Well, I just thought I'd throw this out there. It's not really a growing tip, just something to watch out for. When you recieve your pencil caps and plant them in the sand, they may look dim green, almost grayish. They probably won't perk up for many weeks if at all. But keep your eye on the surrounding sand bed. It seems that they use most of the engergy they have to send runners under the sand bed which will then sprout up as new "plants." So you'll have more than you know what to do with in no time! My personal experience entails having some of the pencil caps even engorged in cyano, then still popping up sprouts. Here's some pics to show the tale:

You can tell the difference in color in this photo from an "unhealthy" pencil cap that is growing sprouts right beside it that are nice dark green.


This is an overall shot, but you can see quite a few sprouts sticking their heads up.


I've even pulled pencil caps out w/ a few sprouts and found that their runners are up to 4" away. These things work fast! So, moral of the story, don't throw your pencil caps if they don't look good, they're probably just reproducing! Good luck.

nice danny that tank is really coming along. oh by the way, I found the coolest pencil cap you have ever seen, a supplier sent it to me. Its top is in a crescent moon shape, hard to describe. It is awesome. I am going to plant it and try to get some new ones and see if they grow the same way.

As far as it looking dead, the shaving brushes kind of do the same thing, and will shed their needles at times. As long as they don't go limp, you are good to go. BBy the way the tank looks a lot better since the cleaners got in, I am kind of proud of that. Got to get my plug in there somehow.

Are you kidding? Plug away, that thing would look like red death if it wasn't for all the stuff that came from you! Those ceriths, nerites, misc other snails, blue legs, sriped legged hermits, and I can't remember what else, got after that cyano like it was candy! The only things that had/have any cyano left is the pencil caps, but like you said, their needles are too flimsy for hermits/snails to climb on.

yeah they can't really crawl out on the needles. Maybe you can find someone that can brush the needles lightly. I wonder where you can find someone like that...

I love giving you a hard time danny. Not sure if you deserve it, but you are going to get it regardless. You will forgive me though, after you see that rare red macro I just sent you. I t came to me a little stressed, but I have faith you can pull it around. I think that and the laurencia will look sweet in the 10 gallon.

I can take it... hell, I dish it out enough I have to be able to take it! lol. I'm looking forward to the shipment, they always come looking fantastic. I've got my acclimation boxes made now so we'll be ready to go when the box gets here tomorrow (hopefully)

what is an acclimation box?