Blyxa japonica vs. aubertii

DrNo

DrNo

Overworked Member...
Jul 9, 2008
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After much internal debate I've decided to try planting of a blyxa sp. in my 125 gallon SE Asian. I'm hesitant, as I have not been thrilled with the performance of my crypts (wendtii) but am still willing to at least try a 'more sensitive' plant.

Someone at this forum (OK, it was Bk) suggests I get both japonica and aubertii sp. I think I'd rather try to identify the one that might perform better with my tank setup first. My intent is to get one or two specimens, see how they do, and then get more if they thrive. I need some guidance from our planted experts:

1) Any vendors here at AC who sell both species of blyxa? I'll likely post in the classifieds as well, but might as well mention it here.

2) Which sp. is likely to respond better to my tank set-up? Here's the summary:

125 gallon planted w/ dwarf hair grass, Hygro corymbosa, Indian rotala, weak crypts ~1 month after planting... didn't melt but not thriving, either.
T5 lighting at ~2.2 watts per gallon: 10 hours per day.
KH: 7
GH: 5
pH: 6.9-7.0 (pH Controller CO2 injection)... out of tap at 7.8
Injected CO2 at 3-4 bps (drop checked CO2 level ~ 30 ppm)
Regular fert schedule (Barr's estimation method):
Flourish NPK 3 times weekly.
Flourish Iron once weekly.
Flourish Comp once weekly.
Excel daily (despite CO2 injection, my tank responds to it)
Root tabs for appropriate specimens.
Twice weekly ~50% water changes
Nitrate: 5-10 (hard to get it much higher with those water changes)
Specimens: The gold gourami and loaches forage hard through the vegetation for food, so a more robust sp. (relatively speaking) would be preferred. ~10 trapdoor snails.

The goal is to use the planting between as a mid-ground plant between the dwarf grass and the taller rotala/hygro species.

Any ideas? Thanks, as always, for the advice :D
 
both species will do great in your tank. I have both under 2wpg, co2 and ferts and they are growing in slowly. Slowly probably due to the fact that my entire top of tank is blocked with floater :(

You can try contacting Jeff (jmhart) he had some for sale.. not sure if he still does.. Or check www.plantedtank.net they got swap and shop there where you can find blyxa on sale almost every week. The aubertii is a bit harder to find.
Expect to pay about $1-3 per stem of blyxa japonica (depending on size) and $5 for aubertii
 
DrVader said:
Hmmm, assuming an average stem size, should several stems be planted in close proximity or would one stem be placed singly to expand via shooters? Looks like japonica might be the default winner. Thanks for the info. and links!
Click to expand...

you can plant each about 2-3" away from each other, over time they will grow big. And blyxa is a stem plant, so eventually it will bush out in all different directions with new stems.

Though i still think you shouldnt limit yourself just on japonica. If you are able to find aubertii, get it. It can create a nice transition from japonica to aubertii.
 
They are both very simular, aubertii as you probably know is taller and has a thicker rhizome. Both appear to do better in slightly soft, more acidic water. B. aubertii because of its larger size will grow faster in deeper water than B. japonica does. Japonica really thrives in more shallow water 18 inches or less. I grow mine in water just deep enough to cover the top of the leaves. This keeps my stock healthy and flowering.

Both have pretty shallow roots and keeping them in the substrate may be somewhat of a challenge at first if you have fish that like to poke around the bottom. In fact the roots can be so small that at first glance you might not even see them. Because of its bulky leaves and small root base, aubertii can be particularly difficult to keep from floating up.

Another thing to be aware of is the leaves on both plants can bruise, tear, get folded or creased, fray, rather easily so be careful how you handle the plant.

blyxa is a stem plant, so eventually it will bush out in all different
Click to expand...

Not really. Japonica may look like stems, but each stalk has a very small rhizome at the base. Aubertii is competely different. All the leaves grow from a central crown from a rhizome that is a couple inches long. There is nothing that even looks like a stem. Thats the obvious difference between japonica and aubertii.

Just a note on your Cryps.. Common Sri Lanka cryps, wendtii, lucens, lutea, grow very slowly and take time to acclimate after planting.
One month is not very long to get concerned about them.
 
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B aubertii seems to get much redder, almost a bronze color, while the B. japonicia tends to stay a greener color, sometimes getting a little bronze color. Also, the aubertii gets about 2x taller and is less "weedy".

Both are nice plants and fairly easy to grow.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
I really don't think this should be an either/or situation. IMO, they would look odd placed against each other, but that doesn't mean, as far as a scape is concerned, that they both couldn't work in the same tank.

As far as difficultly, I've never tried aubertii, but japonica is hardy. Good co2 and light, and you'll have a monster bush in no time.

As far as comparing the two, it's difficult. Both serve different purposes in a scape, so they aren't a good comparison. As far as scaping is concerned, a comparison between japonica and something like tenellus makes more sense, or aubertii and p. pectinatus.....ok,ok, that last one isn't a good example, but you get the idea.
 
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