Sacramento Aquarium Society

Bringing Aquarium Hobbyists of the Greater Sacramento Valley Together Since 1952

SAS Member Plant Reproduction Report

Corkscrew Val

Vallisneria americana

Corkscrew Val - Vallisneria americana

Corkscrew Val (Vallisneria americana) growing in #60 natural sand.  Photo by Tony Griffitts.

General Information

Name:

Tony Griffitts

Date (yyyy-mm-dd):

2007-04-07

Common Name:

Corkscrew Val

Scientific Name:

Vallisneria americana

Aquarium Conditions

pH:

7.0

General Hardness (ppm):

100

Temp.:

84

Nitrate (ppm):

40 average (5 to 80 ppm)

Tank Size (inches LxWxH):

39x16x20=54 Gallons

Water Source:

Tap Water

Changes:

How Often -

Monthly

How Much -

85%

Filtration System(s):

Water is filtered by a Hagen Quick Filter on a Power Head, and then through a 13 watt Coralife UV sterilizer.

Additives:

Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda), and SeaChem's Flourish.

Tank Décor

Substrate:

#60 natural sand

Structures:

None

Lighting

Fluorescent:

2 - 30 watts, one daylight, one plant light

Reproduction

Reproduction Method:

Runners.

Comments

Middle ground plant, average 8 inches (20 cm)  tall.  Sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda) added to raise ph.  One level tsp added daily after water changes until pH of 7.0 to 7.2 is maintained.  One tsp. will also raise the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) or General Hardness (GH) about 10 ppm per 40 gallons ( 152 l).  One part SeaChem's Flourish is mixed with 19 parts aquarium water and then injected into the sand bed every 3 inches (7.5 cm) every other month.  Substrate used is #60 sand (very small fine grain natural sand).