Low tech ground covers

Wasserpest · 04-24-2006, 04:26 AM

Glosso, Riccia, HC... they just don't cut it without lots of light, nutrients and CO2. Here are a few that have done fairly well for me under low/medium light conditions.

Dwarf Sagittaria... interesting looking ground cover. Not a real ground hugger, and spreads throughout the tank via runners. Pull the largest ones and keep the shortest ones... Some Christmas moss twigs have found their way between the Sags and start to grow to cute little balls.

Two leaved pearlweed, not sure what the scientific name is. It stays low to the ground initially, then needs a haircut now and then, and one day you need to rip it out and start over. It gives baby shrimps a lot of chances for survival.

Cryptocoryne lucens (aka C. willissii) is for the patient ones, but once it grabs hold it grows to nice big bushes which can be ripped out and plucked apart into many little plantlets (repeat until ground is covered). True low maintenance groundcover!

For larger tanks, Hygrophila difformis can be trimmed to a dense hedge. It is a fast grower, so low tech yes, low maintenance no. The light green looks great as a foreground, combine with darker plants in the background to give tanks an appearance of depth.

**toofazt** · 04-24-2006, 06:07 AM

Are these grown in a tank with CO2?

RoseHawke · 04-24-2006, 02:41 PM

Concensus seems to be Low-Tech = No CO2.

mr.dav · 04-24-2006, 03:39 PM

wat r some easy plants to take care of

Wasserpest · 04-24-2006, 03:39 PM

toofazt... They can be grown without CO2. At the time of taking the photos, they are all grown in CO2 enriched tanks. However, they are good candidates for low tech tanks, if you are looking for some.

Rose... I think we covered that in another thread.

Most plants will grow faster in high-light, CO2 enriched tanks. Let's identify the ones that do well without!

RoseHawke · 04-24-2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wasserpest

". . .
Most plants will grow faster in high-light, CO2 enriched tanks. Let's identify the ones that do well without!

Exactly

.

mr.gaboozlebag · 04-24-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.dav

wat r some easy plants to take care of

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lo...-low-tech.html

mr.dav · 04-24-2006, 08:26 PM

thanks guys i new it cuz i got lots of stuff like that but ill try to take pic and see if i can post

Nbot · 07-21-2007, 04:58 AM

this helps...
http://www.aquariumplants.com/Low_Light_Plants_s/25.htm

**macclellan** · 07-21-2007, 01:42 PM

I have some dwarf Hygrophilia (I don't know the real name) that is a real winner for low tech foreground. It is growing slow but steady in 36wAHS 9hours on a 20H tank with very light sprinklings of ferts and the occasional unmeasured splash of excel. I am growing it out to fill in the missing spots, I only got a sampler portion to start things off.

Please pardon the Anomalochromis thomasi, he/she really wanted to be in the pictures (and he/she sure is cute enough to be there!).

Here is another photo for context. The hygro is in front of some anubias nana 'petite' and peacock moss reference.

**hooha** · 07-21-2007, 04:44 PM

Wasserpest - the two-leaved pearlweed is a variant of Hemianthus micromanthoides.

MacClellan - that looks very similar to Hygrophila sp. "Porto vello" that we've been growing here in Pgh for a while....it is a carpeting Hygrophila species as well.....wonder if it's the same thing.....

great thread!

**macclellan** · 07-21-2007, 09:12 PM

Hooha, did you mean Puerto Vello or Porto Velho? What you wrote looks like a mix of spanish and portugues (I speak both), so I was wondering if it was one or the other.

**hooha** · 07-22-2007, 05:40 AM

You're right, it's the latter....thank god for trilingual people

Actually if you do a google search for it, you can see there's an article by one of the local club members in a recent TAG issue, and there's a short discussion on it at the AGA website. A couple members here have had the plant for about 9-10 months at least....

**macclellan** · 07-22-2007, 02:44 PM

Yeah, that must be it. Tom posted to that AGA forum you mentioned, and I got it from him. Cool, now I know what it is.

BigB · 07-26-2007, 09:44 AM

I use dwarf sag, on my 75 and as long as i keep larger plants in the back it looks like a carpet even though it is 4-5inchs high

Im trying it out in my 10 gal, and it will just make a tall grass field approach.

