bitFUUL's Tool Box of Plants - 17 Emersed Grow Boxes, Wabi Kusa, Ripariums, & 50 gal

[bitFUUL]

Updated Posting:
Due to the overflow of plants, I've been documenting all sorts of various grow projects in this thread.
Many of my other threads have been condensed into this thread too.
Happy Growing!

Original Posting:
Currently I've got roughly 12 plants growing in my cinder block / wood grow station. There are 3 levels, the bottom two for emersed growth and a 50 gallon on top for phase 2 (what's phase 2? I don't know). The plants are growing in plastic bins with 80% peat soil and 20% humidity control fertilized soil. For lighting, I've got 3 light strips, each contains 2x T8 light bulbs (4 foot long) 6500k. Plants are watered daily and an box fan blows air on the plants at set times throughout the day.

Plants:

• Hemianthus Callitrichoides (Dwarf Baby Tears)
• Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis (Micro Sword)
• Glossostigma Elatinoides (Glosso)
• Eleocharis Parvula (Dwarf Hairgrass)
• Staurogyne Repens (Tropica 049)
• Bacopa Australis
• Hydrocotyle sp. Japan (Pennywort)
• Bacopa Monnieri
• Micranthemum Umbrosum (Baby Tears)
• Hemianthus Micranthemoides (Pearlgrass)
• Cryptocoryne Ciliata
• Cryptocoryne Parva (Crypt Parva)
• Java Moss
• Sword 'Narrow Leaf Chain' (Echinorodus tenellus)
• Four Leaf Clover Dwarf - Marsilea hirsuta
• Cryptocoryne, Wendtii, Bronze (Cryptocoryne wendtii v. Tropica)
• Hygrophila Pinnatifida
• Green Temple Narrow Leaf (Hygro Corymbosa 'Siamensis')
• Green Temple (Hygrophilia corymbosa)

Pictures:

[2in10]

Very nice looking setup, it looks to be very budget friendly.

[bitFUUL]

Originally Posted by 2in10

Very nice looking setup, it looks to be very budget friendly.

Thanks 2in10. The plants have been successfully growing for about month, and it is a very economical setup.

[talontsiawd]

That looks really nice. I love how simple yet well thought out it is. It almost is like a tool box for a planted tank. I may steal your idea and get a little book case since I have 3 identical 30 in light fixtures. Never thought about doing it the way you are, even though I have grown a lot of plants emersed in a similar fashion outside, I never thought it could look attractive in doors. I love how you labeled everything and kept each plant separate.

[bitFUUL]

Thanks talon. For years I've been using cinder blocks and wood for my vinyl collection. So having the extra blocks/wood in my garage, putting together this grow station was super easy. For the amount of plants that are squeezed in here, it doesn't take up a whole lot of space. I did separate all the plants out, because most of these are foreground/lawn plants and they tangle very easily.

Also, I was considering doing this in my house, but I'm glad that I've got it in my garage. Although it gets hot in FL, our garage is insulated and it's very humid inside. So I keep the plants covered most of the time, unless they've been over sprayed and then I let them sit "open" for the night. Plus I'm seeing some light flies and spiders in some of my boxes too, probably better in the garage.

But it's been a few weeks and all of the plants are growing wonderfully.

[Lichard]

I like this idea. You can see how all of the different carpeting plants grow, it's very interesting.

[SimonC]

"almost is like a tool box for a planted tank"

Exactly, this is awesome guy, great set up you have like a perfect supply of nice species that anyone would want to have on hand for there tanks and re-scapes. Great idea and yes so budget friendly. I wish I had the space to set up something like this. City living on the 3rd floor apartment in San Francisco has its limitations unfortunately.

[bitFUUL]

I appreciate the feedback guys. It's exactly my tool box for plants, we've got a handful of tanks going right now.
I've still got room to squeeze a few more plants in, and then we decide what the 50 gallon is for.

[aweeby]

Nice organized setup. Not sure if i just missed this, but how are you keeping humidity up? Are you covering each bin individually, or do you have some sort of plastic curtain thing?

[bitFUUL]

Each box has a cover with a single hole in the middle. It allows for air transfer. Plus the setup is in my insulated garage (in FL), it's really humid here!
Also for 30 minutes, every two hours, a fan blows over the boxes to provide a fresh breeze.

[bitFUUL]

I just added another plant: Crypt Parva (Cryptocoryne Parva)
This weekend I hope to pick up more, it appears this 50 gal will come in handy soon.

Pics of other projects:

[Zefrik]

Very cool. I love emersed setups. How do you keep your plants from drying out without the lids and with fans? I would love to know as my emersed setups get very stale and mildew can start to grow because I keep the humidity so high.

[SaltyNC]

Nice setup bitFUUL. It seems like a great way to go to be able to create a beautiful tank with full plants.

When it comes time to plant these in your tank, will you remove each plant by the roots, or will you transfer some of the medium they are growing in to your tank? I'm curious how the humidity control soil would work if it were transferred to the tank. Does that gel cause any problems?

Salty

[bitFUUL]

Originally Posted by Zefrik

Very cool. I love emersed setups. How do you keep your plants from drying out without the lids and with fans? I would love to know as my emersed setups get very stale and mildew can start to grow because I keep the humidity so high.

I've actually got covers for the boxes. But for photos, I removed the tops.
The fan is to help evaporate water in hopes to keep the mold down.

Originally Posted by SaltyNC

Nice setup bitFUUL. It seems like a great way to go to be able to create a beautiful tank with full plants.

When it comes time to plant these in your tank, will you remove each plant by the roots, or will you transfer some of the medium they are growing in to your tank? I'm curious how the humidity control soil would work if it were transferred to the tank. Does that gel cause any problems?

Salty

When I remove plants from the emersed boxes and prep them for submersed growth, I rinse the plant/roots and remove all of the soil. As far as the humidity control soil, I am using a very small amount and wonder if it's doing anything at all. (no quantifiable proof)

[xenxes]

Where did ya get the light strips? Cost? I'm a lighting newb, been only buying kits sadly.