Re: NANFA-- tolerant plants

Shireen Gonzaga (grw70d5824_at_yahoo.com)
Tue, 8 Feb 2000 09:02:05 -0800 (PST)

Bob Bock said:
> Does anyone know of any low light, hard water,
> high pH tolerant plants that grow tall enough
> to serve as background plants for a 65 gallon
> high tank? Cabomba and hygro do well at first,
> then die back.

Did you try talking to them?

Someone mentioned valisneria--that's a good one. But
generally, there are very few plants that are
specifically hard-water plants. You'd have to look in
the "hardy" category. Some other suggestions:
Watersprite
Egeria densa

But I think your main problem is lighting. A 65g high
is really too tall for regular flourescent lights.
You'd have to get high intensity lighting to maintain
lush plant growth in that tank.

Another option is creative landscaping. If you're
trying to set up a good planted background, consider
terracing the back by piling slate or other flat rocks
till it comes up to about half the height of the tank.
Then set up small clay pots with gravel and plant with
some hardy moderate-light plants--try hygro/tropic
sunset again, also try Mexican oak, Rotala indica,
bacopa, and ludwigia spp. To camouflage the pots and
bottom part of the terrace, plant cascading Java Ferns
and/or Bolbitis from crevices, and train Java Moss to
cover the rock to create an "ivy" effect. Use the
crypts, small vals and anubias as foreground and
middle plants. If you choose this option, get some
good flourescent lights. I like powerglo.

Good luck,
shireen

=====
---------------
Shireen Gonzaga
Baltimore, MD
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