The acicular stingray is widely distributed in water bodies around the world. He feels great in rivers, lakes and swamps, regardless of their depth.
If you can provide it with proper living conditions, then the plant will reward you with a beautiful green carpet on the ground. The height of the plant reaches a height of 10 - 15 cm. It is desirable to plant it in the foreground of the aquarium.
Sitnyag loves bright lighting (at least 0.5 W / l), so it should not be planted in shady places. At the same time, direct sunlight should not be allowed to hit the plant, which can contribute to the appearance of algae on the plant, due to which the blueberry will wither and may die.
Water must meet the following conditions: temperature must be in the range of 18-25°C, water must be soft or medium hardness dH up to 15°, pH 6-7.5. Periodic supplementation with CO2 is necessary. A weekly change of 1/3 of the volume of water in the aquarium is required, as well as cleaning the soil.
The soil must be iron-containing. If you put pieces of clay under the roots of the plant, then it begins to grow very quickly and very soon forms a beautiful dense green carpet. Due to the fact that the plant has a weak root system, the thickness of the soil can be small (2 - 3 cm).
Plant development is seasonal. In winter, the water temperature must be lowered to 15 - 16°C. The rest of the time, the water should be in the range of 18-25 ° C. Under favorable conditions, the plant can bloom and reward you with such flowers.
Planting this plant in an aquarium has a very positive effect on its aesthetic appearance. In addition, dense thickets of these plants are good protection for the spawning of small fish, and also serve as a shelter for fry.
Sitnyag needle grows in the waters of Asia, America and Australia, as well as in warm European waters. It grows equally well in both deep and shallow waters, as well as along the edges of swamps, ponds and rivers. Moreover, it can grow on absolutely any soil - on clay, pebble, sandy or silty. In addition to all of the above, this plant adapts perfectly to aquarium conditions. Thanks to this ability, the acicular stingray has gained popularity among aquarists.
Getting to know the plant
Sitnyag needle - marsh handsome, extremely easy to endure long-term flooding. However, its growth rate can be greatly slowed down when kept in aquariums for a long time. The height of this aquatic inhabitant reaches an average of fifteen centimeters, and in general it is a bundle of needle-like thin leaves of bright green hues. Needle sitnyag usually grows in such colorful bunches.It is noteworthy that sometimes the needle-tailed twig is confused with the tiny tit, especially if it grew in the shade and, therefore, could not reach its standard length.
Sometimes this aquatic handsome man is used as an anchor, holding a beautiful Riccia at the bottom (for this, a lump of Riccia is first pressed with pebbles, and then a small bush is planted with tweezers).
How to grow
A low water level is perfect for comfortable growing of the acicular succulent in aquariums. And place it either in the foreground or on the side shelves.
This aquatic beauty will thrive in cold or moderately warm aquariums with water temperatures ranging from twelve to sixteen degrees in winter and about twenty degrees in warm seasons. The aqueous medium is most preferably soft, characterized by a slightly acidic or neutral active reaction.
It is best to take a mixture of sand and clay as a substrate for the successful maintenance of the acicular needle. As for the thickness of the soil, it is usually equal to three centimeters, no more, since the root system of this aquatic inhabitant is rather weak. He usually does not need additional dressings, since this marsh handsome man is easily satisfied with the natural silting of the soil - as a rule, this is quite enough for his full development and normal growth.
The key to health and longevity grown in aquariums is cleanliness - if this handsome man is covered with dregs or overgrown with algae, the consequences for him can be the most disastrous. Therefore, it is systematically necessary to clean the soil in aquariums and carry out water changes.
Illumination of the needle-headed needle needs bright and intense. This aquatic inhabitant is also extremely positive about sunlight. However, at the same time, shading should be provided for the needle-headed hawk, because with direct radiation, unwanted algae begin to form on the surfaces of its leaves. Concerning artificial lighting, then fluorescent lamps will be quite enough for its organization. And the power of such lamps in each case is selected individually. Also, for the safe maintenance of the needle-tailed hawk, it is recommended, if possible, to organize side lighting. As for daylight hours, its duration should be quite decent - about fourteen hours a day.
