New plants need planning..

[clownfish]

I've bought some new plants for my aquarium but now I have a question about plant planning.

I've set the plants in appropriate areas of the aquarium (away from the heater, in the stream of the filter if they like aggitation etc.) but I was wondering if they like to be planted near bogwood. Sounds like a silly question, but won't the bogwood block light from the leaves very close to it?

Additionally, should I remove the elastic and metal weight at the bottom of the plant? (or should I wait until they grow a few roots?) or just leave it on forever?

[Sumpin'fishy]

Your plants should do fine planted next to bogwood, but It really depends on how bright your lights are. If they are barely bright enough for a plant to do well under, and then they get some additional shade, then yes, there may be some problems in that area. Normally, though, as long as the plant is getting decent ligh to the majority of it's leaves, it will do just fine. It also looks very natural to have some plants skirting the sides of wood and rocks, IMO.

Stem plants should be removed from any metal weights/elastic bindings, and planted individually. You should also go ahead and cut the stem just above where they were wrapped together, then trim any leaves for about an inch or so up the stem from there, and then plant it till the stem is buried up to the bottom leaves. This should give it enough of a hold on the substrate to remain buried until roots form. It will also stop leaves from rotting under the substrate and rotting the stem with them. You can bury them fairly close together, but leave about an inch or so for best light penetration and room for the leaves to "breath".

Personally, I use long tweesers (meant for aquatic horiculture) and hold the bottom of the trimmed stem and shove it into the substrate until the bare stem is covered, then release the stem and back away the tweezers from the stem a little (while still under the substrate) and then slowly pull the tweezers out of the substrate. I have had little problems keeping stem plants rooted anymore. It does take some practice to get a "feel" for it.

[Captain Hook]

Going along with clownfish's question, I too am wondering how close can I plant to the heater? Obviously they should be touching it but how about an inch away? 2 inches or more?

By the way what part of Ontario are you from clownfish?

Edit: Do stem plants (egeria densa, limnophilia sessifloria, ludgwigia repens, etc.) spread easily? Do I have to cut off a new shoot and plant it to get them to spread?

[Sumpin'fishy]

how close can I plant to the heater?

I have some plants that touch the heater randomly. I have had many different plants touching my heaters at different spots also. I have never seen any problem occur from it at all. It would probably be prudent to at least give the plant an inch or two from the wall the heater is stuck onto, as this will also make cleaning excess mulm an easier task. I definately would not go so far as to move a plant that starts to touch it as it grows or bends with the current, though. This is all just my opinion based on my experience.

Do I have to cut off a new shoot and plant it to get them to spread?

Yes. Wait until the stem gets too long for your liking, or when it reaches an unmanageable height, then cut it at the desired spot (I'd suggest at least having 3" on either portion, so it will continue living), and repeat the planting proceedure.

[Captain Hook]

Thanks for the quick and helpful response fishy. It sounds easy enough to get these stem plants to spread. I pretty much just cut the plant in half and plant the top half in the substrate and it should do pretty well?

[Sumpin'fishy]

Yep....it's real easy. As they get toward the top of the aquarium, they grow much faster (stronger light).

[clownfish]

Thanks for all your help. :)

Captain Hook - I'm in Toronto, attending UoT :cool:

[Captain Hook]

OT - nice! What size of tank are you using and what kind of lighting?

I'm just east of Toronto and going to the new university in durham. Let me know how everything goes with your tank. I will be setting up a 20 gallon planted around Christmas.

[clownfish]

It's a 33 gallon (looks huge in my little dorm room) and I actually have another post trying to determine the best type of lighting for it.

My fish seem to like the change of scenery and all the faces looking in on them. It's the highlight of the residence. :D Pretty fishies...

[Starry]

Originally posted by clownfish
It's a 33 gallon (looks huge in my little dorm room) and I actually have another post trying to determine the best type of lighting for it.

My fish seem to like the change of scenery and all the faces looking in on them. It's the highlight of the residence. :D Pretty fishies...

Hey, a fellow rez fishkeeper! My boyfriend and I kept fish in first year rez as well, but only in 1 and 2 gallon hex-a-funs.
So what are you planning on doing when you have to move? I have a 10-gal planted that I move every 4 months - between Waterloo and home. I didn't know anyone else was crazy enough to undertake something like this.

[Captain Hook]

Now I'm really getting off topic but I never knew there was so many young people on this site. It is nice to see others like us. I am impressed how many people on this site are college students or thereabouts.

[Dapple2]

Hey I can relate relate to that moving around bit Starry!

I've managed to squeeze seven tanks into my dorm room so far (not counting ***'t daphnia, microworm, greenwater, brine shrimp, and soon grindal worm cultures). Dang it I miss having a house (tuition and mortgage payments=bad combo)! I plan on holding onto this room for the next two years. Just try and make me move again.... :mad:

Er...looks like a pretty effective thread hijacking job has occured here...so....

Back on topic: My plants don't seem to mind being near my driftwood one bit. Then again I have mostly C wendtii planted around it which isn't a real light hog evn though the driftwood is very massive for the tank and encrusted with big java ferns. I also have a biggish sword and a buncha frill behind it. The frill's a bit leggy on the bottom, but since the bog wood hides that part it's not noticable.

[clownfish]

In order to move the tank here, I had to shift the fish into another tank and home that had been prepared, and carry a 33gallon tank (no water but full of gravel and decorations) up 3 flights of stairs to the end of the hallway (you should see my muscles now ;)). I had to do a fast cycle and then my fish got popped in. I've had them for YEARS now, from my very beginning of fishkeeping so they're used to somewhat interesting practices. lol