Cryptocoryne affinis
Water Trumpet
Scientific Classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Phylum:Tracheophytes
Class:Liliopsida
Order:Alismatales
Family:Araceae
Genus:Cryptocoryne
Species:affinis
IUCN Status:Vulnerable
Quick Stats
Difficulty
Easy
Environment
Freshwater
Temperature
22°C - 28°C
pH Level
6.5 - 8
Water Hardness
70 - 270 ppm
Growth
Slow
Lighting
Low - Medium
Max Height
10-35 cm
Placement
Midground
CO2 Requirements
None
Water Flow
Low Flow
Aquarium Building Information
Max Height
10-35 cm
Placement
Midground
Lighting
Low - Medium
Growth
Slow
CO2 Requirements
None
Water Flow
Low Flow
Substrate
Sand
Gravel
Soil
Attachment Method
substrate
Oxygen Production
Medium
Waste reduction
Medium
About This Species
Basic Description
The Water Trumpet, also known as Haertel's Water Trumpet, is a classic and highly recommended plant for aquarium beginners. Its popularity comes from its resilience and minimal care requirements. You don't need to inject CO2 or use high-powered lights, as it thrives in low to medium lighting conditions found in many standard aquarium setups. This makes it a cost-effective and low-maintenance choice. In your tank, it's best placed in the middle area (midground), where its leaves can grow to form a lush, green bush. It's a slow-to-moderate grower, so you won't have to worry about it taking over your aquarium overnight. Planting is straightforward: simply push its roots into the substrate, whether you have sand, gravel, or a specialized aquarium soil. This plant is a freshwater species and cannot be kept in a saltwater marine tank. Interestingly, it is considered 'Vulnerable' in its native Asian habitats, meaning that by growing a commercially farmed specimen, you are helping to protect wild populations. Its ability to absorb waste products also helps keep your water cleaner for your fish.
Detailed Description
Cryptocoryne affinis, commonly called the Water Trumpet, is a robust member of the Araceae family, well-suited for a wide range of freshwater aquascapes. Its hardiness is one of its most defining traits; it's tolerant of various water hardness levels, from soft to relatively hard, and a broad pH spectrum, making it adaptable to most municipal tap waters without extensive modification. One of its most notable characteristics is its appearance, which can vary significantly with tank conditions. In lower light, leaves tend to be a rich, dark green. With a slight increase in light and nutrient availability, the undersides of its lance-shaped, often bullated (blistered) or undulate (wavy) leaves can develop a stunning reddish-purple hue. This plant is a true root feeder, drawing the majority of its nutrition from the substrate. While it can survive in plain sand or gravel, it will truly flourish in a nutrient-rich substrate or with the regular addition of root-tab fertilizers. It propagates by sending out runners beneath the substrate, from which new plantlets will emerge. Over time, a single plant can colonize an area, creating a dense, natural-looking thicket ideal for midground placement. Hobbyists should be aware of a common phenomenon known as 'Crypt melt.' When moved to a new aquarium or after a significant change in water parameters, light, or chemistry, a C. affinis may shed all of its leaves. This is a normal stress response, not a sign of death. Do not discard the plant; the root system (rhizome) remains healthy and will typically begin to sprout new leaves within a few weeks, which will be better adapted to the new environment. Its preference for low water flow mimics its natural habitat of slow-moving forest streams.
Scientific Description
Cryptocoryne affinis is a polymorphic, rosette-forming hydrophyte endemic to the freshwater river systems of Peninsular Malaysia. As a member of the Araceae family, its classification is well-established, though the genus Cryptocoryne is noted for its taxonomic complexity due to significant variation in morphology based on environmental conditions. C. affinis typically exhibits lanceolate leaves with an undulate margin and a bullate surface texture. Leaf coloration is environmentally dependent; lower PAR levels yield dark green laminae, while higher illumination can induce anthocyanin production, resulting in a reddish-purple abaxial leaf surface. It is a rheophyte adapted to low-flow environments, often found in the shaded understory of riparian zones. Its physiological adaptability is noteworthy. The plant's ability to thrive without supplemental CO2 injection, even in alkaline conditions (up to pH 8.0), suggests a capacity for efficient bicarbonate utilization as a carbon source for photosynthesis. The phenomenon known as 'Crypt melt' is a physiological response to significant environmental shifts (e.g., changes in water chemistry, temperature, or photoperiod). This involves the rapid senescence and abscission of existing leaves, followed by the growth of new foliage better acclimated to the new abiotic conditions. As a heavy root feeder, its nutrient uptake is primarily via the root system, absorbing nitrogenous compounds and phosphates from the interstitial water of the sediment, thereby contributing to nutrient cycling and bioload reduction in closed aquatic systems. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat degradation (such as deforestation and damming of rivers) within its restricted natural range. This conservation status underscores the importance of ex-situ cultivation, such as in the aquarium hobby, for preserving the species' genetic lineage.