Magnificent acicular hawk propagates vegetatively - ground outlets are separated from adult specimens for this purpose. This is done very easily, and usually there are no difficulties with the reproduction of a wonderful aquatic beauty.
The acicular sitnyag can also be kept in paludarium conditions (in a semi-flooded form). The optimum temperature for growing it in paludariums will be about twenty-two to twenty-four degrees. A suitable soil for its maintenance will be a mixture of clay and sand, to which garden soil is added. The light, as in the case of growing in aquariums, should be as bright as possible, and closer to winter, the acicular sitnyag is moved to cool rooms with moderate lighting.
(Eleocharis acicularis), or Eleocharis needle, or needle swamp, is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae), the order of bluegrass (Poales), the class of monocots (Monocotyledones), the department of flowering plants (Magnoliophyta).
Origin
This type of plant grows exclusively in swamps, it can be found in America, Europe, Asia, Australia. Used for planting in an aquarium, and like others aquarium plants planted in the ground.
Description
Growth is slow, in winter there is a dormant period. The leaves are very thin, needle-shaped, bright green. Outwardly, the plant resembles grass collected in bunches, it can reach a height of up to 12-15 cm in height. The root system is branched. Planted in the aquarium is usually in the foreground. With incomplete immersion, it can bloom in small spikes.
Content conditions: water hardness (GH) - 4−15 ° dH; acidity - pH 6.5-7.5; water temperature - 20−24 ° С, during the dormant period - 12−16 ° С.
Need for light: high, natural diffused light is needed.
Daylight hours: 12-14 hours
Aquarium volume: any, it is required to monitor the purity of water.
Transfer: sand with a silt content is used as the soil.
Reproduction: root cuttings.
Ground cover plants can be found in many aquariums. Such cultures multiply rapidly, forming a dense green carpet, which gives the artificial reservoir attractiveness and charm. Those who want to decorate the “house” for fish in an original way should pay attention to the bluegill - an aquarium plant, popularly known as the “swamp”.
In the wild, this culture is common in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. It grows along swamps and slow-flowing rivers. The green carpet resembles a lawn in appearance and can be cultivated in both small and large tanks.
Description and appearance of the plant
Sitnyag or Eleocharis (Eleocharis) is a plant from the sedge family, which, in fact, is a weed and multiplies very quickly. In nature, there are 260 species of such crops, many of which are suitable for growing in artificial reservoirs.
Eleocharis has slender, stiff stems with a brownish top, crowned with flowers of light shades. The rhizome is filiform and highly branched, which allows the plant to stay in the soil, and if it becomes necessary to transplant, the bushes should be moved along with the soil so as not to damage their underground part.
Depending on the variety, the color of the ground covers ranges from light green to deep emerald, and the height can also be different. There are species that grow no more than 10 cm in length, and some sitnyaga reach 40-45 cm.
Popular types of bluefish for aquariums with photos
The plant has many species, and the following varieties are suitable for growing in an artificial reservoir.
Sitnyag marsh
A photo. Sitnyag marsh
This plant with creeping and branched rhizomes is found in damp and marshy places, such as swamps or flooded clearings. Its stems are rounded and dull, gray-green in the upper part, and brown or reddish at the roots. The shoots are thin, up to 4 mm in diameter, decorated with small flowers that form a panicle.
In fact, the name "marsh titnyag" unites a group of plants, consisting of many subspecies. Most of them are suitable for keeping in an artificial reservoir at a temperature of 10-12 degrees.
Sitnyag needle
A photo. Sitnyag needle
The botanical name of this subspecies is Eleocharis acicularis. It received the name "needle" due to the complete absence of leaves. Dense thickets are formed from thin narrow stems with pointed tops, painted in light green. They can reach a height of 15 cm, and on top they are crowned with spirally arranged flowers.
