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i am looking for some new plants to fulfill certain rolls in my 75g tank, it has sand substrate and approx 2.5wpg lighting, ph 7.0.
current plants are 2 swords that are thriving at the back and one varigated stem plant (unknown).

the plants i am looking for are as follows.

1- a tall possibly dense/fine leaved plant to fill out an area in the back corner, appros 6 inch diameter and up to near surface hight (24 inch), contrast in colour to the swords would be nice.

2- a ground cover plant to cover 2 small areas in the tank to offer shelter for cory fry should we be lucky enough to be blessed with any.

3- any other small colourful foreground plants, max 3-4 inch tall and same in diameter.

thanks

With the sand substrate you're limited with plants.
Crypts IMLE seem to do okay in a sand substrate. Adding root tabs will of course help a lot. There are some varieties that are more red than others, and work as a high foreground plant or a mid ground.
Some mature java ferns tied to a verticle piece of wood or rock might work to fill in the back corner.

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it is possible that i could install a raised terrace in the back corner with a more plant friendly substrate.

For fine-leaved tall plants, I'd suggest rotala indica. I have no experience with sand, so I don't know if that will be a factor for it, but otherwise it's been very easy to grow for me, and if your lighting is strong enough (3wpg or so) then it will turn red at the tops. Driftwood always helps add intrest to any aquascape. You can attach java ferns to it, and java moss will give fry a place to hide. Some vals will also give you height and different leaf shape to add.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

it is possible that i could install a raised terrace in the back corner with a more plant friendly substrate.

Yes you can, however remember that plant roots will need room to grow, and that you may see some stunting. I've tried various containers for plant substrate in the past and seen some good results some bad. Basically you want something large enough for the plants, but that wont take up too much room. Also remember you want something deep enough 3-4" at least.

^_^[hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? It's real, the [link=pain]http://babelfish.qwertydigital.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] you feel.
The life, the love, You die to heal.
The hope that starts, The broken hearts...
I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool.
I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."

I recommend cryptocoryne crispatula balansae. I like easy plants and this has been a dream plant for me. Its long narrow leaves are bronze-green with a crinkled or hammered appearance. I have not had any problem with crypt melt and the plant has grown to 28 inches in length.

Family Araceae
Continent Asia
Region South-east Asia
Country of origin Thailand
Height 20-60+ cm
Width 20-15+ cm
Light requirements low-very high
Temperature 20-28 °C
Hardness tolerance soft-very hard
pH tolerance 5-9
Growth medium
Demands easy

Cryptocoryne crispatula var. Balansae is the oldest known variety of Cryptocoryne crispatula. In the region it comes from in southern Thailand there are limestone mountains, and the water can be very hard. Like many other Cryptocorynes it needs to acclimatise before growth starts in earnest. In recent years a narrow-leaf variety called Cryptocoryne crispatula var. Flaccidifolia has often been sold.

Go to: http://www.tropica.com for a photo of this plant.

Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 23-Jun-2005 12:22

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