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Ok... I've got my lights and I want to get planted! Right now I just have 2 amazon swords, 1 torta val and 1 jungle val in my 55g. I bought these as test plants to make sure everything was ok in my tank and I wasn't going to be wasting money. It's been 2 days and they seem to be doing ok. I plan to place my order Monday of next week if the current plants are still alright.

Right now I've got the following in my cart at aquaticplantdepot.com. I'm hoping the following will give me a good start in my 55g and my 30g. The tank stats are as follows...

55g:
2.5WPG (Combo, 10k/65k)
Natural Gravel (1.5"-2"
Slightly Overstocked
DIY CO2 w/ Bubble Counter
Commercial ferts as needed

30g:
2.5WPG (15W 10k, 60W 65K)
Extremely Fine Sand (going to be planting in small terracotta pots with gravel)
Fully Stocked
No CO2
Commercial ferts as needed

See bottom for plant selection

Last edited by john.stone at 07-Jan-2005 15:47

when i had dwarf sag in my 50g with 3wpg *and* co2, they did terribly. i have about the same conditions as your 55: gravel only, slightly overstocked and those dwarf sag just didn't hold up. they might do much better in your 30g, i know that mine are doing GREAT in my 10g with 1.5wpg, co2 and gravel only.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

They were just a cheapy addon. *removed*

Thanks moondog .

Last edited by john.stone at 03-Jan-2005 12:03

Hi John!

3x Anubias barteri v. "Nana"
7x Glossostigma (I know I probably won't be able to grow this... But it's only $1.09... So I have to try)
5x Lutea (Cryptocoryne lutea)
5x Ciliata (Cryptocoryne ciliata)
15x Lilaeopsis novaezelandiae
3x Echinodorus bleheri
35x Jungle Val
3x Melon Sword (Echinodorus osiris)
4x Retrospiralis (Cryptocoryne retrospiralis)
2x Temple (Hygrophila corymbosa v "stricta"

Well it's a good start! Glosso you might want to leave it floating, it will sure live
Crypts are very noble and you won't have a problem with those
Lilaeopsis will only give you trouble with that light and that substrate, it requires a lot of light, and really fine gravel or sand, and is a S L O W grower. IMO you should replace it with something else.
Melon swords are the best IME they grow fast they grow big and have wonderful leave shapes and colors, just take in mind they do grow BIG, but they look awesome.

good luck, and keep us posted!

Lilaeopsis replaced with chain sword.

Thanks Falstaf .

Very nice selection.

Nice choice of crypts - my favorite varieties.The retrospirallis can get get very tall so locate it in an appropiate place, but it takes a while to get a decent height.

The Melon will get HUGE.

Watch the Tenellus , it's very easy to grow. But I find all that I bought are grown emmersed (easy to tell - the leaves are spearshaped , dark green and very erect) but to take on the submersed form it has to go through a bit of yukky transformation. The leaves will go brown and turn to mush but will be soon replaced with nice new green shoots. After that it's pretty easy. So just watch for that and persevere some people chuck it out thinking the plant is dead.

Stricta is another favorite. Very easy and grows fast. Easy to trim and propagta, don't let it grow above the surface, the bottom will die off.

Glosso very difficult, especially without a lot of Co2.

Anubias - can't go wrong.




Last edited by bensaf at 04-Jan-2005 08:29

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Finalized Order:
5 Anubias barteri v. "Nana" (Reg)
8 Glossostigma (Glossostigma elatinoides)
10 Ciliata (Cryptocoryne ciliata)
3 Amazon Large (Echinodorus bleheri)
3 Melon Small ( Echinodorus osiris)
30 Jungle Val (Vallisneria americana)
30 Dwarf Chain broad leaf ( Echinodorus quadricostatus)
5 Retrospiralis Cryptocoryne retrospiralis)

As you can tell I've cut a few species out... and gotten more of the same... After talking with dot and sin(SiS) I decided that I should get enough different kinds to be interesting... But not so many that the tank looks too wild. Any comments on my selection would be appreciated.

Can't wait for some pics...

The only thing I would say is aprt from the Anubias there's not much variety in the leaf shapes, all the plants have that blade/sword kind of shape.

But Boogers and SIS's advice was good it's better then have a hodge podge with a stem of this and a couple of stems of that.

IMO simple is always more effective- but more difficult to pull off. There's a thin line between simple yet intersting and just plain old bland. But I think you have a very clear idea of what you want and will do a great job. Remember you can always add a dash of something later if you feel it's needed. The plants will need a few weeks to fill in and spread before you can really get an idea of how it will end up looking. At that stage you can decide if any finishing touches are required (it's addictive so there's always one more finishing touch )

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thanks Ben.

I was sorta going to the similar leaf shape idea... All green and actually... Kind of boring... No pop... An odd idea I know.... But if it looks how I think it's going to look... I'm going to be pleased.

Thanks everyone for your advice .