Important! It is necessary to protect the acicular needle from direct sunlight and do not use incandescent lamps. It is better to install side lights or fluorescent lights with a power of 0.5 W per 1 liter of water. They have to work for 12-13 hours a day.
Sitnyag viviparous (eleocharis vivipara)
A photo. Sitnyag viviparous
Such a culture has light green leaves up to 10 cm long and resembles an ordinary sedge. In the aquarium, Eleocharis vivipara can grow up to 40 cm and is used as a background plant, forming dense thickets of bizarre shapes.
Such a culture propagates by separating young shoots that appear on the flower arrow. When the child shoot is fully formed, it is planted in a quarantine container, filled with water a little, and kept there until the root system is formed at the shoot. Then it is possible to relocate the viviparous whale to a permanent habitat.
This culture is kept at a temperature of 18-22 degrees, in soft water with an acidity of 5.4 to 7.5 pH. Daylight hours for Eleocharis vivipara should last no more than half a day, otherwise the plantations will become overgrown with algae, which will negatively affect their condition.
Sitnyag giant
A photo. Sitnyag giant
This species of blueberry can be found in the United States and Mexico. Its stems reach 40-50 cm in length, due to which the culture can be grown in only voluminous aquariums, located at the back or side wall.
The main advantage of the plant is that it is not picky and fish do not show any interest in the plantations, they will not eat the stems or uproot the bushes.
The conditions under which the water temperature ranges from 20 to 24 degrees, and the acidity is 6.5-7 pH are considered ideal for the giant blueberry.
Tiny Sitnyag (Eleocharis parvula)
A photo. Sitnyag tiny
Such a culture has other names: a tiny or dwarf bluegill. Such a plant is most popular among aquarists, since it is easiest to create an imitation of a green lawn with its help. Eleocharis parvula is suitable for decorating the foreground of a large reservoir or in the middle of a small artificial reservoir.
This variety reaches 10 cm in height, but this is the maximum value. As a rule, the stems grow by 5-6 cm. The leaves of the plantations are very thin, painted in an intense green color.
A tiny or dwarf bluegrass does not need bright lighting, in such conditions it is quickly covered with green algae. And since the plant is very fragile, such a “plaque” will destroy it.
To maintain the decorative look of the culture in the aquarium, you will need to regularly trim and thin out the plantings, this will help to avoid a strong thickening of the root system.
Sitnyag dwarf "Dwarf"
A photo. Sitnyag dwarf "Dwarf"
This variety is a variety of Eleocharis parvula. The plant is characterized by thin, filamentous stems, painted in a rich grassy green hue. In an aquarium, bushes grow no higher than 7-10 cm and are able to grow over the surface of the soil in a short time.
Eleocharis mini
A photo. Eleocharis mini
This culture is considered the smallest of all Eleocharis and is quite rare in aquariums. As a rule, it is placed in the foreground in small tanks.
The main difference between the mini-sitnyaga and other varieties is the twisted leaves 3-4 cm long, as well as tiny stems reaching only 3 cm in height. The culture grows very slowly and therefore rarely needs cutting and thinning.
This species is quite unpretentious in content, however, does not tolerate dirty and cloudy water.
Landing and conditions of keeping the bluet in the aquarium
Planting a blueberry will not cause difficulties even for beginners; it is performed in the same way as for all ground cover plants. It is necessary to take bunches of Eleocharis with lumps of soil on the roots and place them in coarse, silty sand at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other.
It is better to use tweezers for these purposes, so as not to damage fragile seedlings. A haircut performed a few days after planting will help stimulate the growth of the culture.
Attention! Eleocharis is not a plant for the lazy, and it should be planted in an aquarium only if it is possible to pay due attention to the plantings and properly care for them. And also it is not recommended to acquire this culture for beginners in aquarism, it is better to populate an artificial pond with some other, less demanding plants.
The aquarium plant Sitnyag is quite demanding on the conditions of detention.
