Got a cool plant for my tank

657 Views 53 Replies 6 Participants Last post by susankat, 15 d ago

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · 28 d ago

Hey guys,
when to the LFS this arvo and picked up 2 more small scissortails.
I also picked up a cool plant...no name or anything to identify it by.
There was only one as apparently the store manager bought the other ones LOL.
Here's a photo of it. Its a bit dark because i didnt want to use the flash that close to the glass but you can still see it ok.
The Neon Tetras have to know what's going on and i couldnt get a shot without them in it LOL.
Its still in its pot until i sort out where im putting it.
Anyone know what this is?

Plant Organism Terrestrial plant Aquatic plant Marine biology

Plant Organism Terrestrial plant Aquatic plant Marine biology

See less See more

Reactions: 2

21 - 40 of 54 Posts

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #21 · 27 d ago

Gamegurl said:
I like that plant! I've been looking for something tall.
It's just called Vallis?
That school of Scissor tails must look awesome.
Did I see Ember and Neon tetras too?
Nice mix of color mate.....

It looks beautiful swaying gently in the flow...its almost hypnotic

Its called Vallisneria, Val, Vallis. There are a few different types but i like how the leaves on this particular one fan out when in water.
Yeah, 10 scissortails really is a sight to see. The larger ones have calmed down a bit since the family grew by 4 which is really cool.
When i put the val in the tank the fish were like "flies to s**t"....all over it 😆
The scissors love speeding through it, the Embers love dissapearing in it and the Neons enjoy buzzing around under the umbrella of leaves....its so entertaining i could almost explode 😍😍LOL.
Thanks again GG

susankat

· #22 · 26 d ago

Valisnaria Spiralis Italian . Don't use Jungle Val, (Val americana.) The leaves get 3 foot long and will block the light. Also vals don't like Excel

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #23 · 26 d ago

susankat said:
Valisnaria Spiralis Italian . Don't use Jungle Val, (Val americana.) The leaves get 3 foot long and will block the light. Also vals don't like Excel

Thanks for the info Susan.
I dont think it's jungle val, its been at the shop for a while and hasnt grown excessively...although it is in a pot.
But by the sounds of it, jungle val wouldnt get slowed down too much by a pot so i might be ok.
I'll stay away from Excel

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #24 · 26 d ago

Update on tank - Val placed across back.
I dont know, there's something thats not quite right (besides positioning), im not sure what it is.
Anyway, the fish like it.

Plant Rectangle Organism Pet supply Aquatic plant

See less See more

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #25 · 26 d ago

Not taking them out of their pots until i decide where they are going.
I dont know, maybe they'll grow on me lol.

susankat

· #26 · 26 d ago

Separate plants, there will be more than one per pot. put all across the back, but don't bury the crown.

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #27 · 25 d ago

susankat said:
Separate plants, there will be more than one per pot. put all across the back, but don't bury the crown.

Thank you for the advice Susan.
Ive noticed that the val on the far right and possibly the one next to it, in the middle, are causing the scissortails to group up near the other end of the tank...ive basically put obsticles in their open swimming area.
I had a read about their preferred environment and yes, they love an open area to zoom around in.
Im going to leave the right hand side of the tank the open area, like it was before (maybe add some shorter plants here and there).
I'll have to squeeze the vals up together on the left hand side of the tank or remove one, possibly two plants.

Gamegurl

· #28 · 25 d ago

Can you group a couple to the right back? The Pogo possibly to the right side, they will swim right through that and that looks cool.
You wanted opinions right? I think that tall one in the left messes up the look you had. I would move the Val as far back as you can allowing room to clean the glass.
To bad you arent closer, you could send me the extras. hehehe
Cheers

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #29 · 25 d ago

Gamegurl said:
Can you group a couple to the right back? The Pogo possibly to the right side, they will swim right through that and that looks cool.
You wanted opinions right? I think that tall one in the left messes up the look you had. I would move the Val as far back as you can allowing room to clean the glass.
To bad you arent closer, you could send me the extras. hehehe
Cheers

Hi GG, appreciate your opinion,thanks

If i was closer, you'd could have all three...they're just not doing it for me.
I know i could split them up etc BUT Its the size and spread of the leaves that are just too over-bearing and not fitting in with the rest of the decor/plants.
I need something with finer foliage that doesnt have such a large, spreading habit.
Im going to stick with smaller plants and have the occassional taller plant here and there for depth/perspective.
Val are very nice but its just not the right plant for my tank.
Back to the drawing board.

Gamegurl

· #30 · 25 d ago

A plant I have recently fallen in love with is Java Fern Windelov, Trident is super cool to.
I agree those leaves don't go with what you have going on.
Lucky for us there are about a million to choose from.....hehe

Reactions: 1

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #31 · 25 d ago

LOL...I just walked over to my tank and realised something while i was staring at it.
Im creating a kind of a minature garden in there...if i remove the val, thats what im left with.
Its really funny because bonsai is my second love and its influencing what im doing with my tank layout : )
I didnt even realise until i was sitting there, staring at the tank and it suddenly clicked.

