lighting for riccia fluitans and java moss

javihdz · #1 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 03:08 AM

Hi, i'm a new member of this forum. a year ago i started with the dendrobates hobby; This week i'm about to finish my new 300L tank and I wanted to add some riccia and java moss; so i bought both, after looking for them a lot since they're pretty difficult to get here in Mexico... But i've been experiencing the same problem with riccia everitime i buy it. It gets brown and then dies. I have it in a water tank with PH 7, liquid fertilizers and a strong light (repti·Sun 2.0 with 6500ºK and one Aqua-glo with 18000ºK ) Both bulbs are a suposely a good conbination for plants, however the riccia is not green :x the java moss is spreading like crazy though. Im afraid that if i put riccia on my new viv, it would die quickly. What is the lighting that you use for your setups??

UmbraSprite · #2 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 04:14 AM

Light should be fine but Riccia needs to be wet constantly. If it dries out even for a day it will yellow up. It is naturally an aquatic plant and it's really amazing it lives out of water but make sure it is in a location near a water feature or misted daily so that it is always wet.

Chris

denfrogs · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 08:47 AM

welcome to the site !

tkromer · #4 (**permalink**) 06-10-2008, 11:23 AM

Welcome aboard

The 18000K may be alright, but I'd go for something in the 5500-11000K range. The other bulb is perfect. Riccia in my experience is a moderate light plant, maybe 2.5 watts per gallon if you're using regular fluorescents. The trick to it is to keep it SATURATED or even underwater, it's not a terrestrial plant, but kept sufficiently moist it will thrive either way.

javihdz · #5 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 12:14 AM

Thanks for the welcoming, i will change the 18000 K bulb for another repti sun. I will also post the images of my new tank. It's comming up really nice!!
What i'm doing is trying to grow up the riccia so I can have a constant supply of it, but i'm just not having luck for the moment.
As for the tank, I think I will make a new post so you can see it and comment.
I will also be glad to recieve more advices for riccia care... and your experience with its emerged form.