Recommendations for background flora!

[samuelgoh]

Hi guys

i just upgraded to a 3 ft!
anyone has any recommendations for background floras ?

[valice]

Do you have in mind a layout of the scape?
Also, you going to do a low maintanence tank or high maintanence?

It would then be easier that way.

[samuelgoh]

Do you have in mind a layout of the scape?
Also, you going to do a low maintanence tank or high maintanence?

It would then be easier that way.

mid to high maintenance! =D
layout ya.
but its just the foreground and the mid.
the background is always the tricky part for me..

[valice]

Most stem plants will be great background plants. Vallisneria natans is one of my favourite... Good sized like C.helferi but easier in my experience.

[StanChung]

I suggest looking at Eleocharis vivipara, Vallis nana and a whole load of stem plants- Rotalas, Ludwigias, Didiplis diandra etc.

[grey_fox]

I would suggest Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae or like what Stan or Vincent suggested

[samuelgoh]

first of all
thanks guys for all your replies.

i am thinking of getting these plants (mix and match, not all)

-Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae
-C.helferi
-Hottonia
-Rotala sp. ''Nanjenshan'' (''Mayaca sellowiana'')
-Rotala Sp. 'Goias'

about 110w of light shld be enough for a 3 by 1.5 by 1.5 tank right ?
with co2 injection and fan.
good enough environment ?

Also where to get these besides places like colourful and teos ?
wasted that mermaid closed down... =/
any forumers have these plants to sell ?

[valice]

EcoCulture.

[samuelgoh]

EcoCulture.

where's the location ? mind pointing me to it ?
thanks!

any forumers got anything in my list to let go ?

[valice]

It is at Sera Centre, along MacPherson Road.

[StanChung]

Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae
-C.helferi
-Hottonia
-Rotala sp. ''Nanjenshan'' (''Mayaca sellowiana'')
-Rotala Sp. 'Goias'

Hottonia is not really great for bg as it's growth spirals a little. This would however be an excellent mid ground plant as it grows slowly compared to the rotalas.

[samuelgoh]

Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae
-C.helferi
-Hottonia
-Rotala sp. ''Nanjenshan'' (''Mayaca sellowiana'')
-Rotala Sp. 'Goias'

Hottonia is not really great for bg as it's growth spirals a little. This would however be an excellent mid ground plant as it grows slowly compared to the rotalas.

gotcha! thanks stan
stan any tips to share about growing riccia ? i wanna tie them to rock.
think its feasible ?
seen it tied to small rocks in ada catalouge but big rock dunno can anot..

[StanChung]

Tying to a big rock is possibe. It's better to use lot of small rocks.
Make a knot on the rock and make crosses. This ensures a fine mesh. the riccia will look nice if the rock is 1/2 embedded into the sand to cover the fishing line.


Add more riccia tied rock when the mass of riccia threatens to float. Another thing is to plant a few strands of hairgrass in between to help prevent riccia from floating.

This plant is an attractive plant but it is also a pain to remove later. It's like algae!

[samuelgoh]

thanks bro!
will take note of that.
but i prefer a big rock, cause using that as one of the 2 focal points of the tank.

how much light do you recommend for the plants that i am planting ? in a 3x1.5x1.5 tank.

i am currently using a magnum, not sure how many watt is that, any bro knows ? given to me by a friend.

cause nw i getting the lights , wanna get sufficient.
thanks guys

[StanChung]

How big do you mean big?

Riccia needs medium lighting minimum. So i'd say you need effectively about 90-120W

Not familiar with magnum.

[samuelgoh]

How big do you mean big?

Riccia needs medium lighting minimum. So i'd say you need effectively about 90-120W

Not familiar with magnum.

i dunno hw to say leh, maybe 3/4 size of a soccer ball ? lol

anyway they recommend 2.5 to 3 WPG , is the G here in US or UK measurements ?

[StanChung]

US gallon. That's about 3.8 liters.

You have a 182l tank =48G
However you might not be filling up to the brim so you can take 10-15% off.
2.5-3WPG = 100-120W

That said, it's only a guide.

With a rock that big you will encounter problem of this plant detaching and floating.

Not to discourage you but consider that this plant will float eventually you will be investing quite a bit of time in retying.

I think you should consider mosses that will stick instead of riccia. Some of the nice ones are Peacock/Spiky, X'mas, Taiwan. Flame moss will also look interesting.

[samuelgoh]

I think you should consider mosses that will stick instead of riccia. Some of the nice ones are Peacock/Spiky, X'mas, Taiwan. Flame moss will also look interesting.

hmmm thanks stan!
your help had been wonderful!

wat do you think of US Fissiden then ?

[StanChung]

You're welcome, perhaps we should start calling US Fissidens, fissidens fontanus or fountain moss as per discussion at Killies.com.

I love this moss, it's slower than regular moss though but the delicate attractive fronds make it well worth the wait.

To attemp a large area would be quite some work and expense as this moss still commands a good price.

I've currently got it on a 4x8" mesh from colourful aquarium and have been transferring some of it as it grows.

[samuelgoh]

think i would just get a handful of it and starts propagating from there.
anyway wats the requirement for it to grow ?
low temp high light ? similar to riccia ?
but compared to riccia, in your opinion which will be more suitable for the big rock ?

You're welcome, perhaps we should start calling US Fissidens, fissidens fontanus or fountain moss as per discussion at Killies.com.

I love this moss, it's slower than regular moss though but the delicate attractive fronds make it well worth the wait.

To attemp a large area would be quite some work and expense as this moss still commands a good price.

I've currently got it on a 4x8" mesh from colourful aquarium and have been transferring some of it as it grows.