Some advice on these plants please

[Wyvren]

I am considering getting some if not all of these to create a more planted tank whilst I find homes for the goldies. My brother would love to use these plants as well in his tropical tank. Any advice on keeping them besides the obvious - any tips and trick are welcome - I have a black thumb when it comes to normal plants - found I can keep aquatic plants alive!
These ones I chose since they need low care. I just have the 10g Jebo that I want to make a planted tank with as much in it as possible since I want to make it a betta sorority tank with some betta females.
I still want to be able to add some terracotta pots as well as driftwood so that the girls will have plenty of hiding places.

Ceratophyllum demersum 'Foxtail'
- do they shed leaves like the hornwort does? (I found my hornwort shedded needles like mad - removed it in the end)
Limnophila sessiliflora
Echinodorus bleheri (bleherae)
- Amazon swords – have it
Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae
Ceratopteris thalictroides - watersprite
Bacopa australis
Eleocharis parvula (Dwarf hairgrass)
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow'
ChainSword - Narrow Leaf (Echinodorus tenellus)
Staurogyne repens
Vallisneria americana var. asiatica corkscrew
Dwarf Baby Tears (Hemianthus callitrichoides)

As well as moss, I have Java moss but would like a variety.

And then where can I get a hold of these plants. Most of it I havent seen at my LFS.

Im in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, but willing to travel for plants.

[mydummyname]

And then where can I get a hold of these plants. Most of it I havent seen at my LFS.


i dont know dude, to be honest with you, i dont see much at our LPS's either.. you get the normal vallis, amazon swords, hornwort, some hair grasses now and then and java moss mostly, and a lot of plants that are not trully aquatic, you keep them in your tanks for a few months and then they tend to rot..

i beleive lots of members get some good plants from altum, so perhaps try sending him a PM for a price list or somthing like that.

best of luck

[Wyvren]

Thanks, Ive sent Altum a message earlier in the week. I was just hopeful :P Im just tired of getting non aquatic plants that just rot on me.

[Rudi]

I'll start from the top:
C.demersum is hornwort,same plant.
L.sessiflora a.k.a. ambulia,easy plant to keep,occasionally available at LFS.
E.bleheri,a.k.a. blerri groot plant,will grow to big for that 10g.
C.crispatula does better in bright light,nutritious substrate.
C.thalctroides,a.k.a. african floating fern,easy to keep,can be planted but does well as a floating plant as well.Does need a bit more space.Does not shed leaves.
Bacopa australis,have never seen it commercially,you may as well get B.monnieri.Grows slow but looks great in background.
E.parvula,difficult to distinguish between E.acicularis(normal hair grass) and parvula.Acicularis is occasionally available at LFS.Easy plant.
M.pteropus "narrow",difficult to find in S.A.
E.tenellus,needs good light and ferts.Another option is Lilaeopsis,grows slower,makes a good carpet.I saw some for sale at Panorama pet shop last weekend.
S.repens.I have never seen it in S.A.Great plant if you can get some.
Vallis corkscrew,occasionally pops up.Easy to keep.
H.C. difficult to keep.Needs bright light,good ferts and Excell or Co2 is a definite must have.Won't find it at LFS.

That's it in a nutshell.

[Wyvren]

Thanks Rudi :D Now to start looking for them. Will speak to the one guy at Elite Aquatics in Bellville he told me to bring him a list and he will source it.

[Rudi]

Rather go to panorama,Elite specialises in marines.

[Wyvren]

Ok I will go ask there as well :) Planning on doing a go look see day, Im trying to get more Java moss and Im also looking for christmas moss for my Betta tank.