Ok, so I am in the process of moving and am finally going to be able to get my big tanks going again. I want to set up my 125 with some plants, but need some help. I plan to do a kitty litter/soil bottom layer, with some med-large grade sand (yes sand, not gravel) as the top coat. The plant(s) that I was having the issue with would be water lilys. I would want one or two so there is cover ontop, but think it would then now allow for anything to grow down below it. Is there a native plant I could add that would grow with minimum lights UNDER the lily pads?
I am working on the fish list, hoping to get a permit to keep some sunfish here in WI.
125 Gallon Setup with live plant questions
Started by
Guest_NVCichlids_*
, Aug 16 2011 02:18 PM
10 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_nativeplanter_*
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Posted 16 August 2011 - 02:41 PM
By lily pads, I assume you are talking a species of Nymphoides?
Unfortunately, I can't think of much that is native that will grow well under lily pads if the lily pad is healthy. You can try thinning the pads out to let light in; in that case you might try Sagittaria subulata and Echinodorus cordifolius. You could try Vals as well, but the blades will have a similar aesthetic look to the stems of the lily pads.
It might work best to try having the pads restricted to one side and submerged plants on the other, or pads only in the middle, etc.
If you are to put the plants under the lily pad, I would use store-bought plants (or offsets from plants that were from the store). They seem to be selected towards lower light levels than wild-collected specimens, at least in my experience.
Unfortunately, I can't think of much that is native that will grow well under lily pads if the lily pad is healthy. You can try thinning the pads out to let light in; in that case you might try Sagittaria subulata and Echinodorus cordifolius. You could try Vals as well, but the blades will have a similar aesthetic look to the stems of the lily pads.
It might work best to try having the pads restricted to one side and submerged plants on the other, or pads only in the middle, etc.
If you are to put the plants under the lily pad, I would use store-bought plants (or offsets from plants that were from the store). They seem to be selected towards lower light levels than wild-collected specimens, at least in my experience.
#3
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 16 August 2011 - 03:07 PM
Fissidens fontanus is a pretty low light native moss. You're inside its range map (link: http://www.efloras.o...5338&flora_id=1 ) so you 'should' be able to find it near you. If not, it's sold on aquabid.
Also, have you heard of banana plants? They're mini lilies. Same look, less size. Temporary, though. Info: http://aqualandpetsp...ant, Banana.htm
Edit: Oh yes, and cladophora is native and will grow under your lilies. My cladophora tank: video
But once you have cladophora you always have cladophora. I brought a small amount of plants with me from Cleveland to North Carolina to see if after dosing with algaecide and removing all physical traces of cladophora I could plant the 10 gallon with them. The result is that I now have a 10 gallon full of cladophora. It wasn't my water quality, wasn't my water parameters. That strain of cladophora that I had is just plain unkillable.
Also, have you heard of banana plants? They're mini lilies. Same look, less size. Temporary, though. Info: http://aqualandpetsp...ant, Banana.htm
Edit: Oh yes, and cladophora is native and will grow under your lilies. My cladophora tank: video
But once you have cladophora you always have cladophora. I brought a small amount of plants with me from Cleveland to North Carolina to see if after dosing with algaecide and removing all physical traces of cladophora I could plant the 10 gallon with them. The result is that I now have a 10 gallon full of cladophora. It wasn't my water quality, wasn't my water parameters. That strain of cladophora that I had is just plain unkillable.
Edited by EricaWieser, 16 August 2011 - 03:17 PM.
#4
Guest_NVCichlids_*
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Posted 16 August 2011 - 04:15 PM
thanks for the responses so far. i think I would then put a single Nymphoides (thanks for that...) in the middle and some vals and cryps on the outside (guess planting doesn't have to be native, just thought it would be cool if it was.)
#5
Guest_Elijah_*
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Posted 17 August 2011 - 06:23 PM
I have a tank with two lillies in it. I have dwarf sag in the foreground and a tall val like strain of sag in the back. The tank does get some sunlight from a western window, but not much. The surface of the water is often covered by duckweed. I clear it away every week or so, but it grows fast.
