From 48 To 180 In 3.0 Seconds Flat

[Alm0stAwesome]

Yeah I really like the look of the [font="Verdana]rotala rotundafolia too but if it's gonna send roots out from all over the plant - I'm not gonna be able to take it! Grrrr! #40## you roots![/font][/color]
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[color="#222222"][font="Verdana]Sooo I was up to my usual bad behaviour at work today and I've made some decisions on my plant purchases.[/font][/color]
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[color="#222222"][font="Verdana]Currently in the tank, minus wisteria cuz it ain't stayin'![/font][/color]
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[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Vallisneria gigantea (Giant Vallis)[/font]
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Bacopa caroliana (Bacopa - der)[/color][/font]
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Echinodorus tenellus (Pygmy Chain Sword) - I'm not 100% on the ID of this one...[/color][/font]
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Cryptocoryne pontederiifola - I think?[/color][/font]
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[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Right! These are the plants and quantities I've decided on:[/color][/font]
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Vallisneria gigantea x 5 (just to bulk up where the vallis is now)[/color][/font]
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Bacopa caroliana x 25 (to go where the wisteria in the middle is)[/color][/font]
Echinodorus tenellus x 25 (bit o' carpet...)
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Cryptocoryne Green Gecko x 2 (probably on the left round about where the crypts are currently)
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[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Now...I am having a hard time deciding on what to put on the far right behind the wood, in place of the wisteria. [/color][/font]
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[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]I've got it down to three options.[/color][/font]
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Cryptocoryne balansae - I really like this one and since it will grow in low/medium light it'll be OK stuck in the dark behind that bit of wood! The drawback is it's of a very similar sort of look to the vallis on the other side [/color][/font][font="Verdana] [/font]
[font="Verdana][color="#222222"]Rotala rotundifolia - great looking plant and given the right conditions turns red! I'm a bit put off by the potential for crazy roots.
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Or this nice red one, which also does the root thing [img]http/www.fishforums.net/public/style_emoticons/default/angry.gif[/img][color="#222222"][font="Verdana] ...[/font][/color][url="https/aquarium-gardening.com/details.php?prodId=184&category=5&secondary=0&keywords="]Ludwigia repens[/url][font="Verdana] or [/font][/color][url="https/aquarium-gardening.com/details.php?prodId=373&category=5&secondary=0&keywords="]Ludwigia repens rubin[/url][font="Verdana] - not too sure how different the two are actually...[/font]

 

[ian]

most if not all stems will throw off roots. What about some Bolbitis instead of the wisteria?

Rotala is a difficult plat to turn red, it may stay green, but it's easy enough.

Balansae is a great plant, i have kept it a few times, it is very slow growing and just keep in mind, unless you order the tropica stuff you'll get balansae that is about 8cm tall.

 

[FishFanatic04]

The balansae being similar to vallis in looks may be a good thing. Similar to what I am doing with vallis and dwarf sag. Rotala was green for me even in my higher light tank until I added some extra wattage and it got tall.

 

[ian]

getting plants to go red isn't about 'highlight', it's about getting the balance right. Good CO2, n and p and good Fe.

 

[FishFanatic04]

I remember seeing you write that about the Ludwiga too. I must have hit a balance when it started to redden.

 

[minnnt]

Hygrophila of any description would look good. Alternanthera maybe?

My hydrocotyle hasn't budged since it went in.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I love looking up all of these suggestions thanks! The hygrophila alternanthera looks fab minnnt.

Thanks for the tip about the size of the crypt as well ian, I would have been really disappointed lol. I'm leaning towards the crypt as I do like it a lot...just not 100% sure how well it'll fit in with the scape. I've got another week to stew over it because I certainly have no cash! Come on payday!

Keep the suggestions coming if ya got em!

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Oh and the place I'm thinking of ordering from does have the balansae in a "tropica pot" for £10.95 a shot

- how many do you think I'd want? Yes, do read my mind - thanks!

They also have it in a bunch of 25 for the same price.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Hygrophila of any description would look good. Alternanthera maybe?

My hydrocotyle hasn't budged since it went in.

Aren't you just perfect then?

I just placed a plant order and got some Alternanthera reineckii I am most excited for that on as its origins are S. American so it fits in my biotope!


and hydrocotyle

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Just saw your post, exciting stuff!

I do want to get some red in there too, argh decisions! I'll have a little bit of red when that "green gecko" crypt matures (hopefully), apparently that takes a while

 

[minnnt]

Alternanthera is really nice.

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Oh my goodness guys I've taken 10 steps back! I am now up to 6 plants I'm trying to decide between. I had discounted alternantheras because I got them confused with aponogetons which die back but then minnt made me look again -


!!!!

So I've got Alternanthera reinickii or alternanthera roseafoliia, rotala rotundifolia, Cryptocoryne balansae, Cryptocoryne balansae RED (cool!), Ludwigia repens RUBIN....jeezo, kill me now. This really shouldn't be that big a decision!

 

[FishFanatic04]

If you typed {cool!} after a plant, you might wanna get it. lol

 

[Salam]

This ---> Alternanthera reinickii

 

[minnnt]

I like the roseafolia one, grew well in my tank. Innevitably me tinkering with it and numerous re-scapes was it's downfall.

Aponogetons may actually be worth a look.