best plant for groundcover

Fishyfan · 11-03-2007, 07:46 AM

Whats the best plant for groundcover in a low tech tank (no co2, maybe excel)? I'm looking for a foreground plant for my 3 gallon. I like the look of HC but does it need CO2? I also like the look of glosso but the last time i tried it never grew for some reason...

waterfaller1 · 11-03-2007, 10:12 AM

I'm growing HC in two different 4 gal cubes. One has a 13wt T-5, the other has an 18 wt mini aqualight. Both get Seachem ferts in small amounts.

Nbot · 11-03-2007, 04:47 PM

do a search for "low tech groundcover" you'll find some good suggestions

thirston · 11-03-2007, 11:36 PM

Sag. subulata is nice. Grows well and spreads quickly. Depending on amount of light it will vary in height. Usually between 3"-5" tall.

SearunSimpson · 11-06-2007, 12:52 AM

Hygryophila Polypersma looks sweet to me. Easy to propogate too, and the new growth has shorter tighter leaves. Spreads through runners easily too.

ringram · 11-06-2007, 06:45 PM

HC needs Co2 and lots of it IME. It is also a target (for some reason) for clado. You'll need to spot dose with excel periodically if that pops up. Also, it can take a while to get established and start growing. If you have bottom feeders (cories, SAEs, loaches), it may be tough as they'll constantly uproot it. I had issues with that.
A lower tech, less demanding plant is marselia minuta. I'm growing this in my low tech (excel is all I dose, ~2wpg of PC) tank and it grows slowly, but grows nonetheless.
Also, don't rule out the possibility of elatine trianda. I like this plant a lot, but you'll need to keep enough No3 and Co2 in the tank or it can melt away. It looks great when it's healthy.
glosso is one that will be tougher in a low tech tank. You'll need a decent amount of light or it'll grow more vertically and Co2 helps with growth rate and fighting algae. When I get issues with Co2, it gets algae on the leaves and growth slows down.

waterfaller1 · 11-06-2007, 09:04 PM

HC, no CO2

ikuzo · 11-07-2007, 01:02 AM

whoa i can't grow HC with no CO2. how do you grow it?

waterfaller1 · 11-07-2007, 07:23 AM

I don't know. I have been wondering why everyone says it needs high light and CO2, I have neither. I do however use Seachem products daily,scaled down for the size of the tank.I dose according to their chart, minus the trace. Lighting is a single 13 wt T-5 6400K desk lamp, and the tank gets a few hours of sunlight. Substrate is generic peat & compost soil, topped with fine gravel & sand. I syphon out anything unsightly, several times a week. I am using RO & tapwater with Prime.

htn86 · 11-07-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterfaller1

I don't know. I have been wondering why everyone says it needs high light and CO2, I have neither. I do however use Seachem products daily,scaled down for the size of the tank.I dose according to their chart, minus the trace. Lighting is a single 13 wt T-5 6400K desk lamp, and the tank gets a few hours of sunlight. Substrate is generic peat & compost soil, topped with fine gravel & sand. I syphon out anything unsightly, several times a week. I am using RO & tapwater with Prime.

Actually, if you're using seachem excel then that's the same as using co2. Also, if that's a 4g cube then there's more than 3W of light per gallon, which is a lot. I like the setup of your tank man. GJ

waterfaller1 · 11-07-2007, 10:02 PM

Oh..heheh, so much to learn. Thank you.

ikuzo · 11-07-2007, 11:58 PM

yeah excel is liquid carbon supplement. i do think the few hours of sunlight helps alot. i have a 3 gallon anubias tank with 13 watts also, i'm absolutely sure i can't grow HC there.

ralph50 · 11-08-2007, 03:04 PM

I think I have HCs growing near and around my leaky garden hose.

I was thinking about posting pics. but don't have them here.

Is it possible???

ringram · 11-08-2007, 04:36 PM

ralph -- I think it is very possible.
HC is grown emersed by many people, who simply mist is several times a day. If it's by a leaky garden hose, it may be getting enough water and mist to grow emersed.
In additon, the plant is from Cuba and I know that FL has a high Cuban population, so I wouldn't doubt that someone along the way brought in some plants native to their homeland.

Here's a link to Tropica, where I got some of this information:
http://www.tropica.dk/productcard_1.asp?id=048B

-Ryan

ralph50 · 11-08-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

In additon, the plant is from Cuba and I know that FL has a high Cuban population

The funny thing is that I am also Cuban. Well, at least my parents are.

I have seen this plant around my house in areas of high soil moisture (I live 50feet from a lake).

If I am able to positively ID. Its going in.

11-03-2007, 07:46 AM	#1
Fishyfan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CA Posts: 119	best plant for groundcover Whats the best plant for groundcover in a low tech tank (no co2, maybe excel)? I'm looking for a foreground plant for my 3 gallon. I like the look of HC but does it need CO2? I also like the look of glosso but the last time i tried it never grew for some reason...

