4ft Update - Nov (beware pix intensive)

**Simon** · 6th Nov 2003, 00:25

anyone know what plant is it on the right of the E. stellata?

E. stellata

this 4ft is just a holding up till I got time to setup my 6ft again.. so it looks messy.. all comments welcome

**sherchoo** · 6th Nov 2003, 00:32

Is the Echin. spec. gonna remain in the 4ft or you'll be transfering all to the 6ft?

**Simon** · 6th Nov 2003, 01:04

everything will go into my 6ft.. I'm closing the 4ft down and concentrating on my 6ft with stemmed plants

**eric_kclee** · 6th Nov 2003, 01:12

Overall is beaufull. Color is soothing...
Very nice.

If to pick bones out of egg.....this is my pick bones comment...

I find too regular shape for most plant...meaning mostly stem plant...long leave.. similar leave length and form..too similar ...

Not expert..but very subjective view, beauty is always subjective...If found to be too offensive, just ignore me...

**joe** · 6th Nov 2003, 01:18

Very nice array of colours!!! And man, isn't maintenance tough with all stem plants? Can share some tips on maintaining stem plants?

**Simon** · 6th Nov 2003, 01:37

thanks for the comment, but like I said previously, this is just a holding tank... before their transfer to my 6ft.. I also know most of the plants I have has almost the same leave form.. but i truly like them.. especially when they comes in different colour and size, making it easily to use them to create contrast to the tank. maintaining them is of course tedious, once a week, I would de-root them and cut the bottom portion so to keep them at this height, or otherwise, i will leave them to grow or at least to obtain a bushy effect, see the E. stellata, there are only 4-5 main stem, the rest are branch-off from the parent plant

**gchoo** · 6th Nov 2003, 07:47

Simon, As usual..very nice setup...

I think its Hydrotriche hottoniiflora. BTW what lighting are you using and how high is your tank?

**Simon** · 6th Nov 2003, 09:25

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On 11/6/2003 7:47:47 AM

Simon, As usual..very nice setup...

I think its Hydrotriche hottoniiflora. BTW what lighting are you using and how high is your tank?
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its a 4ftx1.5x1.5, lighting use for this picture is 4x36watts.. usual lighting is 6x36watts

is the Hydrotriche hottoniiflora easily available?

**geoffrey** · 6th Nov 2003, 09:34

Quite easy.

**juggler** · 6th Nov 2003, 09:42

Colourful and soothing. Beautiful!
BTW - what sword plant is it in the left back? Is that an E.Oriental on the right? Looks big!

**lorba** · 6th Nov 2003, 10:04

jugglers, that was mine oriental

simon, I am 'chobbing' the first emerse plantlet!!

**Fei Miao** · 6th Nov 2003, 11:06

Simon--
even your &quot;messy&quot; tank looks good[

] love the colours!!!

**apollo** · 6th Nov 2003, 13:31

Hi Simon

From your last comment, is that how we shud keep our stem plants by uprooting,cutting awy roots and plant top portion?

Thanks

Stephen

**YES** · 6th Nov 2003, 13:36

nice looking healthy plant u have.. really envy u, closing down 4ft to concentrate 6ft.. me closing down 3ft for a new 4ft tank.. hehe cheers

**Simon** · 6th Nov 2003, 13:43

KF: yup, the E. oriental is donated by Lorba [

]

feimiao: nah, I don't think so

I think my main focus is to keep the plants alive before I transfer them

apollo: depending on your needs, if you want a more bushy look (like my E. stellata) then cutting from the top, encourage side shoots to grow. if you just want to keep them as it is, just cut the bottom portion and replant will do.

for those who are afraid of stemmed plants because of the maintenance, you can leave them to grow on the surface.. like the rotala macrandra 'narrow leaf' but of because, you need to trim them once in a while to keep them from spreading further, thus blocking light to the other plants. my 4ft requires around 2hrs maintenance weekly inclusive of water change. Not really that much.. another reason why I'm closing the 4ft and concentrating is mainly because of maintenance. And the height of the 4ft will require more maintenance

**bttay** · 6th Nov 2003, 14:18

Wow! Nice color contrast.
May I know which type of light you use?
I can never seem to keep plants red in my tank. I suspect is the spectrum of the light.

I think there is nothing wrong having most plants with similar leave type. From aesthetic point of view, they give a strong sense of smooth texture.

**Simon** · 8th Nov 2003, 20:02

bttay, I'm using 6x36watts for this tank... I think the reason of intensity of red plants goes to low nitrate and good levels of FE

**gchoo** · 8th Nov 2003, 21:10

its a 4ftx1.5x1.5, lighting use for this picture is 4x36watts.. usual lighting is 6x36watts

is the Hydrotriche hottoniiflora easily available?
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Teo has alot of it...