Trimming my 2ft planted tank

[nickalot89]

I just trimmed the plants in my tank, and sorted out some of my stuff. I really hate that super fast growing grass like plant that has taken over the tank. Anybody know what is the name of that plant? The one that looks exactly like cow grass.. Initially when I bought them, they were long and sparse, I thought they made a nice seaweed sort of plant. Didn't know they were basically grass....


Here is the tank before I trimmed everything, and removed 90% of that floating plant. Hehe, I like that plant, I dunno what is the name also. It grows so fast, and soaks up excess nutrients, and my little RCS seem to love it.


And here is the tank after I trimmed it.

this is my first planted tank, where I try out different plants. Haha and see what I like and don't like.

Msi really do not like that cow grass plant..

[magpie]

You mean hortwort? Usually will be packed in those shrimps bag for the shrimps to
cling onto. A good nutrient sucking indeed.

[mUAr_cHEe]

Why not remove the plants you do not like and putting in plants that you like?

[Urban Aquaria]

The "cow grass" should be Sagittaria Subulata (aka dwarf sagittaria), its not exactly a small carpet plant though (unless you have a much larger tank). Its usually considered more of a mid-ground plant for tanks 2ft or less.

I noticed you actually have hairgrass situated behind the dwarf sagittaria... maybe just swap their positions, the shorter hairgrass in front and the taller dwarf sagittaria behind, it'll create a more balanced arrangement.

[nickalot89]

The "cow grass" should be Sagittaria Subulata (aka dwarf sagittaria), its not exactly a small carpet plant though (unless you have a much larger tank). Its usually considered more of a mid-ground plant for tanks 2ft or less.

I noticed you actually have hairgrass situated behind the dwarf sagittaria... maybe just swap their positions, the shorter hairgrass in front and the taller dwarf sagittaria behind, it'll create a more balanced arrangement.

hello! Thanks for the suggestion UA! I have actually tried removing the Sagittaria Subulata, unfortunately, it's roots are a crazy thing. I tugged on a cluster, and everything around and below moves along with it. This gives me more than half a mind to re-scape this thing. But I need to find time. Haha.

[stressed]

Think of it this way, the fact that your plants can grow really fast, means you have the correct "recipe" for success. Pruning is your opportunity to manicure it to your style

[jiajuen900]

Actually I think it's more likely to be sagittaria platyphylla. But that might just be me.

Both this and Sagittaria Subtula will develop extensive root systems making them a pain to remove.

Very lush growth though!

[tureblue82]

Very jungle looking tank, very nice.

[Phillipians]

One good way to remove them is the pull them up a little then snip the plant as low and as close as possible to the roots. That helps to get rid of it.

[killkyo]

Sorry, hijack a bit. Where can I get this Sagittaria Platyphylla? Been looking for it but didn't see it anywhere.

[diazman]

The grass is most likely s subulata. Nice plant when it goes out of control (for me at least). If you planning to let go some do let me know. Highly interested for the plants

[nickalot89]

Sorry, hijack a bit. Where can I get this Sagittaria Platyphylla? Been looking for it but didn't see it anywhere.

I got it from Seaview. Very cheap; $1.50. It's in those small little hanging plastic bags with water and plant. dont be fooled, it comes as a small bunch. grows like mad with co2 and t5's.
it will take over your tank! hahaha.

The grass is most likely s subulata. Nice plant when it goes out of control (for me at least). If you planning to let go some do let me know. Highly interested for the plants

I thought i might like it if it went out of control too! but i think my 2ft is too small for such a large running grass. makes the scale of everything very off. AND WASTED LA. I didn't see your reply in time! I removed all of them. super healty. dragging up the entire substrate along with each crown when i pulled them out. the roots quite beautiful actually. but so sorry! i threw them all away. i would have loved to give away. but they grow extremely fast anyway!

here are some pictures of the rescape!



the entire back portion of the carpet of Subulata. CRAZY!!
it was really tough trying not to disturb the substrate.



Here are all the subulata ready to throw. (SORRY DIAZMAN, i really didn't know you want)
actually, i hated it so much i couldnt imagine anyone wanting. I suppose its good for a cichlid tank or some other bigger fish that likes to rip plants. These are HARDY.




My little plant recycling station: Hairgrass on the left, the other one I don't know..
i think it's hemianthus micranthemoides..and lastly, the reject pile of subulata.


OH! and some free glosso. I found sneakily carpeting its way underneath
the hemianthus micranthemoides.


I'm planning on carpeting the entire tank with hairgrass, with some of that HM at the back.
i'm thinking of some red plants that have a green base. I want to layer the back with those. I've seen some really nice aquascapes with them.

ah, and my favourite nutrient sponge. always makes me happy seeing it triple in size after a week.

[mUAr_cHEe]

OH! and some free glosso. I found sneakily carpeting its way underneath
the hemianthus micranthemoides.

Very very very nice. I hope you still kept it somewhere in your rescaped tank.

I'm planning on carpeting the entire tank with hairgrass, with some of that HM at the back.
i'm thinking of some red plants that have a green base. I want to layer the back with those. I've seen some really nice aquascapes with them.

ah, and my favourite nutrient sponge. always makes me happy seeing it triple in size after a week.

Why not plant down your cabomba? Maybe along the back of your tank on 1 or 2 rows? Of maybe just a back corner of your tank? I think it looks more tidy that way. More importantly, they will not block the light from the rest of the plants.

Your rescape looks good. I am looking forward to see the developments here.

[nickalot89]

thank you! oh yeah i definitely put in my free glosso. hahaha. it's right in front of the 'tree', just before the hair grass.
Oh and i don't really want to plant the floating thing. cause it grows too fast. I've come to enjoy just cutting half of it when i get back home after a week from school. And i'll put that in another tank i have below. just for fun.

I'm looking forward to the developments too! haha. it's always a fun thing, going home to see the progress.

[Gavan]

be careful... if you expect to see developments everytime you go home, Itchy Hand Syndrome may set in once things stabilize...


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[nickalot89]

hahaha I TOTALLY SUFFER FROM THAT CONDITION. especially because i always see my planted plants, not planted anymore. alwasy having some floating. so i have to go re-plant them.

anyway, the floating weed has grown like mad. i wrapped it around the driftwood to make it look like a big tree.

[mUAr_cHEe]

Technically Cabomba are weeds and naturally they are rooted down. I always have problem differentiating between hornworts and cabombas. So I may be wrong in my ID.

But they are usually like this.


Photo taken from Google Images.

This photo is irritating the hell out of OCD me.