trystianity

Hello all.

I live near Hamilton ON and I'm going around in circles looking for plants that I don't already have locally and I'm new here so I'd like some advice/help. Where do you all buy your plants? Online retailers, hobbyists, mail order, shops? If anyone in the area knows of good stores or anything that carry plants that are a little out of the ordinary I would really appreciate it. I am starting to get really frustrated seeing the same plants over and over again around here. It's especially frustrating looking at some of the amazing tanks and plants people post online and not knowing where to get them.

I already have most of the plants local stores stock (the ones I want anyway). Here's my current list:

Alternanthera reineckii ''roseafolia''
Anubias barteri var. nana (odd looking variety)
Anubias barteri var. nana
Aponogeton ulvaceus
Bacopa monnieri
Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort)
Cladophora aegagropila
Cryptocoryne sp. (no idea, a friend sent it as crypt plantlets - should probably get an ID on those)
Glossostigma elatinoides
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Hygrophila corymbosa ''Compact''
Hygrophila corymbosa ''Siamensis''
Hygrophila polysperma
Microsorum pteropus
Rotala rotundifolia
Vesicularia dubyana (java moss)

Up until now I have just had low light non CO2 tanks but I'm expanding into higher tech tanks (more options - I should be able to grow almost anything with what I have now) so I'd like to start expanding my collection as well. I don't really have anything to trade at the moment, I've been rearranging stuff, but I should have some glosso and rotala rotundifolia at least soon.

I've caught the collecting bug but I don't really know where to collect. I've heard there are some good stores in Toronto but I don't drive right now due to health issues (walking is not an option either ) so it takes a LOT of begging and pleading for me to get someone to take me on road trips. It would be a lot more convincing if anyone has specific stores that are worth a visit, or any that you people can recommend. I am also interested in any area plant clubs or groups that I could join.

As a last resort I've been thinking about asking Big Al's to custom order a few things for me but I would rather trade/buy from local people and also I'm thinking it will cost me a lot of $$$, something that is an issue for me because I've been out of work on sick leave for the past year. That's also why I'm expanding, it's a good way to keep myself occupied.

Even knowing anybody else is into aquatic plants in this area would be great. Please speak up if you're out there.

fishmaster#1

What are you looking for? I have or can get it for you.
I have many many cool plants some I know no-one else has(posting one sat morning). I have - traded others - bought from stores - gone waist deep in muck and slime getting eaten up by bugs - and cleaned tanks for cuttings - to get all my plants. Most plants are not suitable in all set-ups. You need to post your growing conditions so "WE the hobbyists" can help you find the right fit. Just asking for A plant in general will not get you the reply you are looking for.

trystianity

Thanks.

I have a few different set ups:

45 g outdoor pond
A bunch of 1-5 g nano tanks (I have 8 of them total I think), some use sunlight alone (gasp!), one is halogen (thought I would try it - tropica uses it on the aquacube), others have high-low light from CF fixtures.....right now I have 4 of them actually set up but all of them can be rearranged and adjusted for specific growing conditions. I only have 4 set up right now because I haven't had much energy to look after them lately.
Emersed growth rack - outdoors enjoying the summer right now, I am growing some glosso and crypts for now, also have some locally collected mosses that I'm playing with.
10 gallon - 6 wpg NO fluorescent, dosing according to EI, ~30 ppm diy CO2, substrate: 2 mm gravel, peat, laterite, root tabs
20 g high & 29 - about 1 wpg plus sunlight from windows, no co2, minimal ferts (just whenever I think it needs something - usually seachem products, no excel), substrate additives: laterite, root tabs

I'm getting some industrial shelving (hopefully free! ) to set up a rack for the small tanks (also terrestrial plants - I'm a gardener) soon, will take up less space and be easier to take care of for me. Lighting will also be more uniform. Project is still in planning stages but I'm looking forward to it. Will also likely mean more tanks for me. I'm also really seriously thinking about upgrading light on one of the lower light tanks so that will give me more growing space as well.

I have a fairly wide variety of growing conditions just with the nano tanks and as I said they are easy enough to tweak a little for plants with special requirements.

I guess I am mostly interested in getting my hands on a few different mosses, smaller foreground plants (would love some HC but I'd probably have to give my right arm for it), more delicate stem plants with smaller leaves that I could use in small and nano tanks, you see where this is going. I like tiny tanks and I would like more plants that are suited to them so I'd have more options when I'm scaping them.

I did send an email to Big Al's, they replied and said that they usually order an assorted box but would be happy to request anything from the Tropica line for me any time they make a shipment and that Tropica plants usually start at $6.99. I think I'm going to take them up on that, the hard part is deciding what to get when there's soooo much to choose from.

gnatster

Did you see this?

https://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...ead.php?t=8723

trystianity

No I didn't. Thanks

PK1

I know by now you probably have a nice tank going... but in case you are still looking, try www.ottawaaquatics.com.

I have not tried them personally, but someone mentioned to me their service is good.

James..........

I HAVE tried Ottawa Aquatics and had MAJOR problems with him. He doesn't accept credit cards and I'll never again pay in advance using a money order for anything when dealing with a private individual. It took the threat of legal action via small claims court for me to get my money back (but I did get it back).

If anyone does want to give them a try, by all means go ahead (after all, its YOUR money) but I'd suggest that you insist on payment on delivery, not up front.

James Purchase
Toronto

PK1

Good to know.

Where do you get your plants in the Toronto area? London is fairly limited with choices, and Toronto's less than 2 hours away...

UniFish

All the goodies is only 5 minutes away from me

If you don't mind driving, you can try here. The aquatic store is on 2nd floor and there are plenty of plants to choose from.

http://www.marketvillage.net/

Also, across from the village is another aquatic store.

And after that, there are like four more aquatic stores just about 10 minutes drive away -- I can tell you locations if you want.

Talk about convenience

PK1

Yes please do, I would like to have the addresses for next time I go there.

It's good to have these stores handy!