Journey To The Planted Side

[Trod]

Trip now organised for Sunday, so lots of research being done between now and then so I'll hopefully have an idea of what I'm buying!!
Hi Bae nice to hear from you. Cleaning tank was soooo much fun! Managed to get tank into garden which made life easier, got the hose pipe out with plenty of White vinegar and elbow grease!!

 

[bae1994]

Nano comment fallen on deaf ears (nah lol I guess get enough of that from seffie )

I still think you made the right decision (going how glad I changed mine)

But I think it's good to remember there a different hobbie as such a bit like cats and dogs totally different (although if I remember right didn't you keep trips before marine or was that seffie?)

Any way good luck lol

 

[seffieuk]

although if I remember right didn't you keep trips before marine or was that seffie?

Yep, that was me, guilty as charged, still do have a tropical planted tank

I'm looking forward to Sunday, just maybe, my planted tank may get a few new plants

Can't wait to see what Trod's tank ends up like, she has a very good eye for aquascape

Nano comment fallen on deaf ears (nah lol I guess get enough of that from seffie )

Softly softly catchy monkey

 

[Trod]

Nano definately on hold, I'm really enjoying setting up the planted tank, looking forward to getting the plants tomorrow. Will plant them up Monday and post some pictures.

I have set up a little fluval chi, I got this for my birthday, and really enjoyed setting that up and was partly the reason I decided to convert my 5 footer. I have 4 guppies in it and 3 plants, and a mist machine, it looks great.

Right I've got the whole day to do my research got pen, paper and printer (so I know what to look for I'm going to take photos with me) at the ready here we go.

 

[seffieuk]

Right I've got the whole day to do my research got pen, paper and printer (so I know what to look for I'm going to take photos with me) at the ready here we go.

Pick some for me pretty please

 

[Trod]

OMG there are just sooooo many plants

I have made up a list, what do you think??

Aponogeton Crispus
Echinodorus Red Rubin
Vallisneria Rubra, Spiralis, Asiatica
Onion Bulb Plant
Crypt Pontederiifolia
Echinodorus Barthii
Ceratophyllum Demenrsum
Pygmy Chain sword
Sagittaria Subulata
Crassula Helmsii
Didiplis Diandra
Crypt Wendii
Marsilea Crenata Dwarf four leaf clover

Phew, I'm obviously not going to be able to get all of these plants, but can you see any definate no no's.

I really like the Vallisneria and crypts.
I am planning to have some moss growing over a stone and a grass carpet in the front.

I would like to have some hatchet fish, I believe they like floating plants any recommendations for these??

 

[Trod]

Right I've got the whole day to do my research got pen, paper and printer (so I know what to look for I'm going to take photos with me) at the ready here we go.

Pick some for me pretty please

I'm all clued up now, no problems

 

[PDSimon]

The Ech. red rubin and barthii may struggle a bit (if you're still sticking with the lighting that you and Liz were talking about).

Other than that they seem ok. Some not quite sure of - Didiplis Diandra

love Marsilea Crenata

 

[Trod]

When Seffie and I both had marine tanks we would regularly go out on shopping trips, some more eventfull than others, so now I've moved over to the planted side, we decided to carry on this tradition.
Yesterday was the day, with Mr Trod driving, seffie and I set off to Maidenhead aquatics in Dartford, full of hope and anticipation of getting some lovely plants, so confident was I that they would have loads of choice that I didn't bother looking up any other shops in the area, after half an hour we arrived, I had my list of all my potential plants, I knew what I wanted, we walked in had a little look around then I headed to the plants, there were a few scraggy looking things in a tank, my face and heart dropped, no way was any of that going in my tank, so after the 'I told you so's' from seffie, her and Mr Trod went off looking around the garden centre, while I sat in a rather comfy garden chair with trusty iphone and started looking up some more places to go, of course it's at times like this that your iphone knows how desparate you are to get online and low and behold it starts to play up after many rude words the phone was about to be stamped on Seffie and Mr Trod walk into sight, 'any luck' says a smirking seffie, then she comes up with a brilliant idea, Dartford Aquatics, now at this point I know what some of you are thinking, only we didn't know this at the time, so back to the car we went, with renewed hope, managed to get an address for the shop and off we went, for the people that know dartford all I'm going to say is Ring Road, for those that don't then if I say merry-go-round you will get the jist, round and round and round this blooming road we went, I actually lost count of how many times we went round now seffie was getting to know the inside of a sick bag very well, Mr Trod and I were heading for the divorce courts, but if anyone wants to know how to get to Rummy Cafe or the museum then we can tell you, in graphic detail!!! after about 15 minutes we managed to get of the ring road and find our way to 62 spital street, where there is a rather nice Tanning shop yep its no longer there, but it was fun trying to find it
We were not downhearted though, and we were off again, then out of the gloom suddenly appeared 'Living reef aquatics' as if by magic, after a niffty bit of parking by Mr Trod we bundled into the shop and YES lots and lots of lovely plants, shop chappie came over and filled many bags with my chosen plants and a gorgeous piece of bogwood with some fern and grass attached, Mr Trod paid the man and we left, back onto the iphone I went, next stop Aquacadabra, now we knew this was there and managed to find it with no problems, again some nice plants, so more bags and several ££'s lighter, we were off again, time for lunch, back through the tunnel, quick stop at burger king, (yummy) we were off again, this time to urban aquatics, they have got some gorgeous looking fish in there, almost every species you can think of, really gave me lots of ideas for stocking will definately be going back there when the time for stocking comes, and again lots of plants
Now to swallow aquatics to get my large slate rock, no more plants I say just the rock, so of course we leave swallows with rock and more plants!!!
Home we go to start planting, me planting, seffie unwrapping and Mr Trod supervising, and last a nice planted tank, we all sit back exhausted and admire our work. Now I hope you like it as much as I do

and finally a FTS which doesn't do it justice at all

 

[Trod]

To be honest my list went right out of the window as most of the plants had no names on them and the shop chappies didn't have a clue what they where, so I picked the ones I liked and am hoping for the best, so if people can help with identification I would be gratefull, and a rough idea of which picture and location they are in, I know the vallis and some of the crypts but the rest I have no idea

I have just pinched some cherry shrimps from seffie's tank too, so they are happily swimming around now

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I cant believe MA had no decent plants, I go there all the time, Hawley Garden Centre right? Usually loads, Swallow in Gravesend is good too tho, my 2nd fav lfs. I'd separate your Lilaeopsis (grassy plant in foreground) and spread it out and it will form a lush carpet but will take a while.

Oh and the plant with green leaves which are purple underneath I dont think its aquatic.

 

[ian]

that will look very 'jungle scape' when grown in! Well done. Steve is right on the non aquatic plant though, i would take that out asap. Personally, i would also spread the lilaeopsis out a little more as well. This will look great when grown in.

 

[Trod]

Thanks guys, we did wonder about that plant as it didn't look quite right, will take it out toot sweet. I'll also spread the grass out.
Yep that's the one steveo, they were rubbish!
The Jungle is exactly what I was after, just sitting plant watching now lol

 

[StandbySetting]

Place the plant in a pot and keep the soil saturated at all times, it should grow well, I believe it is a bog plant.

 

[Trod]

Plant now out and in Mr Trod's pond will see how it goes.

I've spread the grass out, and moved a couple of plants around, I'm happy with it now, except my moss ball won't stay still