new to plants

fishbguy · 05-19-2007, 02:33 PM

I have no experience with live plants for aquariums. I have lots for out door plants tho if thet makes any difference. I was wondering if there are any easy to grow plants that are native to the amazon. I have roughly 1 wpg. it is a 20 gallon and the light is the one that came with the hood. any help is appricated. thanks,

Andrew

**Damon** · 05-20-2007, 07:24 AM

Growing terrestrial plants has no bearing on aquatic plants...........
Most S.A. plants require more light than 1wpg.
I would double your lighting if you want to grow even the most basic S.A. plants.

MyraVan · 05-21-2007, 06:33 AM

Amazon plants to me means Echinodorous species, and yes I agree with Damon that doubling your light would be a good start. Also, they are heavy root feeders, so unless you've got your ferts just right you'll need a better substrate than plain gravel or sand. Damon says that if you have a really good fertilizing regimen the plants will absorb all they need from the water, and since he's spent so much time studying aquatic plants I trust his advice. However, if you have a nutritious substrate (I use soil under my gravel to provide nutrient) you won't need ferts at all to grow them.

**Damon** · 05-23-2007, 07:03 AM

A nutrient rich substrate is always a bonus. Don't get me wrong. Just remember when the nutrients in the substrate run out, where else does the plant feed? A good substrate with a high CEC will draw in nutrients from the water column to a point of saturation and equilibrium and release them when the column is low.

pleco_breeder · 05-23-2007, 09:43 AM

What is CEC???

Pareeeee · 06-05-2007, 07:16 AM

Aren't Vallisneria gigantea from the amazon also? I'm sure I've seen nature shows about the Amazon and there's Giant val growing in the water. (those are kool shows, seeing aquarium fish in their actual habitat)

BUT....in a 20 gallon you may not want Giant Val, depends on how often you cut back your plants....I've had five foot leaves on Giant Vals before...

**Damon** · 06-05-2007, 10:51 AM

Vals are widely distributed all over the globe. I'm not sure where they originated.
CEC is Cation Exchange Capacity. In short the ability of a substance to absorb surrounding elements and ions to saturation and release them to maintain equilibrium in the surrounding area. (Draw excess nutrients in and release them when the water column is depleted of them). Similar to ion exchange.

Pareeeee · 06-05-2007, 07:52 PM

Yes, but I was talking about a specific variety, Vallisneria gigantea. I thought they were from SA. Not 100% on that...

**Damon** · 06-05-2007, 10:35 PM

Austraila................

thebrick · 06-06-2007, 03:53 AM

what is an example of good substrate?

like brand wise? I want sand in particular will this be ok?

Pareeeee · 06-06-2007, 07:10 AM

here's an article on substrate, thebrick. http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fres...Substrates.htm

Pareeeee · 06-06-2007, 07:36 AM

AH - not South America. Guess I was wrong.

Damon, every website I go to says that Vallisneria gigantea is from Asia and the Phillipines...
here's one:
http://fish.mongabay.com/plants/Vall...a_gigantea.htm

**Damon** · 06-06-2007, 09:09 AM

No, thats the range of where its located. Not its origins.
http://www.hear.org/gcw/html/autogend/species/19886.HTM

05-19-2007, 02:33 PM	#1
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,889	new to plants I have no experience with live plants for aquariums. I have lots for out door plants tho if thet makes any difference. I was wondering if there are any easy to grow plants that are native to the amazon. I have roughly 1 wpg. it is a 20 gallon and the light is the one that came with the hood. any help is appricated. thanks, Andrew __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

05-20-2007, 07:24 AM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Growing terrestrial plants has no bearing on aquatic plants........... Most S.A. plants require more light than 1wpg. I would double your lighting if you want to grow even the most basic S.A. plants. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

05-23-2007, 07:03 AM	#4
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	A nutrient rich substrate is always a bonus. Don't get me wrong. Just remember when the nutrients in the substrate run out, where else does the plant feed? A good substrate with a high CEC will draw in nutrients from the water column to a point of saturation and equilibrium and release them when the column is low. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