How to cut plantings correctly
There are two types of bob haircuts: thinning and “under zero”. In the first case, the height of the bushes that have grown has been corrected. It is permissible to cut the stems so that their length is no more than 4-6 cm. In this case, the scissors should be held straight, almost vertically.
Zero cutting is carried out only for well-developed and rooted plants. At the same time, it is necessary to cut the stems so that stumps no more than 2 cm high remain. After this, the plantations will release a lot of shoots, which will significantly compact and thicken the “green carpet”.
Compatibility with underwater inhabitants and other plants
As mentioned above, the thickets of the bluet are not considered by the fish as food, so they will not eat leaves and stems. However, the inhabitants of the reservoir, who love to dig the ground, especially if they are large, can harm the root system of plantings.
Regarding the "green neighbors" for Eleocharis, it should be said that such a plant needs a sufficient amount of light, and therefore tall, sprawling crops that create a shadow cannot be planted next to it.
The fish do not eat the Sitnyag, but can damage the roots if they dig in the ground.
Possible difficulties in growing
Green algae, which are especially active in bright light, pose a serious danger to the bluefin. To prevent this problem, you will need to regularly clean the aquarium, as well as siphon the "green carpet", this will help remove all the debris accumulated in the thickets. Otherwise, the plants will die.
In addition, it is important to remember that this culture grows very quickly, and it is almost impossible to remove the "surplus" from the aquarium without destroying the composition. For this reason, it will be necessary to pay a sufficient amount of attention to cutting and thinning the "lawns".
How to propagate a plant at home
Sitnyag reproduces by means of ground layering, which are formed on the mother plant. To increase the number of plantings, they need to be separated and transplanted to another place. After a while, the seedlings will take root and begin to grow.
It should be remembered that many species of this culture are extremely susceptible to a change of place and the first weeks they get sick and wither away. In order not to destroy a young plant, it will be necessary to provide it with the most comfortable conditions during the adaptation period.
The Aquarium Sitnyag reproduces well by rooting layering.
In order to create beautiful scenery from the bluegrass, it is better to place it in the foreground, then in 1-1.5 months it will transform into a dense lawn. And you can also place it along large stones, this will help soften the visual effect somewhat.
You can slow down the growth of plantings upwards by cutting just before planting. Then the stems will remain short for a long time and will not require pruning for a long time.
When a plant is planted in the middle part of an artificial reservoir and it needs to “gain height”, the bush is not cut, which will allow the stems to stretch upward faster.
And in order to form a thick lawn in a short time, it is better to plant several plants at once, at a distance of a couple of centimeters from each other. Then the sitnyag will release lateral processes and begin to quickly spread over the ground.
This video shows in detail the process of planting Sitnyaga or Eleocharis in an aquarium.
Content:
Eleocharis is a plant of the sedge family, also known under other names: a swamp or a sedge. The swamp genus includes more than 260 species, many of which are grown in aquarium conditions. Eleocharis is widely distributed throughout the world, especially in North African and Asian countries.
Eleocharis acicularis
Description
The name of the acicular succulent was due to the complete absence of leaves and the ability to form thickets from needle-like narrow stems.
In terms of its structure, the acicular needle is a bush without leaves with a light green long stem, the ends of which at the top have a brown tint and a needle shape. The stems are small, elliptical in shape. Eleocharis can reach a height of up to 15 cm. The flowers are spirally arranged and have a white fruit. The root system is threadlike and highly branched.
Needle-tailed Sitnyag prefers to grow in containers with a low water level; in a deep aquarium, its growth slows down over time. Optimal water parameters: hardness not more than 14°, pH 6.4-7.5, temperature 21-24°C. Regular cleaning of the soil from organic suspension and water change is required, otherwise there is a risk of algae fouling on the stems. Eleocharis looks good in the foreground and middle ground of the aquarium, and is also suitable for spawning.
Needle-tailed stingray is able to develop with natural light and with artificial, but you should beware of direct sunlight. It is undesirable to use incandescent lamps, it is better to equip side lighting and fluorescent lamps with a power of 0.5 W / l. Daylight hours should not exceed 13 hours.
