Suggest a foreground plant for my planted 55g!

[scottracy]

I tried glosso and failed. I initially planted it wrong and it did not recover. I would like to try something else. I was thinking of Micro Sword or Narrow Leaf Chain Sword. The shorter of the two preferably. I also like the way riccia grass looks. How do you get it to cover the substrate? Is it difficult to grow?

Scott

[Aquabum]

I know that AquaBotonic sells riccia in some kind of plastic grid which makes it easier to manage. Check out their website here (click the SPECIALS tab on their site): http://www.aquabotanic.com/abstore/index.html

I've tried Microsword plants, but I've never had any luck with it. I've never tried Narrow Leaf Chain Sword.

Maybe you should try Dwarf Hairgrass. I bought a pot of it about a month ago for my 29 gal. and to my surprise, it's spreading all over the tank and it looks beautiful. My shrimps love it.


Lissettehttp://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/MariaLissette/newplantsagain16.jpg

[scottracy]

Nic pic! Maybe I will look into it! Thanks.

Scott

[Leopardess]

Riccia must be forced to sink, either by using hairnets or thread to attach it to rocks and driftwood, or grown into a netting/grid. It requires constant trimming though (and frequently reattaching) and must have co2 and higher light to do well.

What are your specs?

If you like glosso, you may want to try the Marsilea species. Marsilea quadrifolia or Marsilea minuta both look very much like glosso but do not have the same high light requirements and they do better with a lower co2 concentration. I have quadrifolia and I love it; a lot less maintenance than glosso - it grows much slower.

[djlen]

I like E. Tenellus. I just tossed a whole bunch of Red Tenellus as it can really grow out of hand if not managed.
Wish I'd known you were looking for a foreground plant.:)
Mine grows from 4" @ 2wpg to 2.5" @ 4wpg and gets a nice dark tinge to it. It doesn't need a lot of light IME. Keep in mind the depth of a 55gal. tank. 2wpg is not a lot of light at that depth.

Len

[Kissofthegorami]

Microsword needs a lot of light. Riccia needs a lot of light when attached to the substrate and does better with c02. dwarf chain swords are one of the best and easiest foreground plants. Some crypts and anubias nanas can be used as a back layer forground plant. Hairgrass can sometimes be difficult. there are also dwarf sags which look like dwarf chain sword. Very easy.