I do keep the lillies trimmed back so they only have 2-3 floating leaves and plenty of low foliage. They look nice, but will not likely flower this way.
I have found this sag that I have to grow much better than the val that is available in my LFS. It grows to about 20
inches or more and the blades are not as wide as "jungle val".
I do keep the lillies trimmed back so they only have 2-3 floating leaves and plenty of low foliage. They look nice, but will not likely flower this way.
I have found this sag that I have to grow much better than the val that is available in my LFS. It grows to about 20
inches or more and the blades are not as wide as "jungle val".
#6
Guest_NVCichlids_*
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Posted 18 August 2011 - 11:01 AM
i have right now plants in my 33 gallon XL that were once kept in a 75 gallon. Roughly 200 vals, 60 or so bunches of crypts wend. and some anubias. I will more than likely move most of the plants from there over and add a lily (or two). Wait for my LFS to put their lilys on sale and purchase a dwarf species or a smaller growing one.
Does anyone have recomendations on good species to keep in an aquarium?
Does anyone have recomendations on good species to keep in an aquarium?
#7
Guest_smilingfrog_*
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Posted 18 August 2011 - 11:58 AM
Ok, so I am in the process of moving and am finally going to be able to get my big tanks going again. I want to set up my 125 with some plants, but need some help. I plan to do a kitty litter/soil bottom layer, with some med-large grade sand (yes sand, not gravel) as the top coat. The plant(s) that I was having the issue with would be water lilys. I would want one or two so there is cover ontop, but think it would then now allow for anything to grow down below it. Is there a native plant I could add that would grow with minimum lights UNDER the lily pads?
I am working on the fish list, hoping to get a permit to keep some sunfish here in WI.
Could you set up additional lighting behind or to the side of the tank that would shine under the lily pads? This might expand your plant options.
#8
Guest_nativeplanter_*
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Posted 18 August 2011 - 12:06 PM
i have right now plants in my 33 gallon XL that were once kept in a 75 gallon. Roughly 200 vals, 60 or so bunches of crypts wend. and some anubias. I will more than likely move most of the plants from there over and add a lily (or two). Wait for my LFS to put their lilys on sale and purchase a dwarf species or a smaller growing one.
Does anyone have recomendations on good species to keep in an aquarium?
Nymphoides aquatica (banana plant) is native and if you actually plant it, it makes for a nice water lily. The flowers are not your typical lily flowers, though - for that you would need to get an exotic species. To plant the lily, just cover about half of the banana-looking roots with the substrate. Weight the plant to keep in place if necessary, until the roots take hold.
Nymphoides cordata is a favorite of mine and is more delicate than N. aquatica. Not sure it would do well at the depth of a 125-gallon, though.
Brassenia schreberi is neat, but has inconspicuous flowers. Not sure it can be purchased.
#9
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 18 August 2011 - 03:41 PM
Love mine... but it is outside and in a 100 gallon stock tank / pond... I think it woul dwork in the larger tank, but it would take a lot of light.Brassenia schreberi is neat, but has inconspicuous flowers. Not sure it can be purchased.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#10
Guest_nativeplanter_*
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Posted 18 August 2011 - 03:48 PM
Love mine... but it is outside and in a 100 gallon stock tank / pond... I think it woul dwork in the larger tank, but it would take a lot of light.
Now Michael...
I didn't say it wasn't lovely, just inconspicuous. Come on now - admit how close you were to the flower...
But yes, it would take a good amount of light.
(I must say, that's a really nice photo of a rarely photographed flower!)
#11
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 18 August 2011 - 03:56 PM
OK, the flower is only about 1/2 the diameter of a dime 
... and the shields are only about 1 x 3 inches... but I think they are really cool... and look in the background... they make lots of flowers sometimes...
... and the shields are only about 1 x 3 inches... but I think they are really cool... and look in the background... they make lots of flowers sometimes...
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
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