Pearling

[smalltownfan]

The Riccia fluitans I bought at a mini auction rewarded me with its first show of pearling. It's only a bit but it looks neat. The picture doesn't do it justice and the red cherry shrimp that was "playing" on it had taken off by the time I got the camera.

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[zima]

Enjoy the champagne effect, it is woderful!

[washefuzzy]

What is pearling? Very nice looking plant. 

[smalltownfan]

What is pearling? Very nice looking plant. 

It refers to the beads of oxygen being released by the plant. From what I have found it happens in the evening after a day of lighting, and is the product of photosynthesis. There are some photos on the net of terrific displays of pearling, but I'm happy with the little that I've got. It's a start...for now!!!!!

[dan2x38]

Riccia is one of the best plants for pearling. Usually seeing it later in the day is the build-up of CO2 so better photosynthesis occurs. With pressurized CO2 plants can almost fizz from so much oxygen produced... I've watched this off some leaves in my tanks it is wild to see.

[Jeff1192]

Every night a bunch of my plants are sending a steady stream of really small bubbles to the surface. Especially the plants that have been recently trimmed. It's pretty cool to see.

Jeff

[washefuzzy]

Thanks that sure is interesting. 

[BigDaddy]

Every night a bunch of my plants are sending a steady stream of really small bubbles to the surface. Especially the plants that have been recently trimmed. It's pretty cool to see.

Jeff

Unfortunately Jeff, that's not pearling.  That is streaming.  Streaming occurs when a plant is damaged (like immediately after trimming) and the open wound is sending gas out of the system.  Some streaming is normal as plants grow and the cell membranes of older foliage become compromised, but excessive streaming in a tank that hasn't been pruned recently is a sign things aren't doing so well with your plants.

Pearling, on the other hand, very rarely if ever produces "streams" as the oxygen bubbles collect on the underside of leaves and only rise to the surface when current hits them or when their accumulated mass makes them too heavy (too light actually) for the leaf to hold underwater and it escapes out from underneath.

[Jeff1192]

Ok thanks for the clarification. It seems to occur where I have recently pruned the plants. I also get pearling on the undersides of the leaves so I'm pretty sure things are good.

Jeff

[dan2x38]

Interesting BD thanks for the info. That explains not seeing often which is a good thing then...