What i learned today:

[anewbie]

There are two things i learned though one i already knew - but the thing i didn't realize though it is perfectly obvious to anyone who is not a newbie like myself is that crypt nurii rosen var maiden blooms:

(yes it is time to obtain a new phone as my 5 year old model no longer does a good job focusing)
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2 plants don't need much in the way of mineral to grow lush (this tank is EC 21 - sort of like tds 10 for those who track such things):
(the first picture is from may; the 2nd is from a week ago so you can see how much it has grown):

grow grow grow.... go figure.

 

[jaylach]

My current tank is my first fully planted tank after 40 years of fake plants and there is something that I have learned... just treat them like terrestrial plants except that I suggest that you don't water them. Although.......... does doing a water change count as watering aquatic plants???

Personally I think it possible that many more aquatic plants die due to the human influence than if just left alone to do their thing. Of course there are exceptions with exotic plants but, in general, I think it seems best to leave basic plants alone. As long as the plants have the nutrients they need they will normally do just fine. The biggest issue I've found is having to cut my plants back to prevent them from totally taking over the tank.

 

[anewbie]

Although.......... does doing a water change count as watering aquatic plants???

Depends on the water; some water contains a lot of minerals and doing water change introduces fresh supply of minerals. In my case i'm using nearly pure water so almost no minerals are being introduced. Of course some plants do better in this environment than others; and i do occasionally (once every 6 or 8 months) add a root tab if i think one is needed. Obviously (or maybe not) my focus is on the fish health and they have a low tolerance to minerals. Also it helps to pick plants that have a native environment that is mostly deprived of minerals (or at least it is helpful in my case). Hardwater plants won't grow well in this environment and several in my discus aquarium clearly rejected the environment.