05-23-2007, 09:43 AM	#5
pleco_breeder Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 73	What is CEC??? __________________ Impossible only means that somebody hasn't done it right Find out what I've been doing

06-05-2007, 07:16 AM	#6
Pareeeee Stargate Fan! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada, EH! Age: 21 Posts: 353	Aren't Vallisneria gigantea from the amazon also? I'm sure I've seen nature shows about the Amazon and there's Giant val growing in the water. (those are kool shows, seeing aquarium fish in their actual habitat) BUT....in a 20 gallon you may not want Giant Val, depends on how often you cut back your plants....I've had five foot leaves on Giant Vals before... __________________ Pareeeeee ><((((º> -------------- Please Visit my site! --------------- My Critters: FW 33gal heavily planted and overstocked Blue, a lonely male killer melanochromis in a 5gal... Auzzie, a lazy Bearded dragon gal Pepper and Little Missy - my two cutest ratties in the world.

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05-21-2007, 06:33 AM	#3
MyraVan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 864	Amazon plants to me means Echinodorous species, and yes I agree with Damon that doubling your light would be a good start. Also, they are heavy root feeders, so unless you've got your ferts just right you'll need a better substrate than plain gravel or sand. Damon says that if you have a really good fertilizing regimen the plants will absorb all they need from the water, and since he's spent so much time studying aquatic plants I trust his advice. However, if you have a nutritious substrate (I use soil under my gravel to provide nutrient) you won't need ferts at all to grow them.

06-05-2007, 10:51 AM	#7
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Vals are widely distributed all over the globe. I'm not sure where they originated. CEC is Cation Exchange Capacity. In short the ability of a substance to absorb surrounding elements and ions to saturation and release them to maintain equilibrium in the surrounding area. (Draw excess nutrients in and release them when the water column is depleted of them). Similar to ion exchange. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

06-05-2007, 07:52 PM	#8
Pareeeee Stargate Fan! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada, EH! Age: 21 Posts: 353	Yes, but I was talking about a specific variety, Vallisneria gigantea. I thought they were from SA. Not 100% on that... __________________ Pareeeeee ><((((º> -------------- Please Visit my site! --------------- My Critters: FW 33gal heavily planted and overstocked Blue, a lonely male killer melanochromis in a 5gal... Auzzie, a lazy Bearded dragon gal Pepper and Little Missy - my two cutest ratties in the world.

06-05-2007, 10:35 PM	#9
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Austraila................ __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

06-06-2007, 03:53 AM	#10
thebrick Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 123	what is an example of good substrate? like brand wise? I want sand in particular will this be ok?

06-06-2007, 07:10 AM	#11
Pareeeee Stargate Fan! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada, EH! Age: 21 Posts: 353	here's an article on substrate, thebrick. http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fres...Substrates.htm __________________ Pareeeeee ><((((º> -------------- Please Visit my site! --------------- My Critters: FW 33gal heavily planted and overstocked Blue, a lonely male killer melanochromis in a 5gal... Auzzie, a lazy Bearded dragon gal Pepper and Little Missy - my two cutest ratties in the world.

06-06-2007, 07:36 AM	#12
Pareeeee Stargate Fan! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada, EH! Age: 21 Posts: 353	AH - not South America. Guess I was wrong. Damon, every website I go to says that Vallisneria gigantea is from Asia and the Phillipines... here's one: http://fish.mongabay.com/plants/Vall...a_gigantea.htm __________________ Pareeeeee ><((((º> -------------- Please Visit my site! --------------- My Critters: FW 33gal heavily planted and overstocked Blue, a lonely male killer melanochromis in a 5gal... Auzzie, a lazy Bearded dragon gal Pepper and Little Missy - my two cutest ratties in the world.

06-06-2007, 09:09 AM	#13
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	No, thats the range of where its located. Not its origins. http://www.hear.org/gcw/html/autogend/species/19886.HTM __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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