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continued from Photobooth

guess ive been looking in the wrong place. ive been looking to do the same thing he has done in the pic. have a plant large enough to over take a piece of drift wood by growing up and out over it rather then be right on top of it. so i started looking at swords and other type of larger plants. i allways thought of anubias as being the little plants hehhe guess i didnt look close enough.

how are these at useing up nutrients in a well stocked tank? i got nitrates creeping up on me that im battling with water changes now but thats not gona last forever. i dont wanna heavily plant the tank due to a gibby pleco thats not getting any smaller lol. so im trying to leave some room for him but still have a good plant load to battle the nitrates.


Last edited by Sin in Style at 19-Apr-2005 12:00

Hi Sin,

What Keith didn't mention in his reply, or knowing Keith, may have been too modest to reply, is that to get a Barteri to that size and condition takes years of care or many $$$ to buy one already that size.

Most people are only familiar with Barteri var. Nana or Nana petite which do stay relatively small. But there are some big varieties of Anubias avaiable.

Problem is because they are so slow growing that it takes years to get there and this puts a heavy premium on the price. I would take a guess and say Keiths is about 5 years old and would probably cost about $100 to buy one that size and condition "off the shelf".

Being familiar with your previous thread, yes a large Barteri or other large anubias would be perfect for your problem but it will take either 2-3 years to get to the size you want or a hefty investment.

Large Anubias mother plants are sometimes available online from time to time (Arizona Gardens gets them ocassionally, but they sell fast even with the hefty price tag)but will cost $50-$100.

Personally I think they are worth the investment. Very unique and stunning looking, almost guaranteed, with decent care, to last a lifetime. Fancy a change and you'll have no problem selling this on aquabid or elsewhere for as much or more then you paid for it.

Almost forgot, they are not real nitrate suckers due to their slow growing nature. But a few floating plants would take care of that(floaters are great nitrate suckers as they take all their nourishment directly from the water column) and give the Anubias some shade.

Last edited by bensaf at 20-Apr-2005 02:54

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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.

bensaf Thank you .
You can guess where one is going and it wont even missed in that tank, in fact it might even open it up a bit.

Each of those plants cost origionally Aust$25+ and I always get a very good price I have knowen this wholesaler close to 20 years. I have had them 10+ years they have doubled in size since. They are extremly slow growers.

I also have Water Sprite as a floater, its a real pest grows like a weed in fact faster I am always throwing it out.

In addition to that that is why I think good quality lights are the best regardless of the cost.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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Photo of one of those Anubias mentioned.
Each of the Gourami is about 2ins-15cm this will give you an idea of the leaf size. Also you can see the growing end of one of the Anubias note how close it is to the top of the water and also the angle it is growing at.
I can assure it travels along the bottom of the tank for some distance as well. Only when I do the new tank I will see its full size. I am guessing 12ins 30cm ++++

Keith

keithgh attached this image:


Last edited by keithgh at 20-Apr-2005 04:31[/font]

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

ya know the more and more i look into plants for my own tank the more impressive i see keiths. the size of the plants, the colors, the hight. these are all great features but there is one not many people remember that i allways keep in mind when looking at his pics, all of it is in reg. gravel and no co2. thats what really makes me go ooh ahhh because i know its possible in every aspect to get the same results in my tank.

thansk for that pic keith, very nice

btw, i had asked previously how you kept the plants algae free seeing as they are such slow growers. i see to algae eaters in that tree you called a plant so i guess they work well lol.

Last edited by Sin in Style at 20-Apr-2005 06:33

I love anubias plants. I currently have a few nanas and one coffeefolia. As has been discussed here, my favorite thing about them is that they really, really are a work of time. My hygro. polysperma doubles in size every 4 days, and anyone with light and CO2 can do that - but to grow a specimen like keith's must be very satisfying. I just ordered some barteri a few days ago, and I'm looking forward to growing it out to the size of keith's over the next few years

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Back in the saddle!

Keith's tank always amazes me everytime I see a picture of it. If the anubias take that long to mature and get to that size, it's surprising that the cost for them at that size is really only $50 to $100. Probably well worth it if you can find them.


Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Sin in Style

I think you missed a few things or I missed posting these facts.

Those big Anubias started off in the Substrate and kept dying different tank and rotting so I just let them float that was 10+ years ago. I have massive filtration & airation the large Eheim Canister,and full UGF two risers each own air pump. the 4ins fine air stones also have their own pump.
The SAEs are too fat and lazy to eat algae they prefer all the other good food, I have no idea how many BNs could be 10+ I think the RTBS also like the algae

I use a liquid Fert 2.5ml once a week at the 15% water change. The 4ft tubes are one Plant & one Daylight.
Those plants get no special treatment never have and never will.
Basically the tank looks after its self. The tank actually evolved I just layed out the basics and the jungle just too over.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW