I'm trying to grow a lotus one more time this summer. I really have come to the conclusion that our 10% humidity and 20 mph winds on 100* days is just too much. I have never even had an aerial pad. They will survive, but not thrive.
This time, I put my 35 gal container on a stand inside the tank hoping that the moving water will be a touch cooler than the hot air around a pot. I was also hoping there would be more humidity next to the filter/outlet. There is a bit of late evening shade, but still 10 to 12 hours of sunlight. So far the tuber has survived two surprising hard freezing spells. I have the pot covered with clear plastic. The tuber is rooted down. I'll see what happens. If I can get aerial pads this summer, maybe a bloom next summer. I will not be dividing it next spring.
If I can make this work, I love some more next summer.