Above: a tank at its peak. Unfortunately, when tanks reach their "Instagram moment," it also signals that (a) pruning and/or (b) replanting is imminent.
In reality, planted tanks are crop fields, not perennial forests. They look best when the tank is full. But this peak also marks the 'time of harvest'.
If we do not remove excess growth, overcrowding leads to poor health, algae problems, and a frustrating "boom-bust" cycle.
Above: When overcrowded, dwarf hairgrass (Eleocharis parvula) succumbs to algae.
Like most carpet plants, Eleocharis cannot be flattened indefinitely. It can be haircut a few times, but haircutting will not solve the inevitable overcrowding over time.
The 2Hr Carpet Terracing method involves regularly creating terraces for new growth to colonize (below). By regularly creating space for new growth, the carpet can indeed be maintained "indefinitely", with one important factor: as the nutrients in substrate depletes naturally over time, we would rejuvenate it regularly with APT Jazz.
Below: Java Fern takes overcrowding well, but there is a limit. In the tank below, the thick clump of Java Fern has created a blockage of water flow and a lot of self-shading. It is approaching a tipping point - where the old growth is deteriorating and becoming enveloped in algae. The picture shows it at its peak - a dangerous point!
Bottom: When an overcrowded tank is neglected, the accumulation of decaying old growth and organic waste often leads to a sudden tipping point - a crash.
This can be avoided by regularly trimming plants and making room for new foliage. Unfortunately, the quickest way to recover a tank that has crashed in this way is to reset it with new plants.
Aquatic plants are not perennials. While we love naturalistic landscapes, it is important to remember that aquatic plants are more like herbs or crops, not hardwood trees in an eternal forest.
Aquatic plants readily sacrifice their older stems and roots over time. For hobbyists, this means regularly replanting the healthy tops of stem plants and removing old stems and roots.
Summary
- When a tank looks picture perfect, it is almost always near its tipping point. Get ready to trim, make room for new growth, and/or replant healthy tops. Aquatic plants are not "perennial" like hardwood trees.
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Better nutrition allows you to trim more times before having to replant.
- Clean your filter regularly. Older tanks often suffer from reduced water flow. This is invisible, but effective. Since plants do not move, they depend on good flow to get oxygen and essential nutrients to them. Better nutrition cannot compensate for reduced/poor flow!
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