Pearling Plants

[xing]

Hi all

I've been watching my plants today and noticed they appear to be pearling (hooray). Tiny bubbles are collecting on the foliage but I noticed that on a couple of plants a constant steam of bubbles rises up similar to my co2 diffuser but these originate from damaged areas of the plant i.e. where they've been nibbled etc.

I was just wondering why this was - is it still pearling or is it something else to do with the damage?

 

[Themuleous]

Pearling only really happens in high light tanks, but if that's what you've got then its certainly possible As for the constant bubble stream, I get that sometimes, not really sure why it happens, could be a damaged vein or something that is leaking oxygen.

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

I tend to find that the streams of bubbles come from the top of pruned stems or exposed roots.

 

[RadaR]

I tend to find that the streams of bubbles come from the top of pruned stems or exposed roots.

Yeah, i found that too.

 

[B.D.S]

I tend to find that the streams of bubbles come from the top of pruned stems or exposed roots.

Yeah, i found that too.

I noticed this only half an hour ago in my tank, It was coming from the freshly pruned end of a stem.

Am i right in thinking this has something to do with aquatic plants working with a capillary action?

 

[xing]

Pearling only really happens in high light tanks, but if that's what you've got then its certainly possible As for the constant bubble stream, I get that sometimes, not really sure why it happens, could be a damaged vein or something that is leaking oxygen.

Sam

it's not a high light tank (1.75wpg or thereabouts) but it's the only explanation I have for the plants (and surface when they rise) being covered in air bubbles. Some of the bubbles were getting quite large - several millimeters in diameter on my bacopa - before breaking free and floating up. Most of my plants were doing this - swords, bacopa, cambomba, crypts etc. If it's not pearling what is it (I admit I was surprised to see it with the lighting being as low as it it - but it was happening this morning, stopped during the 2 hour siesta in the afternoon and started again within 30 mins of lights coming back on this evening). I sat and watched for a while as I was facinated by it and they were defo coming from the plants

 

[wei0204]

it's not a high light tank (1.75wpg or thereabouts) but it's the only explanation I have for the plants (and surface when they rise) being covered in air bubbles. Some of the bubbles were getting quite large - several millimeters in diameter on my bacopa - before breaking free and floating up. Most of my plants were doing this - swords, bacopa, cambomba, crypts etc. If it's not pearling what is it (I admit I was surprised to see it with the lighting being as low as it it - but it was happening this morning, stopped during the 2 hour siesta in the afternoon and started again within 30 mins of lights coming back on this evening). I sat and watched for a while as I was facinated by it and they were defo coming from the plants

This is what exactly happening in my tank. Having low light but it pearls (quite a lot). It will start pearling after half an hour after the light on, it will pearl more and more as light on longer. Anyway, it is nice to see it pearl...

 

[nemenem]

it's not a high light tank (1.75wpg or thereabouts) but it's the only explanation I have for the plants (and surface when they rise) being covered in air bubbles. Some of the bubbles were getting quite large - several millimeters in diameter on my bacopa - before breaking free and floating up. Most of my plants were doing this - swords, bacopa, cambomba, crypts etc. If it's not pearling what is it (I admit I was surprised to see it with the lighting being as low as it it - but it was happening this morning, stopped during the 2 hour siesta in the afternoon and started again within 30 mins of lights coming back on this evening). I sat and watched for a while as I was facinated by it and they were defo coming from the plants

This is what exactly happening in my tank. Having low light but it pearls (quite a lot). It will start pearling after half an hour after the light on, it will pearl more and more as light on longer. Anyway, it is nice to see it pearl...

Hi guys,

I guess this is what you are talking about (I didn't clip the leaf or anything, just started happening):

Another pic of my Java fern:

I just added a plastic CO2 diffuser yesterday to my DIY CO2 system which gives extremely fine bubbles, no ladder, came home today to find Ph plumeted from 6.8 to 6.2 and CO2 level rocket to 55ppm from about 15ppm, fish are OK though!

All this in a 1WPG light level tank (20gal)!

 

[xing]

yes nemenem - thats what my tank is like. I didn't really expect the effect in a low light tank, but pleased it is

 

[excaliborg]

I just added a plastic CO2 diffuser yesterday to my DIY CO2 system which gives extremely fine bubbles, no ladder, came home today to find Ph plumeted from 6.8 to 6.2 and CO2 level rocket to 55ppm from about 15ppm, fish are OK though!

All this in a 1WPG light level tank (20gal)!

Put the ladder back in if this is the case (unless you want less co2).

 

[nemenem]

I just added a plastic CO2 diffuser yesterday to my DIY CO2 system which gives extremely fine bubbles, no ladder, came home today to find Ph plumeted from 6.8 to 6.2 and CO2 level rocket to 55ppm from about 15ppm, fish are OK though!

All this in a 1WPG light level tank (20gal)!

Put the ladder back in if this is the case (unless you want less co2).

Nah I have never had a ladder, I have just been experimenting with different methods of injection, and this diffuser is definately the best so far!

I think the other issue is that I have been experimenting with the yeast mixture, this time with a little more yeast than last time, which may have caused the CO2 production rate to increase....

 

[rockerBOO]

This usually happens after a water change for me.