First Planted Tank Being Planned - Plant Critique Please

[DevUK]

Howdy all.

As some may have noticed I'm planning a planted tank and I'll be using EI hopefully. The tank will be either an 18x12x12 or 24x12x12. Lighting will be a 36w T5 unit and I'll be using a Nutrafin Natural Plant CO2 system.

I've been browsing about trying to find ideas for plants and this is the list I've come up with. I don't intend to plant all of these, I think it might get a little crowded, but I'd be grateful for people's views on this selection:

Forground:

-Hemianthus Callitrichoides
Hardiness: Moderate
Light Needs: High
Plant Structure: Stem
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Hemianthus
Region: Central/South America
Location: Cuba
Size: Individual stem width: 0.5cm (0.25in)
Growth Rate: Medium
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

-Hemianthus Micranthemoides
Hardiness: Easy
Light Needs: Medium
Plant Structure: Stem
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Hemianthus
Region: North America
Location: Eastern United States
Size: Individual stem width: 0.5-1cm (.25-.5in)
Growth Rate: Fast
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes


Mid/Background:

-Rotala sp. "Green"
Hardiness: Easy
Light Needs: Medium
Plant Structure: Stem
Family: Lythraceae
Genus: Rotala
Region: Asia
Location: Unknown
Size: Individual stem width: 3 cm ( 1in)
Growth Rate: Fast
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

-Eleocharis acicularis (grass like)
Hardiness: Easy
Light Needs: Medium
Plant Structure: Rosette
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Eleocharis
Region: Cosmopolitan
Location: Cosmopolitan
Size: Height: 10-15cm (4-6 in)
Growth Rate: Medium
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

-Cardamine Lyrata
Hardiness: Easy
Light Needs: Medium
Plant Structure: Stem
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Cardamine
Region: Asia
Location: Japan
Size: Individual stem width: 2-4cm (0.5-1.5in)
Growth Rate: Fast
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

Background:

-Didiplis diandra
Hardiness: Moderate
Light Needs: Medium
Plant Structure: Stem
Family: Lythraceae
Genus: Didiplis
Region: North America
Location: United States
Size: Individual stem width: 2-4cm (1-1.5in)
Growth Rate: Fast
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

-Ludwigia Arcuata
Hardiness: Easy
Light Needs: Medium
Plant Structure: Stem
Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Ludwigia
Region: North America
Location: Southeastern United States
Size: Individual stem width: 3-5cm (1-2in)
Growth Rate: Fast
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

Mosses/Clingons:

-Taxiphyllum Alternans (Taiwan Moss)
Hardiness: Easy
Light Needs: Low
Plant Structure: Moss / Fern
Family: Hypnaceae
Genus: Taxiphyllum
Region: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Size: Infinite
Growth Rate: Slow
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

-Taxiphyllum Barbieri (Java Moss)
Hardiness: Very Easy
Light Needs: Low
Plant Structure: Moss / Fern
Family: Hypnaceae
Genus: Taxiphyllum
Region: Asia
Location: Southeast Asia
Size: Infinite
Growth Rate: Slow
Can Be Grown Emersed: Yes

(All plant info borrowed from http/www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumap...tfinder/all.php )

Edit: Now a pre-journal journal!

 

[RadaR]

Looks good.
You may want to use 2 Nutrafins so you can change the mixture on alternating days to give a constant level of CO2.

 

[DevUK]

If I can find a cheap one that'd be a good idea.

I'm still deciding substrate, but I think I'm going with EcoComplete Only problem is you have to buy it in such huge bags! 19L aren't they?

 

[Castellop123]

...

 

[RadaR]

If 19L is 9kg (20lb) then yes.

 

[cheesy feet]

hygrophilia polysperma rosanverg,wisteria and hydrocotyle leucocephala are some other fast growers.Java moss and fern are the toughest plants you can get.Most othe mosses are good aswell.

 

[DevUK]

I'm still deciding substrate, but I think I'm going with EcoComplete Only problem is you have to buy it in such huge bags! 19L aren't they?

All I know is that it is 20lb (don't know how many litres...) Though you will need at least one bag if you choose to plant the smaller tank and maybe two if you decide to plant the larger aquarium...

Ah, maybe I'm wrong then. I read somewhere that 1L = 1KG. Maybe thats in water terms, not substrate... I've just done some hunting and yes you are right, its in 20lbs bags. 20lbs = 9kg. Not so bad! I thought it was double that, so knowing this, and knowing a local store that has it seemingly £4 or £5 cheaper than anywhere else has decided it

hygrophilia polysperma rosanverg, wisteria and hydrocotyle leucocephala are some other fast growers.Java moss and fern are the toughest plants you can get.Most othe mosses are good aswell.

