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Cryptocoryne Balansae

$6.95 USD
by Nature Aquariums
Type: AQUARIUM PLANTS

Common Name: Crypt Balansae

Crypt Balansae is a popular choice for beginner and experienced hobbyists alike. Its dark or bright green, reed-like leaves sway gently in the current, creating a tranquil background scene and offering cozy hiding spots for fish. It hails from Southern Thailand, where it inhabits fast-flowing rivers and streams with high limestone content — it thrives in water rich with nitrate, phosphate, iron, CO2, and calcium; a calcium supplement is highly recommended, as leaves can grow twisted and deformed without it.

Skill Level Moderate
CO2 Optional
Requires Aqua Soil Yes — nutrient-rich substrate with calcium supplementation recommended
Type Rooted (Crypt)
Max Height 24-36"
Placement Background
Light Level Moderate to High (approx. 2-3 watts/gallon; ~50-90 PAR) — higher light brings out puckering/ruffled leaf texture and a bronze tint
Origin Southern Thailand
Other Family: Araceae. pH 6.5-7.5. Mature plants can flower when grown emersed, though it's easier to grow submersed. Propagates via runners — trim periodically to control spread.

Care & Planting: Remove the cotton surrounding the roots and plant into quality substrate. Cryptocoryne prefer not to be moved once planted — avoid relocating them if possible.

A note on "crypt melt": Cryptocoryne are well known for shedding their leaves after being moved, replanted, or exposed to a sudden change in water parameters. This is normal — new, better-adapted leaves typically regrow within a few weeks once the plant settles in. Don't panic if it happens; just maintain stable conditions and give it time to recover.