Trying Real Plants Again in our Aquarium
September 24th, 2008
Since Santa brought little A an aquarium a few years ago, I have been learning tons about caring for freshwater tropical fish. After our initial struggles, our fish now typically live as long as expected. Our experiments with aquarium plants, however, have gone less well.
Java moss did fine but was a mess. Java ferns and other “beginner” plants died, died, and died. I tried all the plant-friendly mineral tricks. They just helped the algae to bloom.
Now a year past our last plant experiment, I am trying again. The aquarium is now closer to a window, and we have upgraded the lights. Fingers are crossed as we have just placed a series of “beginner’s plants” into the tank.
We are trying Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonica), Amazon Sword (Echinodorus amazonicus), and Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis).
I’ll take pictures in a few weeks if everything doesn’t turn into dead plant slime.
September 24th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Oh, I forgot. The amazon sword was tangled with what I am presuming is java fern. I trimmed some of it off and secured it to one of the tank’s decorations.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I’m interested to see how it works out. We have yet to try real plants in our aquarium. I pretty much have a brown thumb with plants in general, so I’ve been rather apprehensive to try the real thing in our aquarium.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Good luck with you’re new plants.
You can always try Hygrophila ps. if you get problem with algeas. It’s a fast grower and out competes most.