I have a lot of trouble keeping aquatic plants alive. I bought a big variety pack at my LFS a few weeks ago on the theory that I'd try a bunch and see what lived, then do more of whatever the survivor is. So far everything is still alive, but the dwarf tiger lotus and one other plant I'll need to ID are the only ones that seem to be not just alive but happy and growing. I'm pleased - I love dwarf tiger lotus, and whatever the other one is, it's nice enough looking and I'm just happy to have some success.
My big tank has some cool driftwood, including manzanita branches at each side. I have garlic cloves clipped to the branches with their roots trailing in the water, and my synodontis eupterus loves to rest on a branch with his face in the garlic roots. That tank also has lemon balm and gladiolus in the HOB.
I don't know why I have so much more success with emersed plants than aquatic ones, but it's fine - either way I'm getting help with nitrates, and the fishes and I both enjoy the look of trailing roots.
My quarantine tank has manzanita branches and just a few random plants rescued from floating around the big tank after the eupterus dug them up. Sweet potatoes in a little basket at the back - I'm especially loving the sweet potato roots and plan to do more of those.
I think aesthetically my big tank would benefit from some taller decor and hides - there's a lot of unused space in the 6-8 inches below the water level. More roots will fill that in as the plants grow but I'd also like to add some more hides - this is a tank full of crime fish and my quarantine tank contains even more crime fish destined for the big tank, so I will need to provide as many hiding spots as possible to try to prevent these d*cks from killing each other.
Any suggestions for top level hides/decor would be appreciated. I've thought about stacking pipe, or building a tall rock cave/sculpture, but I'd love to see examples.
My big tank has some cool driftwood, including manzanita branches at each side. I have garlic cloves clipped to the branches with their roots trailing in the water, and my synodontis eupterus loves to rest on a branch with his face in the garlic roots. That tank also has lemon balm and gladiolus in the HOB.
I don't know why I have so much more success with emersed plants than aquatic ones, but it's fine - either way I'm getting help with nitrates, and the fishes and I both enjoy the look of trailing roots.
My quarantine tank has manzanita branches and just a few random plants rescued from floating around the big tank after the eupterus dug them up. Sweet potatoes in a little basket at the back - I'm especially loving the sweet potato roots and plan to do more of those.
I think aesthetically my big tank would benefit from some taller decor and hides - there's a lot of unused space in the 6-8 inches below the water level. More roots will fill that in as the plants grow but I'd also like to add some more hides - this is a tank full of crime fish and my quarantine tank contains even more crime fish destined for the big tank, so I will need to provide as many hiding spots as possible to try to prevent these d*cks from killing each other.
Any suggestions for top level hides/decor would be appreciated. I've thought about stacking pipe, or building a tall rock cave/sculpture, but I'd love to see examples.
