Plants to Provide Cover

[Liliano]

Hi

I've got some cute little blue rainbows and in order to show them at their best I need to get some floating plants to help diffuse the light and provide shaded areas.

Any tips on what plants to buy and where from? I have not seen any in my LFS.

Many Thanks

Lil

PPS my tank as it is now

 

[Bangin]

You have a few options, but I'll let you know what is in my tank. I use riccia as a floating plant. The fish seem to love poking around in it. With enough light and CO2 you can see it 'pearl' during photosynthesis. Look at this link for pictures of riccia/pearling. Most of them are pictures of riccia submerged to produce a carpet look.

http/www.nature-aquarium.com/aquascape.htm

 

[luxum]

I bought some water sprite, cut the stems off, discarded the pot & roots, and just let the stems float. They have since grown like crazy and are attempting to take over my tank surface. My fish like the shade and the roots which the water sprite sends down. I'll have to start trimming it soon. I love the shape of the leaves, the pattern it grows in, and it's nice bright green color.

 

[nene]

Do the floating plants cause a problem when you feed the fish floating flakes or pellets? Or do the fish just hunt the food down and pick it out from between and around the floating plants?

 

[luxum]

Hmmm, i use sinking pellets, my fish don't come to the top. I keep the middle of the tank clear so my swords get light, and drop the pellets in there, or release the flake food underwater so it doesn't float. If the fish did come to the top i imagine the same general idea would work, clear off some surface and drop the food there.

 

[Liliano]

some kind of feeding ring would keep flakes from drifting into the top plants. I am sure they used to be one on sale in pets at home, but I coudn't see it last time I went in there.

I am sure you could construct your own out of plastic tubing or other materials that float.

Thanks

L

 

[Dubby]

Lil:

Go for something like hornwort. This will give shade and at the same time not block the light entirely. It also grows like crazy. If you can send me a suitable self addressed envelope, I can mail you some

Will it survive the journey? Dont know Can someone with more experience in transporting live plants help please......

 

[sinistral]

I was going to recommend hornwort as well, but I have been replying to every post with some kind of statement about hornwort and didn't want to become a parody of myself.

Hornwort is pretty rugged, but it would be safest to mail in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box overnight or at the very least 2nd or 3rd day mail. If you were mailing dozens of rare and expensive plants it would be helpful if it's cold or warm where you are to mail them with a warm or cold pack in a styrofoam box. On the other hand, it is hornwort after all-- cheap and plentiful

EDIT: I notice in tropica it states that some varieties of hornwort are difficult to transport. YMMV.

 

[Liliano]

Thanks Dubby

Drop me a PM with your address and I will pop a SAE envelope in the post.

I'll try and get a jiffy bag or something.

 

[heresmike]

Will it survive the journey? Dont know Can someone with more experience in transporting live plants help please......

I've never shipped, but have received. Wrap the plants in very wet newspaper or paper towel and put it in a ziploc bag.