Jamie Drilling wrote:
Elaine, thanks for the tip - I'm junking the vermiculite. I want to
use planters to create barriers so I don't have different species
encroaching on territory devoted to Amazon Swords, etc. (Don't like my
food touching, either, so I'm weird. ) I'm thinking about
fastening Java Ferns to a cork board, too, for some extra plants
if/when I run out of room on the bottom.

I have my aquarium maybe 25% set up (I'm thoroughly washing 50 lbs of
gravel right now) but it already looks pretty neat. I'm having a lot
of fun--I work on the planters and watch _Moulin Rouge_ over and over
again. I love that movie.

Thanks again--it's great to get expert advice!

Jamie

Control plants? What a concept. ;-) I'm the opposite. Whatever grows
well is allowed to have as much substrate as it would like! I've had
crypts or sag pop up 3 or 4" away from the parent plant. I have baby's
tears in my 10 gallon tank that started as one clump and have now spread
the entire length of the tank. I always like to see which plant "wins"
when two encroach on each other.

Ae you doing any terracing? I've always wanted to do Dutch style
terracing with glass propped against driftwood or slate, but never had a
tank deep enough from front to back for it to work.

Java fern on cork should be beautiful. I usually attach mine to
driftwood and it grows great that way.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com