I'd like peoples thought's on growing Cabomba. And I noted that you had some in your Jewel Rio, Fishypaw.

I remember reading somewhere, one Aquarist kept his Cabomba is groups with a little metal clip (for weight). To trim the plant back, he pulled the group out of the gravel, snipped the Cabomba to the desired height, by snipping at the bottom end. He then reattached the clip, and stuck the group back in the gravel.

Now, I have followed this method (without the clip), and I've found it does maintain a very nice look to the Plant (and Aquarium). But growth is rapid with this plant, and I've measured my Cabomba growth to be as much as one inch per day. So it doesn't take long before you have to prune it again. This method also produces problems if you have a Nutrient Soil under your gravel. If the plants take root, pulling it up for trimming often pulls up the soil into your water / pump etc.



Another method I've followed, is to simply leave the Cabomba in place, and snip the tops off the plant. A very quick fix. But a couple of things happen here. First of all, it slows the plant growth, and as a result, it is more susceptible to Algae growth, which makes it look very ugly. Secondly, the new growth is thin and elongated. And repetitive trimming in this manner, eventuates in a very 'weedy', pale and, 'poorly' looking plant.

But I don't know if I really favour one method over the other. The first method certainly results in a more pleasing look, but requires a lot more work. The photo above shows un-controlled growth over about four weeks. You can see the Cabomba all across the surface. And is actually planted at the rear of the tank. Interestingly enough, this is growth after pruning with the second method (the slow regrowth).

Any takers?

mmm, very interresting.

i cant help any i am affraid as i didnt have much success with my Cabomba. i found it to be a very delicate plant that my bristlenose took great joy in destroying.

im not sure if mine was the same variety as yours. i have noticed that there is a few different types.

trimming it from the bottom instead of the top kinda makes sense as when i did occcasionaly have to trim the tops off, the remaining plant didnt seem to do aswell as the tops parts that got replanted.

i am not sure, but i also suspect that i wasnt providing enough liquid fert at the time and this may have also lead to me having weak and easily destroyed plants.

i basically gave up on mine and opted for more sturdy plants instead. a plant that i realy like as a background plant is giant vallis. i find it grows realy well with added co2. i have measured leaves at over 4 foot long and inlike the Cabomba if u cut the leaves short the plant doesnt seem to suffer any. infact it probaly helps it grow more leaves plus it is great at sending out runners with new plants. i have also been realy lucky in that when mine sends out new runners, it has mostly sent them out along the walls of my tank, the way i want it to grow, and has basically created a great curtain of plants that runs all around the sides and back of my tank. u can maybe see some streaching across my older 40g tank in the pic u refer too. i no longer inject co2 to this tank and hence dont have the vallis in that tank as i find it doesnt grow well without co2 but in my newer 40g tank which has co2 it grows and looks great. i am yet to get a pic of this but will post one as soon as i do, partly as i a very proud of the way my 'new' 40g is developing. this tank is a deep tank too, slightly over 2 feet deep. this long vallis hits the top of the tank in no time where as other plants might not or take ages to do so. although that is obviously not a problem for u just now, lol.

I'm not entirely sure which Cabomba I have, but suspect it's C.aquatica. I've never had any problems with Herbivores. So my Cabomba has lasted me many, many years.

There is a red Cabomba variety available, and I'll snap up a couple of bunches, when next I see it. If I can get the same sort of growth, that I get with green, I'll be very happy. I've had a such a terrible time with Red plants, because they succumb too easy to Algae growth. They're light thirsty.