Guillermo

I wanted to share my emersed setup, here the specs.

Tank : 6mm glass 40” l x 16” w x 20”h tank with glass top covers.
Water circulation : Astro 1000 submersible pump with DIY PVC fixture to make a "curtain" in the front glass.
Filtration : Just a guppy breeder net to avoid clogging of the pump.
Heating : None
Lighting : Sun light.
Misting : Exo Terra Fogger
Pots : 22 4 “ x 4” plant pots.
Substrate : Coconut fiber, peat moss, Sera super peat, Osmocote, Vermuculite, Perlite mix topped with gravel.
Fertilization: None (yet) I need some input here if you please.
Water changes: Only when it looks dirty.

For plants, let’s go with some pics

General views









I have two pieces of 3mm glass in the inner part of the aluminum frame and one 6mm glass on top.



Covered the pump with a guppy breeder net to prevent clogging.



The Exo Terra fogger Works fine



Bacopa Caroliniana





Bacopa Monnieri:



Cryptocorine Balansae crispatula



Cryptocorine Wendtii Brown



Hetherantera Zosterifolia



Eleocharis Parvula refusing to grow LOL



Marsilea Hirsuta, does not cooperate and grows tall



Higrophylla Siamensis



Microsorium Pteropus



Hydrocotyle (sp?) Excuse the blurry/foggy pic.



Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis



Limnophilla Sessiliflora



Rotala Rotundifolia:



There is another pot with Hygro Rosanervig tiny plantlets, I thought it had died.

For what is worth I began this project in August 2007. I put the plantlets straight from some aquariums, I didn’t “acclimate” them, I guess this is the reason for the slow growth.

All the plants are doing fine despite the slow growth, the only one who died in my 2 attemps was some Pogostemon Stellatus (Eustellaris Stellata).

I have some plastic containers with HC, but they are in another thread called “Windowsill Experiment"

This is my first time trying to grow emersed plants, I’ll be glad to read your inputs.

Thanks in Advance

Guillermo / Mexico City

mistergreen

nice setup...
I might have to try it when it's summer here.

I'm surprise the Eleocharis Parvula isn't growing for you... I tested on a little bunch of dwarf hair grass in my garden and it lived out in the open air... I think your substrate may be the issue.. Try a soil & sand mixture.

Guillermo

Hi mistergreen thanks for the kind words and your input, I will change E.P.'s substrate to see what happens.... is it ok black potsoil and silica sand ? I have some laying around. Do you think my Marsilea has the same issue ? Thanks in advance

Regards

mistergreen

yeah, try just regular sand & potting soil. Some plants like a finer substrate to hold on too.

Oh, I do remember the EP didn't do so well in the garden in the beginning but it sprouted new shoots. I've seen EP growing wild up here and they're usually grow in muddy soil and will adjust to dry soil in the summer.

Guillermo

Ok mistergreen, I'll change the substrate this weekend and keep you posted, thanks for the quickness and kindness of your input.

Regards

vitorhugo

Hi.
What is the temperature inside? Try do not pass the 25ºc.
The most of Eleocharis sp dont like "heavy" soils, i mean, try to put some good soil down(humus for ex) and cover with very small sand, then plant.
Cover with sand dont be larger then 1,5-2 cms.
If you see Eleocharis sp in the nature, you will see they spread very fast on the places were have this conditions.

Guillermo

Good point vitorhugo, temperature that is. I have not a thermometer in there, but it doesn't receive direct sunlight, so I guess it doesn't surpass 25-26 °C, I assume the water movement in the front glass keeps the setup cool enough, but I´m not sure.

Can you suggest a thermometer for my setup please ?

Thanks so much for your inputs about the temp and the E.P.

Regards

vitorhugo

Hi.
Dont be so sure about the temp, remember is a closed cabinet, the temp will increase very fast.
I think a good thermometer is digital (with the display out side and the probe inside).

Guillermo

Any aquarium digital thermometer would be fine ? I will put one in the "curtain" to see how it works. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again vitorhugo.

Regards

ts168

Hi Guillermo, Well done. Very well planned. Keep it up.