A mixture of sand, garden soil and clay is taken as the soil, which will cover the bottom of the tank by 2-3 cm. This eleocharis is undemanding to fertilizing with minerals. Needle-tailed hawk is intended more for cold-water aquariums, because the plant has a seasonal growth.
Breeding
The acicular sitnyag propagates by ground layering growing next to the mother stem, which must be separated and planted in a new place.
Eleocharis parvula
Description
Eleocharis parvula also has other names: the tiny or dwarf hawk, which is a ground cover plant in the form of a bush with bright green stems without leaves. In height, the dwarf bluegill reaches up to 5 cm and forms a dense green carpet at the bottom of the aquarium, which is 3-7 cm in height.
This rosette plant has become a favorite of many aquarists due to its vitality and imitation of a green lawn in an aquarium. Eleocharis parvula has thin leaves-hairs 4-8 cm in size. This eleocharis will look great on any aquarium plan and in nano aquariums.
Care
Proper lighting and a CO2 system are key to maintaining Eleocharis parvulus, which will help grow a beautiful lawn. Water parameters: hardness up to 15°, temperature 10-24°C, pH 5.5-8. Bright lighting is indispensable if Eleocharis parvula grows slowly.
Eleocharis parvulus has a well-developed root system that can take root in any soil. The optimal substrate is fine-grained and enriched nutrients priming. Tiny Sitnyag does not require frequent cutting and transplanting, it propagates by shoots under the ground, which germinate at a great distance from the parent bush.
Eleocharis parvula is sensitive to the presence of algae nearby, which can block access to food and lead to the death of the plant. Eleocharis parvula takes some time to establish itself in the new soil after planting, so planting it in the aqua system at the start-up stage should be avoided. Landing is carried out only in an aquarium with a well-established balance.
A haircut
Mowing Eleocharis parvulus is necessary to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the lawn.
There are 2 haircut methods, each of which has its own purpose:
- almost under the root, leaving about 2 cm. After that, the eleocharis shoots a lot of arrows, thus compacting the carpet. However, you should not cut eleocharis like this immediately after planting, because. this can stress the plant.
- thinning. The haircut is carried out with scissors in a vertical position, leaving a height of 4-6 cm.
In addition to shearing, Eleocharis parvula needs to be broken through or thinned to prevent ingrowth and compaction of rhizomes, which over time can increase the layer of soil in the aquarium.
reproduction
Sitnyag tiny forms shoots that grow a short distance from the main plant. This eleocharis can be transplanted by separating bunches with 3-4 stems from the mustache and planting them as independent plants. They will take root without any problems and immediately start growing.
Eleocharis viviparous or vivipara
Description
Eleocharis vivipara looks like common sedge and is a plant with light green leaves up to 10 cm in length. The daughter process is formed on the flower arrow, and on a short stem there is a rosette of stemless leaves tapering to the top.
Eleocharis viviparous or "palm tree" in an aquarium usually grows up to 40 cm. The optimum temperature is 18-22 ° C. The water is soft, hardness less than 6°, pH 5.4-7.5. At high temperature or hard water, the plant is susceptible to death. This eleocharis is able to do without long-term fertilizing. Maintenance requires a supply of CO2. Lighting should be diffused and the duration of the daylight hours should not exceed 12 hours, since the sitnyag does not tolerate algae overgrowth.
This eleocharis is suitable for the background, grows in all directions and forms bizarre thickets.
To maintain the decorative appeal of this type of plant, it requires regular combing with a table fork. This procedure is much more effective than cutting with scissors, as extra offspring are cut off.
reproduction
This eleocharis propagates by the separation of young shoots that appear on the surface of the stem. It is better to transplant them into an aquarium with a low water level before the formation of their root system. This method of reproduction resembles a similar process in ferns. The young shoot does not take root for a long time, which gives the impression of dividing the viviparous Eleocharis into several leaves.
To get a beautiful carpet, you will have to manually seat or separate the young bunches of the plant from the old ones.