What Plants To Go With?

[DevUK]

I got my wood! Redmoor wood that is:

I have an idea what I'm going to do with it, its going on the right side of the tank, branching to the left side. Its long enough to get past half way too! (about 50 - 60cm at its longest I'd say). I'm going to attach small patches of flame moss to some of the branches, probably lower down, and maybe some weeping moss higher up to sort of make a bit of a "stalegmite/stalegtite" arrangment. At the base of the wood and in the right corner will be narrow and needle java fern forms, along with some anubias nana and maybe some christmas moss. Above in the right corner is amazon frogbit giving it a little shade, hopefully the roots growing down will add to the overall branchy/spindly look

On the left side are some Crypt. Balansae (quite a few). The intention is they'll grow over and almost echo the wood, branching towards the centre (flow from the filter outlet is that side). Also on that side is a crinum calimistratum to give a similar shape but a bit more rigid and even more branchy looking.

My problem is, what do I put going from left to middle? I've thought about maybe a nice bunch of Echinodorus latifolius to provide a spikey bush effect. I've pondered other crypts, but I'm not really a fan of broad leaf plants.

I'm open to suggestions! I need help!

Edit: Oh yeah, current tanks stats (for those that don't know):

Tank = Rio 180/47 us gal (101cm long x 42cm wide x 53cm tall *ish* )
Light = 85 watts from 2x Arcadia Freshwater and 1x Zoo Med Ultrasun.
CO2 = Pressurised via 2kg fire extinguisher and currently using a glass diffuser (may switch to some other way) on for 24hrs
Ferts = EI dosing 3 times a week as per sticky thread
Substrate = Tetraplant Complete (1cm or so layer) under pea gravel.

 

[Maximus]

Sexy wood

 

[DevUK]

Sexy wood

Thanks

 

[jimbooo]

nice wood you have there old chap. looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

[nry]

A nice bunch of vallis mini-twister as a feature? Broad but long, I love this plant

 

[DarkEntity]

I never seem to find wood like that in any shops

 

[DevUK]

I just ordered it from AE and gave a quick description of what I was looking for. AE really came through for me!

 

[Liam]

Really nice wood, I like the sound of your ideas, should look ace, dont have any suggestions for other plants though newish vallis nana might work.

 

[DevUK]

I'm not sure if I want to go with any stems. If I do, I think I want something like Rotala sp. ''Nanjenshan''. Something quite fine leafed and bushy but not all rounded off.

Maybe I should consider one of the hydrocotyle varieties to add a different shape, but I like the idea of trying to stick with plants from Asia (considering swapping the Frogbit for something else, Salvinia Natans maybe

Any more suggestions?

 

[Ark]

how did u adjust the lighting to fit 3 tubes in there as i have a rio 180 and i could do with an xtra bulb in there as think of converting into a planted...
ty

 

[Biulu]

I think I agree with you to look for a plant with a different shape and/or colour and a medium height. For me Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' would be a good choice, but then, it is not an Asian plant, as you are looking for. The same goes for Lobelia cardinalis, which would be even nicer because of the leaf shape and reddish colour. A third option could be Marsilea hirsuta (Australia, comes close!) although this plant might be a bit too low for your purpose.

What about Pogostemon helferi? This one is from South-east Asia, and I love the colour! The star-like shape gives a nice contrast to the 'spikes' you have, but not that different that it wouldn't fit in. Would be definitively my choice!

 

[DevUK]

I think I agree with you to look for a plant with a different shape and/or colour and a medium height. For me Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' would be a good choice, but then, it is not an Asian plant, as you are looking for. The same goes for Lobelia cardinalis, which would be even nicer because of the leaf shape and reddish colour. A third option could be Marsilea hirsuta (Australia, comes close!) although this plant might be a bit too low for your purpose.

I like the look of the Creeping Jenny, I'm not absolutely strict on the asian idea, but it'd be nice as all the fish I have are from asia (danios, barbs and rasbora). I already have some Marsilea Hirsuta. Its looking a bit sorry for itself and needs re-planting/a good trim and spruce up.

What about Pogostemon helferi? This one is from South-east Asia, and I love the colour! The star-like shape gives a nice contrast to the 'spikes' you have, but not that different that it wouldn't fit in. Would be definitively my choice!

I've never really gotten on with Pogostemon Helferi. I just don't get on with the shape of it. I have however thought about some Utricularia graminifolia around the planting and leaving a plain area in the middle/right with just plain sand as a "clearing". I thought the U graminifolia would make a nice barrier between the planting and the clear area.

how did u adjust the lighting to fit 3 tubes in there as i have a rio 180 and i could do with an xtra bulb in there as think of converting into a planted...
ty

I bought a second 36"/30watt light balast, then rigged some metal Juwel tube mounting brackets together with some small bolts into a sort of )-( shape. I clip one end to my existing tube and the other to the additional tube. Do this both ends and its pretty secure

 

[DevUK]

Oh, what do you guys think to replacing the existing 1cm of tetraplant substrate and 3cm of pea gravel with about 2cm of tetraplant and then a good 2 or 3cm of Hagen black river sand? It'd be a major mission to do it but I think it'd look great

Thoughts?

 

[Biulu]

I've never really gotten on with Pogostemon Helferi. I just don't get on with the shape of it. I have however thought about some Utricularia graminifolia around the planting and leaving a plain area in the middle/right with just plain sand as a "clearing". I thought the U graminifolia would make a nice barrier between the planting and the clear area.

According to tropica: Utricularia graminifolia (Tropica No 049B) belongs to the most interesting water plants. It is carnivorous and creates an attractive green carpet in the foreground within a couple of months.

Not afraid that your fish will get eaten by it?

Edit: I just see that Tropica also have Echinodorus 'Aquartica', an Echinodorus species with a rounded leaf shape which doesn't change in the submerged form. I think this would make a nice barrier too. Only disadvantage is that it is a slow grower, or maybe that is just an advantage......

 

[DevUK]

Don't like Echinodorus 'Aquartica' so much either, looking at pics of it. I'm really not a fan of a lot of the broad leafed plants. They just look, well.. too frumpy