Bucephalandra 'Full Metallix'
Gunmetal blue leaves scattered with white glitter — the jewel of the epiphyte world.
Full Metallix is the buce collectors chase: thick, waxy leaves that shift from deep blue-green to violet as the light angle changes, with a dense field of reflective spots across every leaf. Tissue-cultured and farm-grown pesticide-free, then converted to submersed growth in our own systems, so the rhizome you receive is already adapted to underwater life. Slow-growing and effectively permanent once attached.
What it needs to thrive
- Lighting
- Low to moderate — 30–50 PAR. Excess light invites algae on the slow-growing leaves.
- Flow
- Moderate, steady flow across the rhizome keeps detritus off and prevents melt.
- Feeding
- Column and root feeder — dose a complete liquid fertilizer weekly; root tabs for heavy substrate rooters.
- Temperament
- Peaceful — shrimp-safe, fry-safe, and grown pesticide-free.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Ideal Tank Size
- 5 gallons and up
- Water Parameters
- 70–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5 · GH 3–10 · KH 1–8 · nitrate 10–25 ppm with a complete liquid fertilizer
Superglue or tie the rhizome to driftwood or stone in the midground — never bury the rhizome or it will rot. Shaded pockets under wood deepen the blue.
Peaceful epiphyte. Shrimp graze its leaves for biofilm without damaging them.
Quarantine, dip, and acclimation
Quarantine
Hold all new fish in a bare-bottom 10–20 gallon QT for a minimum of 4 weeks. Observe for flashing, clamped fins, white spots, or breathing changes. Treat preventatively with copper (1.75–2.5 ppm chelated) or tank-transfer method for ich, plus a praziquantel course for flukes. Invertebrates and corals skip QT but go through dip and observation instead.
Recommended coral dip
For every new coral: a 5–10 minute bath in your reef-safe dip of choice (Bayer Complete, CoralRx, or Reef Primer) following label dosage, followed by two clean saltwater rinses. Inspect plugs and bases for flatworms, pyramid snails, and eggs — remove or refrag onto clean plugs before placing in display.
Acclimation
Float sealed bags in your QT or display for 15 minutes to match temperature. Then drip acclimate at 2–4 drops per second for 45–60 minutes until volume has tripled. Net livestock into the tank — never pour shipping water in. Dim the lights for the first 24 hours to reduce stress.
