Tiger Lotus Question

[Meeresstille]

Today I got the Tiger Lotus I have been planning for my tank for a long time. It seems to be a good specimen, that I could separate into three plants. It has this bulb at the bottom, and wondered if I were to separate them, do I have to split the bulb so each has a piece?
 
For now I just have it floating in the tank, I was told to not plant the whole bulb, but to let part of it stick out at the top, and to bury some of its roots. When the plant grows tall enough so the leaves start floating at the top I should trim those leaves to allow enough light to get to the bottom for the other leaves.
 
The plant does not require high lighting, so he said, and I'm wondering, if anyone who has this plant could tell me what kind of lighting they have for their tank?
 

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

mmm no I wouldn't separate it from the bulb. If you want multiple plants, safest bet is to buy multiple bulbs IMO

 

[Meeresstille]

Oh, OK, thanks! I had only planned on getting one, but since he mentioned that it has already three plant(lets?) I wasn't sure if I could separate them. 

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Thing is that you can apparently separate them but it doesn't always work out - if I remember correctly. So there's some risk involved is all

 

[DrRob]

I've tended to find that it doesn't take the extras to fall of, then you can replant them.

 

[Meeresstille]

I'm afraid I'm not sure if I understand you correctly, Dr.Rob, do you mean the extra plantlets will separate on their own? Sorry if this sounds stupid, lol! 

 

 

[DrRob]

Mine did indeed fall off "on their own", although I'm not convinced that they weren't helped by the fish, as the ones in the shrimp tank didn't do it so easily. They spent a bit of time floating around in the current, then I replanted them, which was a pain to do with no bulb as they really, really didn't want to stay on the bottom.

 

[Meeresstille]

Ah, OK! Thank you! Did your plantlets grow their own bulb then?

 

[DrRob]

Not as yet, but they're growing. I'm sure they'll get around to it, they have a small nodule, but nothing I'd call a bulb yet.

 

[Meeresstille]

Ha ha! OK then I know not to worry!
 
What kind of lighting do you have? I just have the hood and lighting that came with the tank and wonder if I need to get a better lighting system for it.

 

[DrRob]

Ahhh, now that's a big question, depends hugely, but also depends which tank you're asking about, I have lotuses in a couple, growing under power compacts and T5's at the moment.
 
As for kit lights, depends a lot on the kit. I've not found lotuses all that light hungry.

 

[Meeresstille]

Awesome! Then I will just get a new bulb for this one (it is a 10 gallon Hagen kit, got it 3 or was it 4 years ago).
 
If it shows signs of doing poorly I will look into getting a better system. The other plants in the tank are low to mid level lighting plants as I understand. Crypt, Vallisneria, java fern, java moss. I am going to transfer the Anubia to the 40 gallon to make this 10 gallon a proper biotope. At least I think it qualifies as such!?