Chad320s collection of plants (pics 12/15)

[zachary908]

Originally Posted by chad320

I wouldnt shade it. Mine are grown in meduim light with lots of Co2 and minimal ferts.

Cool! I've got a nice spot on a piece of driftwood then. Just wanted to make sure it was okay with a fair amount of light.

[Bahugo]

Originally Posted by chad320

I dont have any crypts left that id come off of as im getting ready to move stuff around. Ill let you know when I do and there might be some. As for the Buce, they are submergents. They have been in my tank for almost a year now. I havent grown any Buce emergent yet. Im scared, especially now that I cooked alot of my emergent setup

I have to hold for now. I will sort and cull again in about a month so ill let you know then.

No problem, that's a good timeline anyways.

What substrate do you use for your emersed plants?

[chad320]

I have been using a mix for emergent growth. I use 1/3 ADA Malaya, 1/3 peat, and 1/3 sand.

[zachary908]

Originally Posted by chad320

I have been using a mix for emergent growth. I use 1/3 ADA Malaya, 1/3 peat, and 1/3 sand.

One of these days I'll have to do a emersed set up like this. I've just been using miracle grow potting soil so far.

[Bahugo]

I'm doing an experiment with my emersed setup, I have heard things about using only peat.

[zachary908]

Originally Posted by Bahugo

I'm doing an experiment with my emersed setup, I have heard things about using only peat.

That's what we have in the dart frog tank at work, so I don't see why it wouldn't work for emersed aquatic plants.

[chad320]

It does work if you have plants that like soft water. You can add ferts via dry ferts or just change water ferquently to replenish them. Alot of mosses and ferns do good on a peat only diet.

[Bahugo]

Originally Posted by chad320

It does work if you have plants that like soft water. You can add ferts via dry ferts or just change water ferquently to replenish them. Alot of mosses and ferns do good on a peat only diet.

Isn't it really good for crypts too? Thought I saw that somewhere, never grew many crypts emersed (or submersed for that matter) so never looked into it deeper.

[chad320]

It depends on the variety of crypt. Some like hard water, hence my secret clay, and some like soft water. Most common varieties will do fine in peat/dirt mix. Bastmeijers pages are a good reference point to start and will lead you to further information if you research your particular variety.

[Bahugo]

Secret clay? Do tell.

[chad320]

I found a clay growing some hard water loving plants in a local stream and collected it, boiled it, and tested it on some crypts. Its very deep, hard pan clay. It has proven to grow hard water loving root feeders without effecting water column parameters much if at all. Speedie408 has been using it, anong many others, and ive never had a complaint from anyone about it. I usually sell it for $5 for a small flat rate + shipping. I am low on it right now so id have to check to see if I have enough if you'd like to try it. I am setting up for a few new scapes so IDK how much ill have for awhile. Its a PITA to collect it, boil it, strain it, and dry it so I have only done two batches of it. The keei, and leganandra meeboldi seemed to like it, the 'flamingo' hated it. It depends on your variety of plant I suppose.

[Bahugo]

Thats' really cool! I'll pass for now I was just curious on what you secret clay was, and I don't know where I would put it emersed. I just made a container of full peat for hc so it'll be interested too see how hc does in peat vs soil... I should throw some C.Parva in there too.

[chad320]

I would put my money on the HC doing better in soil with its shallow roots. The parva should be OK tho.

Are any of your mosses starting to look happy yet?

[Bahugo]

They are growing pretty good, some have some hair algae or something like that though.

[cableguy69846]

Hhhmmmm, this is a thread that I will need some time to read.

Love the snowpearls though.