Plant Id'ing

[robjack]

Hi,

I recently got a Rio 180, with laterite and sand substrate, using the default lighting, and a few plants. Here's how it looks at the moment:

Now I know what some of the plants are - Amazon Swords, Hornwort, Java Fern; but there are some I'm not so sure of, namely
This one, this one (and the grasses behind it), and this one. Can anyone help? Are they all actual aquarian plants?

More broadly, does everything look ok in my tank? Any suggestions?

Many thanks,

Rob.

 

[Bloo]

Nope - to the best of my knowledge, none of those you specially asked about are aquatic. They will slowly turn brown, rot and die. Best remove them sooner rather than later.

Be very sure that you are happy with the Amazon Sword where it is. Once it settles, it's going to be difficult to remove of shift without major disturbance to the sand and laterite. Remember to feed your Amazon root tab ferts.

My Amazons in my non-CO2 / non laterite tank are a good 10-12" each leaf span - so keep that in mind too

 

[Luke_e]

I think i remember reading somewhere, that most plants that have white streeks around green leafs are usually non-equatic, doubt its true of all plants but its a good general rule i use.
I like you're layout, but i think a nice piece of bogwood would work well as a centerpiece in your tank, which you could plant around? The piece you have at the moment is quite low, and i think a taller peice would compliment you're tank more.

 

[craynerd]

Nope - to the best of my knowledge, none of those you specially asked about are aquatic. They will slowly turn brown, rot and die. Best remove them sooner rather than later.

Bump

When i started my tank i got all those sold to me by my LFS and the lads and ladies on here told me to remove them! I left one in since i planted around it and couldn`t see it...i think its been my cause of algea of late!

I would advise you as bloo did, to remove all the ones you have taken individual pictures of since non of them are aquatic. Put them in a plant pot and put them next to your window ...ohh and remember to water them occasioanlly!

It irritates me how the LFS keep selling them! I tell mine every time i go in, but they never listen to me

Rule of Thumb, someone told me this and its very true: If it has a rigid stem and can hold its own weight then its non-aquatic. Most aquatic plants use the water to support them and therefore flop when they are not in water! There are exceptions...!

Good luck.... and ur tank looks very neat! I take it it is gonna be planted with the laterite you have choosen? You adding CO2...extra lighting?

With regards to layout... Bloo mentioned ur amazon sword...my ownly issue is that it will grow quite big and broad...and its very much in the foreground where it is! Thats cool if thats your plan...but just to consider it will get bigger!!
Your cabomba will look good where it is and grow quickly to hide the filter.


Any fish in there yet?

Chris

 

[robjack]

Wow, I can't believe those are all non-aquatic! (the ones I specified). Do you think my LFS will be aware of this? Surely it's some sort of trade descriptions thing . My tank's going to look alot barer when I take them out - any ideas on what would be good to replace them with? Both my LFS's rarely have nice plants in them, so I'll maybe try using Greenline or something. I don't intend on using any CO2 injection, and don't really want to use extra lighting - having read the pinned Java Moss guide, I'm thinking of creating an area for that; and regards the Amazon Swords, when I take the bad plants out, I'll no doubt start again in terms of aquascaping. Maybe I will invest in a large piece of bogwood.

It's a balance, as I've got a Plec who no doubt, when I move him in there, will do his own landscaping, so really I can't create anything too intricate or special I guess. I've 5 Neons in there currently, to help get the filter going etc, then after that we'll see how it goes.

So any ideas on replacements?

Thanks for all the replies,

Rob.

 

[Themuleous]

Ditto, lose those three plants

This is going to sound like a complete cop-out but the first rule of aqua-scaping is 'all that matters is that you like how your tank looks' it is all very well asking for advice (hell I do it all the time!) but dont do what other people say just cos they have more experience than you, scape the tank how you want it scaped. If you dont like something, move it! Look at other tanks, get books, check out other peoples tanks (including mine, hint hint, ) but at the end of the day its your tank and your opinion is the only one that matters

That said, I like the tank, needs to mature and fill out a bit, but looks good so far, almost commented on it when you said 'hi' in the newbie forum yesterday. Have you thought about having something low growing at the front of the tank?

You sound like you know a fair about planted tank, but having a read of the pinned plant articles is always a good place to start when you're new to TFF

Keep us posted re progress

Sam

 

[craynerd]

Wow, I can't believe those are all non-aquatic!

