background plants

Jen · May 19, 2005

What looks nice to cover the back of a tank?

I have some val in 1 corner, and a huge amazon sword in the other... but I want something for the back wall. I don't want to see the glass at all, but I also dont want to have to trim it every day... the filter spray bar is right along there, and I don't want to get in the way of that.

Here's my tank for a visual.

ari · May 19, 2005

now, just a suggestion on what i will do if i were u....
move the amazon to the middle with the Val just behind it. the bogwood stays where they are. the small plants in front and near by the side of the amazon.
in this arrangment the amazon becomes the centre piece, the sides might look empty , but with your eyes focused to the amazon plant, everything else melts into the middle. u could try of course buying some carpet plant and plant them around the amazon plant and the empty spaces.
hehehe....just a suggestion.

Jen · May 19, 2005

I had toyed with moving the amazon. If i do I need to do it soon before the roots get too tangled in the laterite.

In the open space in the front between the 2 pieces of bogwood I have some echindorus agustofilus or something... I have 2 in, and 3 more on the way. They will hopefully spread into a nice lush carpet.

Doing it your way, I could in fact plant the sides with the val, instead of just the 1 corner. Or get another tall skinny plant, Oooohhh. the chinese ivy stuff..... I love the look of that.

Anyone else have any ideas on what they would do?

StarOrbs · May 19, 2005

Personally I like the way your tank looks. You could get some type of medium size plant and have a W type design heh.. I would suggest a few more carpet plants, unless of course those grow fast. Nice tank though.

Jen · May 19, 2005

Thanks!

I'm hoping to get that whole middle section, from the anubias to the black ball (lol) all carpeted, and then plant up in a bowl type fashion... getting taller as it moves outwards.

I'm trying to find an even shorter carpet plant for the very front... I know what I want, I jsut don't know what its called

guppygirl · May 19, 2005

Hmmm.... have you tried some cabomba? You need a couple red plants in there too to contrast, maybe try a stand of ludwigia in the front of the sword.
Just my suggestions!

I love your anubias BTW. :drool:

StarOrbs · May 19, 2005

Yah I've been trying to design what I want. Right now I'm thinking about this..
Maybe it will give you an idea on something else to add.

Wisteria - Left corner
Swords - Center
Vals - Right corner
Some type of Carpet plant scattered throughout

Also some type of medium plants in front of the tall plants.. etc..
I'm leaving the background sections on the left and right side of the Center swords for growth.

George Farmer · May 20, 2005

I'd recommend Limnophila sessiflora (Small ambulia). It's an easy, fast-grower that will quickly fill your background if kept pruned and allowed to bush out.

Jen · May 26, 2005

Howdy. I just wanted to post an update of my tank. I did end up moving my sword to the middle. I'm happy with it there... now all I need is something for the right corner. I bought some Ludwiga Arcuata, and some Cardamine Lyrata, but they are both pretty small still. Maybe once they grow in they will get taller. Right now the Ludwiga is under 3 inches, and the Cardamine is only a few stalks, so it's looking pretty sparce.

Anyway. Here's what it looks like minus the 2 new plants.

jimbooo · May 26, 2005

if i had a spare wall in my tank they'd be only one way to go. a riccia wall.

if your interested in how to make one click the thread link below.

(obviously you just place the carpet on its end rather than flat) it would look amazing.

link to thread

Jen · May 26, 2005

That looks awesome! I think I'm getting some Ricca in a package of plants I bought. I should try that. I have that back corner to fill. Maybe I could do that up one part of it. I can't do a lot, but maybe if I moved the C02 reactor and the heater to the other side of the tank I could do a section about a foot wide, and then just plant small things in front of it. That would look amazing. I'll keep you updated!

jimbooo · May 26, 2005

glad to help. but dont try to make it out of your first batch, you'll be suprised how little you will get. float it in the tank for a week, then submerge it. once submerged the new growth will force bits to break off and float bact to the surface.

that way you'll double your ammount of riccia every week.

i'm now throwing mine away as i cant possibly fit any more in the tank without it getting silly.

(binned at least £30 worth last night - sorry)

Jen · May 28, 2005

you should try selling it or posting it on a free classified site. That way you aren't getting rid of any... more like recycling!

George Farmer · May 28, 2005

Ludwigia arcuata is a lovely plant. I used to have it in my tank.

Those were the days!

Jen · May 29, 2005

Wow. Mine is sooo small in comparison. It's like 2 inches tall. I wonder how long it will take for mine to get that nice and tall!

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