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #32 · 25 d ago

Gamegurl said:
A plant I have recently fallen in love with is Java Fern Windelov, Trident is super cool to.
I agree those leaves don't go with what you have going on.
Lucky for us there are about a million to choose from.....hehe

Yeah i also like java...i believe you can get varieties with finer leaves which is interesting.
I'll check out Trident too, thank you.
That's what was annoying me, the vals just take it away from everything else in the tank.
I enjoy going to the 3 LFS's and having a suss through the plants...GOTTA look at the fish too hehehe.

Deathdealer91

· #33 · 25 d ago

Gamegurl said:
A plant I have recently fallen in love with is Java Fern Windelov, Trident is super cool to.
I agree those leaves don't go with what you have going on.
Lucky for us there are about a million to choose from.....hehe

View media item 18564
View media item 18558

I've got thin leaf java fern. It's growing nicely. Trimmed it and put some in my 5 gallon. It's in my 15 back left corner.

Deathdealer91

· #34 · 25 d ago

Emeraldtarpon said:
Update on tank - Val placed across back.
I dont know, there's something thats not quite right (besides positioning), im not sure what it is.
Anyway, the fish like it.
View attachment 34648

They look really good behind the wood. If you could place them all there it would look good. But if you get java fern get wood or rock to glue it too. Then let it go. Mine is having babies currently also.

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #35 · 24 d ago

Deathdealer91 said:
They look really good behind the wood. If you could place them all there it would look good. But if you get java fern get wood or rock to glue it too. Then let it go. Mine is having babies currently also.

I appreciate the info Dd, thank you.
I do like val and i was going to place it along the back but the plant is a bit over-bearing in this tank.
I like the Java idea...attaching to wood etc as thats the theme ive got happening.
Ive got a couple of smaller plants (getting more) for accenting here and there.
Im going to trim them like trimming a bonsai tree which will maintain a full,bushy plant but with a much shorter growth habit.
I did this once before with blue stricta which is a stem plant that can get quite large.
It worked very well and the plant ended up approx' 6 inches high and nice and bushy (foliage reduced in size somewhat too).
I suppose with what im going to be doing here, you could call it a bonsai garden in a fish tank.
It takes a bit of time and patience but the end result should be quite stunning (the Stricta looked amazing).
I once considered growing and training aquarium plants in this fashion for nano tanks etc...i think it would go off.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #36 · 24 d ago

Here's another plant i just got.
Im just researching its name as the LFS dont have them tagged.
Its going to be trained to remain compact like the pogostemon will be.
im going to maintain the pogo' around its current size if poss'...it should work with the correct trimming.
Heres the new plant.
And a shot of the pogostemon with the newie.
Their height and dimensions are going to be manipulated to maintain, tight, compact plants.

Plant Pet supply Fish supply Organism Terrestrial plant

Plant Flowerpot Houseplant Terrestrial plant Water

See less See more

2

Deathdealer91

· #37 · 23 d ago

Most welcome. The new plant looks like Alternanthera Reineckii Lilacina. Or Rotala Narrow Leaf Sp. Red. Maybe somebody else knows. Always trying to help.

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #38 · 23 d ago

Deathdealer91 said:
Most welcome. The new plant looks like Alternanthera Reineckii Lilacina. Or Rotala Narrow Leaf Sp. Red. Maybe somebody else knows. Always trying to help.

I really appreciate the info Dd, thank you for your help

Im trying to match leaf shape, colour and habit while researching.
Ive also got those two plants in my research list. Its hard to tell as plants seem to have many variations which makes pin-pointing the species very difficult.
I think the new one is as you stated, Alternanthera Reineckii Lilacina, but when i saw the Rotala it left me unsure.
ID-ing aquarium plants definately isnt as easy as ID-ing normal house plants.
I'll be buying more plants but the shop doesnt label them

mad

so if you have any suggestions on the plants ID's, please chime in and let me know, id really appreciate it Dd

Cheers mate

Reactions: 1

Gamegurl

· #39 · 23 d ago

At least at your lfs you can see the plants first hand and pick the healthiest ones.
I had a bad experience with buying a couple plants at my lfs, one had bearded algae the other had MTS. Lucky for me I spotted the snail before putting the plant in and the algae was just on that plant so it was yanked and tossed.
Its to bad cause they are so close but Buce Plants have been very good for the most part.
Cool adventure ehhh

Reactions: 1

Emeraldtarpon

Discussion Starter · #40 · 23 d ago

Deathdealer91 said:
Most welcome. The new plant looks like Alternanthera Reineckii Lilacina. Or Rotala Narrow Leaf Sp. Red. Maybe somebody else knows. Always trying to help.

After having a good read, its definately the Alternanthera Reineckii Lilacina.
Plant now ID'd, thank you Dd.
Youve got a good eye for this stuff

Reactions: 1

21 - 40 of 54 Posts