I think I'd seen hygrophila polysperma. I think I decided the leaf shape wasn't quite what I wanted. Its a little too broad. I sort of want narrow leaves and bushy small leaved plants I think. hydrocotyle leucocephal looks nice actually! Similar to the cardamine lyrata. I'll definately consider that one.

I'd forgotten to put on the list Java moss, and also Taxiphyllum alternans/Taiwan Moss - I've got some of this waiting for when I get this put together. I'll update the list with those

 

[cheesy feet]

I'm still deciding substrate, but I think I'm going with EcoComplete Only problem is you have to buy it in such huge bags! 19L aren't they?

All I know is that it is 20lb (don't know how many litres...) Though you will need at least one bag if you choose to plant the smaller tank and maybe two if you decide to plant the larger aquarium...

Ah, maybe I'm wrong then. I read somewhere that 1L = 1KG. Maybe thats in water terms, not substrate... I've just done some hunting and yes you are right, its in 20lbs bags. 20lbs = 9kg. Not so bad! I thought it was double that, so knowing this, and knowing a local store that has it seemingly £4 or £5 cheaper than anywhere else has decided it

hygrophilia polysperma rosanverg, wisteria and hydrocotyle leucocephala are some other fast growers.Java moss and fern are the toughest plants you can get.Most othe mosses are good aswell.

I think I'd seen hygrophila polysperma. I think I decided the leaf shape wasn't quite what I wanted. Its a little too broad. I sort of want narrow leaves and bushy small leaved plants I think. hydrocotyle leucocephal looks nice actually! Similar to the cardamine lyrata. I'll definately consider that one.

I'd forgotten to put on the list Java moss, and also Taxiphyllum alternans/Taiwan Moss - I've got some of this waiting for when I get this put together. I'll update the list with those

Kool,ye,hydroctyle leucocephal is quite decorative imo.It is a herb so it smells aswell

 

[voo]

If you already have one Nutrafin unit, then try making up your own DIY canister for the second one. It'll cost you next to nothing, just use an airline 'T' piece to join the two units together to the one ladder.

Looks good.
You may want to use 2 Nutrafins so you can change the mixture on alternating days to give a constant level of CO2.

 

[DevUK]

Put this into a simple web page so I can see them all on one page. I think I've decided not to go with the Eleocharis acicularis. Don't think it will fit with what I have in mind.

http/www.deviant-uk.org/pics/aquatics/plants/plants.html

I've been looking at HOB filters, thinking about what to get and i might go for one of the Azoo Mignon 240's from AE. Any recommendations as to setting these up? I've read somewhere its best to stuff them full of filter media, is this the case?

 

[nry]

Only thing I would say is that C.Lyrata can get a bit 'messy' as it sends out masses of aerial roots. I had a fair bit in my 5-gallon and ended up stripping it out because it just looked like a mess of tangled stems and roots.

 

[DevUK]

Thats a shame, thats the one I really liked the look of. Quite delicate looking. Might scratch that off the list. Couldn't find it on AE anyhow.

 

[nry]

Tropica do sell C.Lyrata, AE would possibly get some in if you asked. I think they take Tropica deliveries on a Friday, so check back over the weekend, maybe Monday and see if they have any then.

If you like the look of it then give it a go, it may be that the pre-rooted plant from Tropica will send out less water-borne roots than the cut stems I got from a different supplier.

 

[MadMan-JaMeS]

If I can find a cheap one that'd be a good idea.

I'm still deciding substrate, but I think I'm going with EcoComplete Only problem is you have to buy it in such huge bags! 19L aren't they?

where can u buy eco complete on the net and is there much difference between it and Tetraplant complete ?

sorry for the hijack

 

[DevUK]

If I can find a cheap one that'd be a good idea.

I'm still deciding substrate, but I think I'm going with EcoComplete Only problem is you have to buy it in such huge bags! 19L aren't they?

where can u buy eco complete on the net and is there much difference between it and Tetraplant complete ?

sorry for the hijack

As I understand it, Eco Complete can be used alone, with no other substrate (and its very dark coloured). Tetra Complete is recommended to be covered with fine gravel.

I'm going to go with Eco, as its been highly rated by some and I think it would suit my potential new setup Thats not to say Tetra complete is bad though.