Most suitable foreground plant

[pseud]

55 gallon tank, 48" long, 19" deep. 1 inch layer of sand mixed with flourite, 1 inch layer of sand on top.

130 watt lighting (6500K and 8000K)
Using DIY CO2 to get 30ppm.

Looking at some foreground plant but can't really decide which would be more suitable:

Glossostigma elatinoides
Ricca Fluitans
Hemianthus micranthemoides

Which would do best?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

i think with 130 WAtts (2.3 roughly WpG) maybe hemianthus or the glosso, the riccia... im not really into riccia lawns becuase i find glosso easier to grow then tied down riccia and riccia needs to be retied every now and then ask jimboo (i think?) for riccia tips! the riccia in his tank is beautiful!

i have no experience with the hemianthus micranthemoides species however.

 

[pseud]

Yeah, Jim has a great looking tank. I'll wait for a few more replies.

Jim, think riccia would grow in my tank?

 

[jimbooo]

Yeah, Jim has a great looking tank. I'll wait for a few more replies.

Jim, think riccia would grow in my tank?

[snapback]911021[/snapback]​

definatly but be weary of the maintenance. mine lasts about 6-12 weeks (depending on the fish activity) before it needs re doing. you wont find anything that will pearl in the same way and makes a lovely addition to any tank.

it is actually quite forgiving. my mate nicked a clump to put in his 4G with an 8W light (meant for under cupboard lighting, nothing special at all) it doesn't pearl but is green as ever and doubled in size in about 2 months.

 

[pseud]

Riccia it is then. It's actually my favorite of the three. Baby Tears was my least, and I was worried about the glosso not blanketing and growing upwards.

Now, to find a nice big batch for sale

 

[jimbooo]

dont but too much just in case, after all if it's gonna grow then it will grow fast and multiply. have a read of the pinned topic before you put your order in....

good luck, you'll never be bored again theres just so much you can do with it the list is endless. riccia covered rocks, slate, wood, carpets, walls, floating stuff (which you'll always have, cant help it) it sucks up nitrate like nothing else and pearls like lemonade.

it also gives you an instant idea of the water quality (from the plants perspective), size of bubbles is directly relative to water conditions. other plants take a few hours to get going. my riccia is pearling all the time. when the lights go on the bubbles are still there from the previous day.... so cool you have to get some.

 

[pseud]

How long does it take to double in size?

 

[jimbooo]

depends on your lighting but i'd say in the floating state about 2/3 weeks.

in my 40G about 2 weeks if floating, 4/5 if submerged

not long either way

 

[pseud]

Hmmm, sounds like a long time to me, but I'm the impatient type lol

 

[pseud]

Speaking of riccia..

http/cgi.ebay.com/Riccia-Net-Aquarium-pl...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[paulioo]

I know you've already decided but i couldn't help but mention Java Moss.
I was browsing another forum and came across this guys tank. He used only Java Moss and slate.

66 days later this is how it looked...

Anyway just thought i'd let you know. I'm going to add some of these java moss stones into my tank along with my Glosso.

Paul.

 

[pseud]

That's a good suggestion Paul, hadn't considered that.

I think it might grow a little tall for my liking though, but I'm definitely going to give it some consideration. Might even go for both and see which I prefer!

 

[pseud]

I have a question about the riccia. I'm intending to use lots of pieces of slate covered in riccia and lay them on the substrate bed. I'm intending to float the riccia on the surface for a week or two to get it growing, but after that I wanna submerge it.

So, my question is, when I tie it down to the pieces of slate how much riccia should I use?

Enough to cover the entire surface of each piece of slate?
Or put a largish portion in the middle of the slate? Will it spread outwards to cover the whole piece?

 

[jimbooo]

just a thin covering all over the slate, right to the edge. you should just be able to see bits of slate through the gaps in the riccia. it will then naturally fill out closing the gaps. do it too thick and the stuff on the bottom will not get enough light and rot.

 

[pseud]

Sounds simple enough. Will let you know how I get on.