I only have one, one year old val in Caribsea Planted Aquarium Substrate and it hasn't really grown at all. Just recently I moved it to a more well lit area and added a root monster tab underneath it, it started to grow alot of leaves but they are all short.
The coolest thing I've ever caught in the canal in my backyard was a beautiful two foot female albino catfish that I had to throw back in the water because I didn't have anything big enough to put her in. I found out the next day she was worth $2,000.00
There's also alot of chiclids and bass. There also used to be alot of huge kois and even some manatees!