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Permalink Reply by 2apes2gp667wr on March 5, 2012 at 9:40pm

Picture 1 is anubias and you have it correctly attached to driftwood. That's how it grows. Don't bury it in the substrate.

Picture 2 not sure.

Picture 3 looks like a crinum or some sort of bulb plant.

The green and white plant looks like a ribbon plant. That's not a true aquatic plant and wont survive in the tank long term.

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Permalink Reply by Milos Stevanovic on March 5, 2012 at 11:23pm

Thank you Kevin, I did some research on these plants and the green and white plant is called white ribon or something and it is not aquarium plant, even though petsmart sold it to me as aquarium plant. I was lucky enough to assume correctly for anubias plant, but I will def. return white ribon plant.

Thanks again.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on March 6, 2012 at 1:26am

I can add a little to what Kevin said, but not much.

I think Petsmart is similar to Petco in that they sell a lot of plants that are actually terrestrial. These types of plants will survive in water for a period of time and then die off. I'm not sure why they do this, but I'm sure that, on some level, it has to do with their bottom line.

The Ribbon plant, also known as the Corn plant, is a bog plant and will live with its feet wet but die underwater. I've also read that some members of this species are poisonous if ingested. Like Kevin I'm not sure about #3 but it might be a Japanese (something or other?) plant; I forget the name.  But Petco sells something very similar. Like the Ribbon/Corn plant it will live with its feet wet but eventually melt underwater. Come to think of it, Anubias is a bog plant too, but it can live its entire life underwater.

Pic #2 is interesting.  I collect many of my aquarium plants from streams and rivers in my (Boston) area.  And, speaking from an admittedly unscientific point of view, this plant resembles some of the stuff that grows in my local, slow moving, streams and swamps. Sticking with the terrestrial theme, these plants can live their entire life under shallow water but like to stick their head out in summer - similar to Bacopa.  But, again, this is just a guess.

You said the tank was in your basement.  Is there anyway you can get some sunlight on it?  Sunlight and good soil (capped off by gravel) will allow you to grow almost anything. Also, If there is a serious fish store or water nursery in your area I'd check it out. Also, check out the stuff that grows locally if you don't mind getting a little messy. Local plants are almost always the most hardy species and some of them are absolutely beautiful.

Think about it - soil, sun, and local plants - the best things in life are free. 

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on March 6, 2012 at 1:48am

I just thought of something.  You could find a nice big piece of wood and throw it in your tank.  It would, most likely, float like an iceberg with some parts above the water and some below. On top of this wood you could place a lot of plants (including Anubias) with their roots in the water and leaves above.. These types of tanks Paludariums (spelling?) are in many ways more beautiful than aquariums and allow you to keep a greater variety of plants and some animal species like newts. Plus many plants grow bonkers if allowed to stick their heads out of water.

The only drawback is, unless your tank is half full, you won't be able to lay a cover or lighthood on top of it. These things would have to be suspended a foot or so above the tank. Working in your favor would the price. A lightstrip from your local hardware store is way cheaper than an aquarium hood.  

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Permalink Reply by Milos Stevanovic on March 6, 2012 at 3:27pm

Hi Robert,

Thank you for your help. I kid of realized that petco and petsmart are all the same. I already returned white rebon plant. As far as the plant on second picture I got that from some lake here in NYC area so have no idea what kind of plant that is.

I used to have fishtank down in basement but there was no water in it, only recently I decided to bring it to life. My old man used to deal with that but I have no idea what is going on (still learning though)

But I do like the idea with the wood on the top of water just I will not have anough spece for all that.

 

I will do some research on Bacopa plant to see if this is anything like that....

Thanks mate.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on March 8, 2012 at 6:17am

I was at Petco today and I saw the plant in your second picture. She said it was Rotala Indica. Only problem is it doesn't look like Rotala at all, but maybe its related. What can I say? Its Petco.

Its definitely not Bacopa. It may be like Bacopa in that it likes to grow out of the water. That's all I meant. Bacopa is a fun plant though. I like them bunched together. 

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Permalink Reply by Milos Stevanovic on March 8, 2012 at 10:54am

Yesterday I got "Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants by Peter Hiscock" and trying to find out the second plant and third plant. Rober mentioned about Rotala Indica but that plant really doesn't look like real Rotala Indica. As far as the third picture I think that may be "green mondo grass" but I also know that plant may change appearance if they have too much or too little light even though it is the same species of plant.

Also yesterday i got two packages of plant that is called "Lilaeopsis Mauritania" or aka Micro Sword. The problem was once I spreed it out only one I did not have enough place for the second one so I was wondering if any of you guys may need this plant so we can exchange some of the plants you have that I may need.

I also got bunch of new plants from our guy Dustin from www.aquaticjungles.com and can't wait for them to arrive.

I am mostly looking for hardy plant that can grow in gravel alone without any dirt. I wish I can put dirt in my tank but I will have to take out all 60 fish I have and it will be a mess.

Did any of you guys ever tried to put the dirt in already established aquarium with all those fish, rocks, driftwood, and plants ?

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on March 9, 2012 at 2:27am

That's it Milos. Mondo grass. Japanese Mondo Grass. Its terrestrial. I have it on top of a floating piece of wood with its roots in the water.  It'll die submerged.  I haven't had much luck with the micro sword - another Petco plant - its alive but not dominating to say the least. I don't even think its an Echinodoous species despite the "sword" nomenclature. I'd show you what else I have but I'm computer-illiterate. I gotta learn how to download photos and videos to show you.

Don't put in dirt unless you empty the tank. Otherwise its chaos. I would check out your local waterways.  Local = hardy. I'll go to the Apple Store and see if I can send some pics. A good carpet plant is Echinodorus Tenellus - spreads like wildfire in gravel. You might have to order it online. Dwarf sag might work too. If you have gravel the fish poop might be enuf to fertilize the plants along with water changes. Your tap water contains just about everything a plant needs. If not, fertilize with Flourish.

Later.

 

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Permalink Reply by Milos Stevanovic on March 8, 2012 at 11:40am

Hey Daniel,

I forgot to answer you regarding the third plant. That is definitely glare and the leaves are not waxy they are quite sharp to the touch. I hope that helped a little bit.

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Permalink Reply by nate on March 9, 2012 at 4:58pm

1. anubius 

2. wisteria

3 mondo grass that isnt an aquatic plant petsmart or co tricked you

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Permalink Reply by Milos Stevanovic on March 9, 2012 at 5:46pm

ok so anubius is def. aquatic plans as well as wisteria. Mondo grass is still not dying so I will keep a close aye on it to see its progress and if leaves start dying I will remove it from the aquarium.

Thanks for help all.

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