Vallisneria growth

[duanes]

Back in Jan this 180 tank was set up, with a couple plants from the LFS.

An Amazon Sword, and a little swath of Vallisneria. The tank is outside on the patio, and receives only natural light, about 3 hours morning sun, and 2 hours afternoon sun from about 3-5pm, no artificial light at all.

By Feb 6, I had collected a few local plants, and added 25 mosquito fish, and (above the plants started to grow a bit).
Since then, the Hydrilla (left side) have maintained , a few others have died off, but the Val has done well situated where morning sun is brightest.
A shot from today (June 22nd) below.

 

[duanes]

Creeping over 50%

 

[duanes]

The afternoon sun hits enough on front the west side of the tank to have drawn the Val 2/3rds of the way across the front in just a week or so.

 

[Fishnerd360]

That's happening in my tank too, but not that much lol.

 

[MFM]

Can’t wait for mine to start spreading

 

[tiger15]

Do you have any algae or algae eaters to to take care of it.

Tank water exposed to direct sunlight can turn green. What have you done to keep it clear.

Do you dose any nutrients. Fish food do not provide balanced nutrients, high in nitrogen and phosphate, but can be lacking potassium, biologically available iron and micros. If some of your plants don’t do well, it could be missing some nutrients.

 

[duanes]

I used a root tab around the sword plant twice in 6 months, but no other ferts, and have not vacuumed detritus at all .
There is one Panamanian Plecostomus and it is always hard at work, algae has been a minimal since set up, I believe the sump with the heavy growth of algae is enough to ambush the nutrients that would feed tank algae , and because the tank is so heavily planted, those plants seem to starve the algae of nutrients they need enough so only a little algae appears on the glass, and green water has never been a problem at all.
Because the tank is outside, leaf litter, and flowers is constantly dropping in, as are local insects like moths, and beetles, enough so, that feeding fish prepared foods, are also minimal (maybe once per week).