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plants for bowfin setup

Started by Guest_baloo_* , Nov 18 2008 06:16 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_baloo_*

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Posted 18 November 2008 - 06:16 PM

hello
i'm goig to build a 700gallon outside plywood aquarium or pond with viewing windows for my bowfin.
hoping to have that finnished next year in april time
i plan to plant the sides and background with sparganium errectum
here is a quick diagram of what i have in mind
Posted Image

i'm unsure what other plants to use for the rest of the tank/ pond
i would like something that grows between 18 to 24 inches high in front of the reeds and something small for in front of the glass/ window
i may also add some floating plants so something that handles a bit of shade well would be good
the tank /pond will be 3 feet deep or high which ever way you look at it

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#2 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 18 November 2008 - 06:55 PM

Hi Baloo,
You're in Europe, right? (you might want to put your location in your profile, since it can help people help you when you have questions). It might be hard to get help for outdoor plants here, since a lot depends on your climate and what you have available. My suggestion would be to use plants that are native to your area, since it can be hard to keep outdoor plants from being spread. I would look for species that grow in slow areas. Don't forget to use emergent plants. If you don't have soil on the bottom of the pond, you can put them in pots and let them grow out of the water.

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#3 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 18 November 2008 - 07:26 PM

Just as an addition to NativePlanter's advice: Common plants in bowfin habitat in my area include the following:

FLOATING PLANTS
duckweeds (Lemna, Wolffia, Spirodela)
crystalwort (Riccia)

SUBMERSED PLANTS
hornwort (Ceratophyllum)
water starwort (Callitriche)

FLOATING/ MAT-FORMING PLANTS
water-primrose (Ludwigia)
knotweed (Polygonum)

EMERGENT/ MARGINAL PLANTS
Sparganium
mallows (Hibiscus)
cardinal flower (Lobelia)
water plantain (Alisma)
arrowhead (Sagittaria)
cattail (Typha)
lizardtail (Saururus)
various rushes and sedges

I believe European forms of most or all of these exist.

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#4 Guest_baloo_*

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Posted 19 November 2008 - 02:39 AM

thanx for your replys
i added my location to my profile

i' uncertain towards what substrate to use
i'm thinking about a unwashed sand - aquatic compost mixture of 1.1, four inches high with a topping of 2 inches of washed sand or 2 - 3 grain mm gravel
i'm more tnded to use the gravel as that is a lot easier to wash then sand but 3 time the cost :unsure:

here is a drawing of what i'm planing to build
it will be a minimum of 8x4x3 feet
this spould give you a better picture
Posted Image

Edited by baloo, 19 November 2008 - 02:40 AM.

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#5 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 19 November 2008 - 12:26 PM

I recommend the gravel since you will be viewing the pond/tank from the side. When sand is on top, a layer of mulm tends to accumulate over it. Using gravel, mulm can work its way towards the lower levels. I would actually use pea gravel in this case (basically gravel the size of peas). Tends to be pretty inexpensive, too.

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#6 Guest_baloo_*

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Posted 19 November 2008 - 02:08 PM

how about plant growth then?
from my experiences with aquariums i know that only vallisneria gigantea grows in pea gravel but nothing else flourish's

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#7 Guest_nativeplanter_*

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Posted 19 November 2008 - 02:16 PM

how about plant growth then?
from my experiences with aquariums i know that only vallisneria gigantea grows in pea gravel but nothing else flourish's

Use the pea gravel only to cover the soil. Its purpose is really just to keep the other substrates from getting mixed up in the water. The plants should be rooted in the media below the pea gravel.