Crypts (Cryptocoryne) is one of the low maintenance plants and mostly used as a midground plant in large tanks and background plant in nano tanks or small tanks. Crypts provides great texture to the aquascape.
Why need a beginner’s guide for Cryptocoryne? Beginner’s guide for Cryptocoryne has required information for growing and maintaining the Crypts in a home aquarium.
Cryptocoryne – Overview
Common Name | Crypts |
Color | Dark Green to Pale green, olive, and mahogany. |
Habitat/Origin | Natives to Southeast Asia and New Guinea. |
Average Size | Depending on the variety, the size differs – 2 Inches to 17 inches (5cm to 50cm). |
Growth Rate | Slow growers, in ideal conditions the plant produces one leaf for every one week. |
Placement | Mostly preferred as a midground plant and in smaller tanks, they are used as foreground plants as well. |
Maintenance | Low in maintenance, they are tolerant and adaptable. Don’t require Co2, however, they would do well in soft water. |
Planting Methods | There are 2 popular methods, use a larger plant, split them into smaller plants, and replant them. Naturally, they reproduce through runners (New stems/rhizomes develop from the roots) and they spread. |
Ideal Setup | Most suitable for low tech aquarium because of the less maintenance nature and spread in the tank. |
Care Level | Relatively Easy, one of the most suitable beginner’s aquatic plant. |
Supplements | Iron-Rich dosages. |
Lighting | Low to moderate lighting required for the ideal growth of Crypts. |
Water temperature | The preferred range of temperature is 75 to 82 Degree Fahrenheit or 23 to 28 Degree Celsius. |
Propogation | Crypts reproduce through runners, once the runners have a few leaves they can be disconnected from the mother plant and can be planted in a different tank. |
Approx. Cost | A pot of Crypts would cost 15 to 17 Dollars in the USA and in Southe East Asia, they are around ½ price of the USA. |
Common Diseases | Hole in the leaves leading to Crypt Rot. |
What to look for when buying | Don’t buy if there are Snails or eggs on the leaves. If the leaves are pale yellow in color, dotted holes in leaves, and algae don’t buy them. |
Related Specifies | Cryptocoryne albida, Cryptocoryne cilliata, Cryptocorne crispatula var. ‘balansae’, Cryptocoryne moehlmannii, Cryptocoryne parva, Cryptocoryne pontederiifolia, Cryptocoryne retrospiralis, Cryptocoryne spiralis, Cryptocoryne undulata, Cryptocoryne walkeri (“lutea”) , Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Florida Sunset’, Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘green’, Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Mi Oya’, Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Tropica’. |
FAQs | Check out the most asked questions about Cryptocoryne |
Types of Cryptocoryne – Gallery
Picture Credit – Florida Aquatic Nursery