In a message dated 4/4/99 2:00:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, alexp@idirect.com writes: << The irony of this (pardon the pun) is that in blackwater environments there are very little if any aquatic plants. What kind of plants do you have that live at pH of 5? >> I don't understand why everyone blames the pH for the lack of plants in a tank. I have a discus tank with a pH=4.2. In it I grow vallisneria (both corkscrew and straight varieties). , amazon swords, java fern, sagittara (both dwarf and regular), hydrogrophila (corumbosa and polysperma), banana plants, bacopa caroliniana - red), apon. species, crypt wendtii, anubia, and ludwigia (red). It grows so heavily that I just sold a full 10 gallon container of plants to a lfs after 3 months of growth. I use VHO lites (320 watts) and fertilize with Jobes ( cut in thirds) sticks (household plants type). It can't be the water pH. There are other contributing factors. Rich ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com. For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com. Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!