04-24-2006, 04:26 AM	#1
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	Low tech ground covers Glosso, Riccia, HC... they just don't cut it without lots of light, nutrients and CO2. Here are a few that have done fairly well for me under low/medium light conditions. Dwarf Sagittaria... interesting looking ground cover. Not a real ground hugger, and spreads throughout the tank via runners. Pull the largest ones and keep the shortest ones... Some Christmas moss twigs have found their way between the Sags and start to grow to cute little balls. Two leaved pearlweed, not sure what the scientific name is. It stays low to the ground initially, then needs a haircut now and then, and one day you need to rip it out and start over. It gives baby shrimps a lot of chances for survival. Cryptocoryne lucens (aka C. willissii) is for the patient ones, but once it grabs hold it grows to nice big bushes which can be ripped out and plucked apart into many little plantlets (repeat until ground is covered). True low maintenance groundcover! For larger tanks, Hygrophila difformis can be trimmed to a dense hedge. It is a fast grower, so low tech yes, low maintenance no. The light green looks great as a foreground, combine with darker plants in the background to give tanks an appearance of depth. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

04-24-2006, 06:07 AM	#2
toofazt The Weather's Here (View User Tanks) PTrader: (41/100%) Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bookings, OR Posts: 1,245	Are these grown in a tank with CO2? __________________ DIY Electric Shut-Off Valve ........... DIY Fluval Edge Light Mod ............................My Current Aquarium............................

04-24-2006, 02:41 PM	#3
RoseHawke Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 1,878	Concensus seems to be Low-Tech = No CO2. __________________ Sláinte! Cindy 55 gallon - Hi-Res — 2wpg CF lighting; pressurized CO2; 18 watt Turbo-twist UVS; Eheim Pro II 2028; eco-complete; 2 Pearl Gouramis; 7 Harlequin Rasboras; 3 Otocinclus catfish 10 gallon — lo-tech; 1.8 wpg DIY CF light; no CO2; Aquaclear mini; Schultz substrate; java fern; java moss; 7 Neon Tetras; 1 flame dwarf gourami

04-24-2006, 03:39 PM	#5
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	toofazt... They can be grown without CO2. At the time of taking the photos, they are all grown in CO2 enriched tanks. However, they are good candidates for low tech tanks, if you are looking for some. Rose... I think we covered that in another thread. Most plants will grow faster in high-light, CO2 enriched tanks. Let's identify the ones that do well without! __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

07-21-2007, 04:58 AM	#9
Nbot Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 347	this helps... http://www.aquariumplants.com/Low_Light_Plants_s/25.htm __________________ NOTE: To do a SEARCH and get the answer you want, its often best to go to "Advanced Search" and search in the title only. Last edited by Nbot; 07-24-2007 at 12:17 AM.. Reason: edit: realized this post was meant to go in the "low tech plant" thread sorry wrong window...

04-24-2006, 03:39 PM	#4
mr.dav Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: langley b.c. Posts: 2	wat r some easy plants to take care of

04-24-2006, 08:26 PM	#8
mr.dav Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: langley b.c. Posts: 2	thanks guys i new it cuz i got lots of stuff like that but ill try to take pic and see if i can post

07-21-2007, 01:42 PM	#10
macclellan H+ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (208/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxkilla Posts: 5,060	I have some dwarf Hygrophilia (I don't know the real name) that is a real winner for low tech foreground. It is growing slow but steady in 36wAHS 9hours on a 20H tank with very light sprinklings of ferts and the occasional unmeasured splash of excel. I am growing it out to fill in the missing spots, I only got a sampler portion to start things off. Please pardon the Anomalochromis thomasi, he/she really wanted to be in the pictures (and he/she sure is cute enough to be there!). Here is another photo for context. The hygro is in front of some anubias nana 'petite' and peacock moss reference. Last edited by macclellan; 07-22-2007 at 02:43 PM..

07-21-2007, 04:44 PM	#11
hooha Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 973	Wasserpest - the two-leaved pearlweed is a variant of Hemianthus micromanthoides. MacClellan - that looks very similar to Hygrophila sp. "Porto vello" that we've been growing here in Pgh for a while....it is a carpeting Hygrophila species as well.....wonder if it's the same thing..... great thread! __________________ Member of PAPAS and GPASI - Pittsburgh Area Planted Aquarium Society and Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

07-21-2007, 09:12 PM	#12
macclellan H+ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (208/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxkilla Posts: 5,060	Hooha, did you mean Puerto Vello or Porto Velho? What you wrote looks like a mix of spanish and portugues (I speak both), so I was wondering if it was one or the other.

07-22-2007, 05:40 AM	#13
hooha Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 973	You're right, it's the latter....thank god for trilingual people Actually if you do a google search for it, you can see there's an article by one of the local club members in a recent TAG issue, and there's a short discussion on it at the AGA website. A couple members here have had the plant for about 9-10 months at least.... __________________ Member of PAPAS and GPASI - Pittsburgh Area Planted Aquarium Society and Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

07-22-2007, 02:44 PM	#14
macclellan H+ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (208/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxkilla Posts: 5,060	Yeah, that must be it. Tom posted to that AGA forum you mentioned, and I got it from him. Cool, now I know what it is.

07-26-2007, 09:44 AM	#15
BigB Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phx, Az Posts: 177	I use dwarf sag, on my 75 and as long as i keep larger plants in the back it looks like a carpet even though it is 4-5inchs high Im trying it out in my 10 gal, and it will just make a tall grass field approach.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode