Ground Cover?

NetMax wrote:
"Bill Stock" wrote in message
...

What's a good ground cover for a tank with moderate hardness, good light
and CO2?

A Tropica search turned up this one Lilaeopsis mauritiana , any better
choices? Also, what about gravel vacuuming when you have a ground cover? I
gather skimming the surface to remove any loose debris is safe? I imagine
the fertilizer requirements really jump with a ground cover? I have a bit
of shade from the Ludwigia, will this be a problem for the Lilaeopsis?

Thanks.



A co-worker planted Hygrophila polysperma "Rosanervig" Sunset Hygrophilia
along the entire bottom of a 60G Neon tetra species tank (several hundred
Neons, 80W lights, no CO2). He planted them deeply and sideways with the
intention of making a Sunset ground cover. After about 6 months, most of
the bottom was covered in Sunset Hygro to a height of about 2 inches. The
only maintenance was to re-plant any shoots which grew towards the water's
surface (or cut them after the bottom was covered). This made a very
interesting layering of the tank, with the Neons above, and we later added a
few Otos and a shrimp colony which lived underneath the Hygro's canopy.
Note that Sunset Hygro is not a ground cover plant, but many plants can be
'trained' and pruned into a ground cover configuration, with very
interesting and unusual results.

That sounds spectacular! Pity I can't get sunset hygro in California.
I keep looking for someone with cuttings.

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

In article , says...
That sounds spectacular! Pity I can't get sunset hygro in California.
I keep looking for someone with cuttings.

Have you tried online? Places like aquarium plants.com have an amazing
number of plant varieties.

--
It's turtles, all the way down.

Larry Blanchard wrote:
In article , says...

That sounds spectacular! Pity I can't get sunset hygro in California.
I keep looking for someone with cuttings.


Have you tried online? Places like aquarium plants.com have an amazing
number of plant varieties.

I've gotten some wonderful plants online. However, it seems to be
illegal to ship sunset hygro (and a number of other aquatic plants) into
the state. The California laws are restrictive enough that many online
aquarium plant distributors won't even ship here at all. The selection
of plants in my local fish stores is disappointing for much the same reason.

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

Elaine T wrote:


I've gotten some wonderful plants online. However, it seems to be
illegal to ship sunset hygro (and a number of other aquatic plants) into
the state. The California laws are restrictive enough that many online
aquarium plant distributors won't even ship here at all. The selection
of plants in my local fish stores is disappointing for much the same
reason.


Washingtom apparently has the opposite problem. Even the chain stores
carry milfoil, despite the fact that it has clogged several lakes in my
vicinity and many bucks are spent trying to eradicate it.

But who ever said politicians were logical?

On Fri, 04 Nov 2005 20:59:34 -0800, Larry Blanchard wrote:

Washingtom apparently has the opposite problem. Even the chain stores
carry milfoil, despite the fact that it has clogged several lakes in my
vicinity and many bucks are spent trying to eradicate it.

I think it is on the Federal Noxious Weeds list, so none of them should be
carrying it.

If you live in Seattle or get near there, drop in to Kings Discus- a cool
fish store in the international district that focuses mostly on large
hungry fish

~Empty

On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 10:25:47 -0700, Empty wrote:

On Fri, 04 Nov 2005 20:59:34 -0800, Larry Blanchard wrote:

Washingtom apparently has the opposite problem. Even the chain stores
carry milfoil

I think it is on the Federal Noxious Weeds list, so none of them should be
carrying it.


I thought so too :-). OTOH, I'm quite careful that none in my tanks goes
anywhere but into the trash - silly in a way, since we're on septic :-).

If you live in Seattle or get near there, drop in to Kings Discus- a cool
fish store in the international district that focuses mostly on large
hungry fish

Sounds interesting, but I'm in Spokane.

On Sun, 06 Nov 2005 21:29:57 -0800, Larry Blanchard wrote:

I thought so too :-). OTOH, I'm quite careful that none in my tanks goes
anywhere but into the trash - silly in a way, since we're on septic :-).

I always trashed mine too. Here in AZ I just toss it on the back porch and
throw it away when I get around to it. For some reason aquatic plants
don't like being dry in AZ sun

If you live in Seattle or get near there, drop in to Kings Discus- a
cool fish store in the international district that focuses mostly on
large hungry fish

Sounds interesting, but I'm in Spokane.

So now it just sounds like an opportunity for a road trip! :P

~Empty