11-03-2007, 10:12 AM	#2
waterfaller1 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (63/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 4,838	I'm growing HC in two different 4 gal cubes. One has a 13wt T-5, the other has an 18 wt mini aqualight. Both get Seachem ferts in small amounts. __________________ Keep smiling~Carole

11-03-2007, 04:47 PM	#3
Nbot Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 347	do a search for "low tech groundcover" you'll find some good suggestions __________________ 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.

11-03-2007, 11:36 PM	#4
thirston Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 437	Sag. subulata is nice. Grows well and spreads quickly. Depending on amount of light it will vary in height. Usually between 3"-5" tall. __________________ It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. 50 Gallon Aquarium - Colony of Showa Koi Swords. 90 Gallon Planted Aquarium - Yellow Tiger Endlers, Pair of Bristlenose, ~~Six~~ "oops" Five L15 12x10 Gallon Tanks - Guppies, Apistos, Endlers, Shrimp, Swords, you name it.

11-06-2007, 12:52 AM	#5
SearunSimpson Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tsawwassen, BC, Canada Posts: 1,419	Hygryophila Polypersma looks sweet to me. Easy to propogate too, and the new growth has shorter tighter leaves. Spreads through runners easily too. __________________ "You think you have tomorrow, but when tomorrow comes it's not tomorrow; it's now- and that's all you have" - Marc Johnson Ehei-Pimpfen 276 yo!

11-06-2007, 06:45 PM	#6
ringram Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (66/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,554	HC needs Co2 and lots of it IME. It is also a target (for some reason) for clado. You'll need to spot dose with excel periodically if that pops up. Also, it can take a while to get established and start growing. If you have bottom feeders (cories, SAEs, loaches), it may be tough as they'll constantly uproot it. I had issues with that. A lower tech, less demanding plant is marselia minuta. I'm growing this in my low tech (excel is all I dose, ~2wpg of PC) tank and it grows slowly, but grows nonetheless. Also, don't rule out the possibility of elatine trianda. I like this plant a lot, but you'll need to keep enough No3 and Co2 in the tank or it can melt away. It looks great when it's healthy. glosso is one that will be tougher in a low tech tank. You'll need a decent amount of light or it'll grow more vertically and Co2 helps with growth rate and fighting algae. When I get issues with Co2, it gets algae on the leaves and growth slows down. __________________ 90g journal: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...rnal-pics.html --------------------------------------------------- SFBAAPS member - http://www.sfbaaps.com/ SAPS member - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sacaquaticplant/

11-06-2007, 09:04 PM	#7
waterfaller1 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (63/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 4,838	HC, no CO2 __________________ Keep smiling~Carole

11-07-2007, 01:02 AM	#8
ikuzo Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indonesia Posts: 2,029	whoa i can't grow HC with no CO2. how do you grow it? __________________ ikuzo-scapes The Pseudomugil Tank

11-07-2007, 07:23 AM	#9
waterfaller1 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (63/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 4,838	I don't know. I have been wondering why everyone says it needs high light and CO2, I have neither. I do however use Seachem products daily,scaled down for the size of the tank.I dose according to their chart, minus the trace. Lighting is a single 13 wt T-5 6400K desk lamp, and the tank gets a few hours of sunlight. Substrate is generic peat & compost soil, topped with fine gravel & sand. I syphon out anything unsightly, several times a week. I am using RO & tapwater with Prime. __________________ Keep smiling~Carole

11-07-2007, 10:02 PM	#11
waterfaller1 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (63/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 4,838	Oh..heheh, so much to learn. Thank you. __________________ Keep smiling~Carole

11-07-2007, 11:58 PM	#12
ikuzo Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indonesia Posts: 2,029	yeah excel is liquid carbon supplement. i do think the few hours of sunlight helps alot. i have a 3 gallon anubias tank with 13 watts also, i'm absolutely sure i can't grow HC there. __________________ ikuzo-scapes The Pseudomugil Tank

11-08-2007, 03:04 PM	#13
ralph50 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 177	I think I have HCs growing near and around my leaky garden hose. I was thinking about posting pics. but don't have them here. Is it possible???

11-08-2007, 04:36 PM	#14
ringram Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (66/100%) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,554	ralph -- I think it is very possible. HC is grown emersed by many people, who simply mist is several times a day. If it's by a leaky garden hose, it may be getting enough water and mist to grow emersed. In additon, the plant is from Cuba and I know that FL has a high Cuban population, so I wouldn't doubt that someone along the way brought in some plants native to their homeland. Here's a link to Tropica, where I got some of this information: http://www.tropica.dk/productcard_1.asp?id=048B -Ryan __________________ 90g journal: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ph...rnal-pics.html --------------------------------------------------- SFBAAPS member - http://www.sfbaaps.com/ SAPS member - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sacaquaticplant/

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