I did buy them for the 6ft tank that is coming! but they gone into the others for the time being!

 

[Great Lakes]

Kryten, do you have one of those screw in type bulbs???
If so, an upgrade to a flourescent would do wonders for you.

 

[Kryten]

I have a 24 inch, 25 watt flourescent bulb that fits into the lid. I have been told that 25 watts isn't enough for a 19 gallon tank, even with 12 hours per day, but I cannot find anywhere else that stocks a 24" bulb higher that 25 watts

What can I do as I want to encourage plant growth in my tank. Algae isn't a problem as the 3 platys in the tank are making quick work of it

I have 12 plants in the tank at the moment, and much of the top half of the tank has no foliage, and I want to encourage the current plants to grow quicker to make a more natural environment.

 

[cryosi]

onion plants needa lot of fertilisation in the aquarium to grow well as they are a bulb plant they need the roots in the gravel, do not push the onion pklant into the gravel ( the bulb) as they will just rot there! You will need to add plants tabs and laterite to help your onion grow the leaves of these great plant can reach 6ft! so will need a big tank or need trimming when the leaves get to big. They need a lot of iron to grow and i feed my tank with tabs and laterite more often now i have onion plants to make sure they get some nutrients they need!