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Vals, lights and location...

Started by Guest_andyavram_* , Mar 05 2008 04:32 PM

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13 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_andyavram_*

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 04:32 PM

My 75 gallon tank is within a week or so of having water added to it and I would like one back corner to be filled with Vallisneria americana (somewhat like Todd Crails tank). I believe I have seen this plant growing in a few locations in rivers and ponds here in NE Ohio but they are all cold and icy right now. Does any NE Ohio resident know where I could collect some? Or does anyone have any they have thinned out of their tank and would be willing to send me?

Also, since only the one corner will be planted I was thinking of putting extra light just over that area of the aquarium and having the rest of the tank lit by the florescent tube and ballast that came with the tank. The Wats/gallon rule would be broken but the intenst light would only be where the plants are anyways. I imagine this would also help with algae control, right?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Andy

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#2 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 04:39 PM

The lighting might work. Never tried it. Never know until you try!

I don't have any Val to offer, but if you can't find any it is common at the pet store. Just make sure you don't get some sort of funky variety (if you want the natural one, that is).

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#3 Guest_andyavram_*

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 04:43 PM

I was planning on trying it one way or the other (to cheap to by whole new lighting setup especially since I just want plants in the one corner).

How would I tell the funky varieties from the native (I want the natural, native)? Not that I can find any in the local pet stores anyways...

Andy

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#4 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 09:11 PM

I think by "funky" nativeplanter means the curly leaf kind.

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#5 Guest_Kanus_*

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 01:19 AM

I could probably send you some plantlets next time I prune my tank if you can't find another source.

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#6 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 01:44 PM

I'm surprised no one else mentioned this but, if you want to keep only a corner planted with val, you'll be doing alot of pruning!
BTW, I noticed this past fall that the stuff growing locally here that I think is val dies off in winter. I collected some in early fall and when I went back late fall, early winter, I couldn't find any. I know it will be back in spring because it's always been in the lake I've been going to for years.
The stuff I collected in early fall did ok in my tank but believe it or not, is only just now beginning to send out runners despite spending "winter" at a 15 hour photoperiod and 75 F temps. I have no clue how it knows it's spring time.

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#7 Guest_andyavram_*

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 02:11 PM

Hopefully I will be able to curb WILD growth in the plants by only putting soil in the corner of tank the plants are growing in. They rest of the area will be just sand and gravel. Same general idea in Todd Crails tanks.

Thanks everyone for your replies so far.

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#8 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 02:34 PM

I wouldn't count on it. Vals are pretty sturdy and I bet they'll be able to grow in the sand/gravel, especially after enough mulm accumulates.
However, there's nothing preventing you from ripping out what you don't want.

Hopefully I will be able to curb WILD growth in the plants by only putting soil in the corner of tank the plants are growing in. They rest of the area will be just sand and gravel. Same general idea in Todd Crails tanks.

Thanks everyone for your replies so far.

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#9 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 08:18 PM

I've even tried putting pieces of glass in the substrate to act as barriers to contain the runners. They hopped over it! Plus the sand receeded enough to expose the glass which looked silly so I removed it.

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#10 Guest_andyavram_*

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Posted 09 March 2008 - 03:33 PM

So I have checked alot of pet stores locally and they either have different Vallisneria species or they are the corkscrew variety. I have even looked online and found the same thing. Anyone know of any websites that sells just regular ol' Vallisneria americana?

Thanks,
Andy

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#11 Guest_tglassburner_*

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Posted 09 March 2008 - 04:03 PM

So I have checked alot of pet stores locally and they either have different Vallisneria species or they are the corkscrew variety. I have even looked online and found the same thing. Anyone know of any websites that sells just regular ol' Vallisneria americana?

Thanks,
Andy

Andy,

RMS in Willoughby normally has Val. americana. If you need directions let me know.

Tom

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#12 Guest_andyavram_*

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Posted 09 March 2008 - 05:32 PM

Tom, I live 2 streets away and can walk there. We grabbed the inventory book and it says they don't get americana in. At least they sell me dead mice.

Andy

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#13 Guest_tglassburner_*

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Posted 09 March 2008 - 06:23 PM

Tom, I live 2 streets away and can walk there. We grabbed the inventory book and it says they don't get americana in. At least they sell me dead mice.

Andy

It takes me 1/2 hour to get there. What vals do they get? It looks like americana.