Plant advice for dry start method? - El Natural

only120xs · 10-15-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalstad

I've never mineralized soil until recently (see below).

For those that want to mineralize soil, you could try Tom Barr's 'Dry Start Method' (see FAMA, Dec 2009 issue). Put the plants in while you're mineralizing the soil. Generally, aquatic plants will grow faster and get established better in the emergent form. I'm testing concept in two tanks right now with dwarf hairgrass and drawf baby tears (HC).

Hi, first post, new to NPT, and planted FW aquariums in general

I'm thinking of trying this method out to minimize the number of plants I need to buy (my tank is a 46g bowfront).

Does anyone have recommendations of the types of plants to use? I think I'd really like the look of a low ground cover (in addition to other stuff), but I'm not sure if I can get anything like that locally. Of course, I also do not know my plants at all, so I'm not sure of light requirements or water requirements for different plants.

Like I said, I have a 46g bowfront, which is 18" tall, and I have a 96w PCF light coming in today. I haven't tested my tap water recently, but I THINK it's moderately hard.

So, I just checked out a local store, and here's what they have (this is probably my biggest selection, so I think I'm going to stick with them):

*Dwarf acorus $2.50
Swords $5
*Borneo $4
Crispic $4
Java windilou $3
Java fern $3
Wonder bulbs $1
*Arrow head $5
*Silver leaf 2/$5
*Joseph's coat $3, 2/$5
*Florida ruffle $3, 2/$5
*Acorus $3
*Palm Bella $2.50
Giant hygro $4
Undulatus $4
Crypts $7
Nana $6
Coffeefolia $6

Potted ($7):
Borneo fern
Wendtii green, red
Radican sword
Rose
Sword
Ruby red melon
Balansea
Coffeefolia
Marble queen sword
Anubias
Afzelli
African water fern
Echindorus azelot

*These are not true aquatic plants??

(I'm sure I've butchered some spellings!)

Just looking for a little plant direction; any advice appreciated!

only120xs · 10-15-2009, 10:51 AM

So, I'm trying to learn about these plants, and I'm finding very few which are low growing...

Also, I'm beginning to wonder if many of these will work not submerged?

dwalstad · 10-15-2009, 01:06 PM

A few weeks ago, I set up a couple experimental 2 gal tanks with DSM. [I'm trying to see whether I can get carpet plants to later survive (as submerged plants) in a small tank by themselves where they don't have to compete with more robust growers.] I purchased 4 species from AquariumPlants.com (grown at Florida Aquatic Nurseries). Because they had been grown emergent, they were perfect for DSM (my plants didn't have to adapt to submerged condition). The HC (Hemianthus callitrichoides, dwarf baby tears) has done the best, spreading nicely in both tanks. The dwarf hairgrass (Eleocharis acicularis) and Anubias petite are multiplying very slowly. The Glossostigma died almost immediately. I still don't now what will happen when I finally add water to these two tanks. DSM is very experimental.

I think DSM with carpet plants may be a big challenge for a beginner. Carpet plants don't compete well with other plants in an NPT, because NPT does not have CO2 injection. My experience with these plants in the past has been dismal. Echinodorus tenellus (chain sword) and Christmas moss are the only small plants that have done well in my NPTs.

If you're starting out with a 46 gal NPT, I'd focus on larger plants and floating plants. This size tank is perfect for swordplants (E. ozelot, E. bleheri, etc) and C. wendtii (red and green). If your store is selling submerged plants, you'll have an advantage using them.

HoldingWine · 10-15-2009, 03:21 PM

While I haven't tried growing carpet plants emersed yet, I have grown marsilea sp. in a NPT with excellent results. The mother plants were sending roots all over the place and filled in quite nicely. The lighting wasn't that intense either (1.5-2 wpg).

dwalstad · 10-15-2009, 03:58 PM

Good to know!
Do you have any more information on the particular species?

HoldingWine · 10-15-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalstad

Good to know!
Do you have any more information on the particular species?

I scrounged up my old receipts and found that it is Marsalia quadrifolia. When it first arrived, the stems were about 4-6" tall from being grown emersed. After about a month in the aquarium, it had started to revert back to its submerged form (the older stems simply died off).

This is just my opinion, but I think it does well in NPT's because of the nutrient rich substrate. I noticed that it REALLY took off once it was established and the roots had hit the soil level. It also doesn't seem to mind the relatively low light levels that I had considering it was shadowed by the taller water wisteria, amazon swords, and floating plants.

I'll have to snap a couple pictures of it in a new 10 gallon NPT that I am in the process of setting up.

only120xs · 10-15-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalstad

I think DSM with carpet plants may be a big challenge for a beginner. Carpet plants don't compete well with other plants in an NPT, because NPT does not have CO2 injection. My experience with these plants in the past has been dismal. Echinodorus tenellus (chain sword) and Christmas moss are the only small plants that have done well in my NPTs.

If you're starting out with a 46 gal NPT, I'd focus on larger plants and floating plants. This size tank is perfect for swordplants (E. ozelot, E. bleheri, etc) and C. wendtii (red and green). If your store is selling submerged plants, you'll have an advantage using them.

Thanks! That's kind of where I was leaning also.