Rob, i think they get away with it because some are classes as semi-aquatic...I ThInK !! They like being in the margins semi submerged! The one with the thick stem and white stripes in the leaves, i seriously just got one from the garden center a month back for my window sill !!



Chris

 

[robjack]

I rang up the shop that sold me them, they're decent people, and here's basically what they said.

Those plants that you've pointed out are indeed non-aquatic, and they sell them because they will last along time in an aquarium (3 months), without being pecked at by fish/dug up etc. He then went onto say how if I wanted proper aquarian plants, I need to have a look at Greenline: apparently they do some good "packs" of plants.
As for the ones I've got, the grasses are apparently "Fountain Grass"; the green leaves with white outlines are "White Dracina"; the other plant that looks like it but has only green leaves is either a "Borneo Sword" or a "Green Dracina"; and the pale-leafed bushy plant is a "Thai Stricta". All of which are non aquatic.

So, as experienced keepers of planted tanks, what would you recommend? He denied that they would simply rot away, and like I said, thought that they would last for a few months. But would it be better if i simply got rid of them and got one of these Greenline packs? Without having to add CO2 or extra lighting; any tips on some easy, decent plants (aquatic of course )

Thanks,

Rob.

 

[Themuleous]

I guess the thing is that, yeh they might last a few months (although not in my experience) but whats the point? There are hundereds of true aquatic plants out there, that proivde a host of different sizes, shapes and colours, so why run the risk of pollution your tank by adding something that will die and rot? You'll only have to spend more money replacing them in a few months anyway.

Greenline are a good online retailer and many people (including me) have used them. A word of advice, the economy packs (say 50 plants for 10quid) are cheap for a reason, if you have the money get potted plants (i think they even do selection packs of these) as they'll stand a better chance of growing

Sam

 

[George Farmer]

More broadly, does everything look ok in my tank? Any suggestions?

Add some foreground and background plants to increase the sense of depth. Some bigger hardscape may improve the look too.

 

[craynerd]

Personally, i`d select exactly which plants you want and order them individually from greenline! Thats what i did and i was well happy for the money!

Re: the non-aquatics. My LFS came back with the same script when i questioned them. Ignore them, although the majority of the plant looks healthy for 3 months look at certain areas and they begin to rot slightly! This can cause algea...like i say it happened to me, i removed the plants and the majority of the algea went away.

Good luck...and i`m sure greenline will be as good for you as they were for me

 

[robjack]

I went down to the shop that sold me the plants yesterday and took them back – the guy was fine with that, and offered to give me some new (aquatic ) plants in return, I think they are Microswords? At the same time, I got a nice piece of Mopani wood, and left that to soak last night.

This morning, I did a bit of redecorating Here are the results:

I tied some plantlets off the Java fern onto the new wood, and moved the bogwood into a place so it sort of looks like one big log. Then I put the (what I think are) Microswords in front, moved the Amazon Sword to the back; you can see from the pic. When I moved the bogwood, I noticed some of the sand had turned grey, so I guess I need to get something that will turn over the substrate, maybe some MTS.

I’m happy with the results so far, but you’re comments would be much appreciated!

Whilst in the shop, I noticed they had the Juwel reflectors in stock. With current lighting and no CO2 injection, would it be advisable to get these? Or would they take me up to the 2WPG that the TFF seems to think you need CO2 for?

Also, I’ve definitely got a hankering for some Java Moss, although neither of my LFS ever stock it. I don’t really want to spend the £5 minimum purchase + shipping at Greenline; so does anyone have any going spare? I’d gladly pay for shipping + a bit extra on top.

Turning into a bit of a log, this

Thanks,

Rob.

 

[Themuleous]

Thats looks loads better! Really love the left side, the swords add a lot of depth to the scape. Looks like a nice piece of bogwood too What you planning to do on the right side?

Def get reflectors, you'll probably notice the difference in your plants. They dont increase wattage, so if you not over 2WPG at the mo they wont take you over 2WPG. All reflectors do it get more of the light produced by the bulb into the tank, less is wasted.

Sam

 

[Luke_e]

I went down to the shop that sold me the plants yesterday and took them back – the guy was fine with that, and offered to give me some new (aquatic ) plants in return,

Thanks great news mate

You're tanks coming along nicely..is it the plants just infront of the bogwood on the left that are swords as i really like them i deffinantly want some!

 

[Dubby]

Hi Rob:

The tank is looking great Good luck!!

I think the plants in front of the wood maybe some type of Crypts. Hope this helps.