{"product_id":"corkscrew-val","title":"Corkscrew Val","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eCorkscrew Val is the tightly spiralled form of vallisneria, its ribbon leaves twisting like green corkscrews that sway in the current. It spreads by runners into a moving background curtain and is about as easy as aquarium plants get. A classic beginner's oxygenator for larger community and coldwater tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eVallisneria grow rooted in the beds of rivers, lakes and streams across warm-temperate and tropical regions, this cultivated corkscrew form deriving from the East Asian asiatica group. In the aquarium it wants a nutrient substrate for its roots, moderate light and steady conditions to send runners marching across the back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNarrow, strap-like leaves emerge tightly spiralled from a basal crown, a fresh mid-green that catches the light as they move. This is a more compact, curled val than the tall straight species, though established leaves still reach 30–60 cm and will trail along the surface in shallower tanks. Expect a young plant or two that quickly throw runners once settled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlacement and Aquascaping\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA midground-to-background plant that forms a flowing green backdrop. Plant individuals a few centimetres apart and let the runners fill the gaps into a dense stand. Rather than trimming height, remove excess runners to control spread; cutting leaf tips leaves blunt ends that can brown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and Propagation\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRemove any pot, rockwool or weights and plant the roots in the substrate, keeping the white crown at the surface line – bury the roots, never the crown, or it will rot. It propagates prolifically by runners: daughter plants appear on horizontal shoots and can be separated once well rooted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eModerate light suits it, though it tolerates lower; no CO2 is needed. It feeds mainly through the roots, so use root tabs in a nutrient substrate. Comfortable across 18–28 °C, which makes it useful in unheated tanks; pH 6.5–8.5, medium to hard water. Growth is fast once established, spreading readily by runners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVallisneria asiatica var. biwaensis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCorkscrew Val\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEast Asia (cultivated form)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30–60 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFast\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMidground \/ Background\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCO2 Requirement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFertilisation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRoot tabs (root feeder)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–18 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePropagation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRunners (daughter plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommunity, coldwater and beginner planted tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eExcellent with most community fish and one of the few plants tough enough to hold up in many goldfish tanks. It suits tetras, rasboras, livebearers, rainbowfish, peaceful barbs, shrimp and snails, and its runners give fry welcome cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDetermined diggers and large cichlids uproot the runners, and big goldfish may still graze softer leaves. Avoid liquid-carbon (glutaraldehyde) dosing, as vallisneria is notably sensitive to it and can melt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian-grown aquarium plants for in-store collection or local delivery. Sold sizes\/portions reflect what we stock; anything shown as sold out will return as we restock.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55281672454435,"sku":null,"price":21.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/corkscrew-val","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}