Advise needed on Aquarium gardens

R

rheann

Guest
Hi Y'all,

Ok, I need some serious advise about aquarium gardens. I am talking about planting tanks.

Clay substrate for example, Links provided:

http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28673&category_id=3145&pcid1=3349

http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=28675&category_id=3145&pcid1=3349

Which of these two clay substrates is best to put under the sand substrate in my tank? I really don't know what the difference is. I would also make sure it was secure under the sand so that the Axolotls couldn't get into it. Also how much would I need to cover the bottom of a 60 gallon tank? I don't understand what it is saying in the links on how much to use. (picture)

My Pride and Joy ~~~~
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I would really love to plant the 60 gallon tank that I just purchased. That tank is like my pride and joy. I have never owned anything like it. It's huge, pricey, and I want to give it lots of love and attention because my Axies deserve it, and so do I
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Also, I know that low lighting is needed with Axies. So I will try and stick to low lighting plants. I'm also going to cover some of the water surface with duck weed and other floating plants, but not all of it.

I don't have a green thumb when it comes to gardening, or even keeping house plants, but this tank is very special and I want to do everything I can to make it a bright and lovely planted tank.

Their are a few pet stores here that I trust that carry many lovely live plants. I may order most of them online from:
http://www.aquabotanic.com/abstore/index.html

I'm thinking the plants that I would like to plant in my tank will be:

Duck Weed
Baby Tears
Aponogeton ulvaceous (Very fast growing)
Anacharis (bunch plant)
Cabomba caroliniana
Crystalwort/Riccia (If I can find it)
Java Moss
Watersprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides)
Dwarf Lilly (Nuphar stellata)

And others not mentioned. I need to find out some more info on other plants and their names. These plants however, I would like to try and grow in my tank. I know very little about them and I am still trying to find out if they can all be compatible together.

Also, i would like to know if plant fertalizers (both leaf and roots) are ok to use in the tank or if needed at all. My tank will eventually house all 6 of my Axolotls.

I'm also going to try and pick up a planted aquarium book if I can at a local pet store here. They have some very nice ones and for good prices, but any info that anyone can help me out with will be appreciated greatly
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My Axolotls are a big part of my life. Next to my family, my other animals and my webpage.

I'm so grateful to have what I have, and I love spending every moment of my free time away from my artwork and writing with this tank.

It was a big step for me to to purchase it. It took guts for me to get something this big and pricey.

If anyone else is interested in planting tanks, check out these inspiring pictures in this gallery:

http://www.aquabotanic.com/abstore/index.html

Or maybe if Monica reads this post and is really nice, she will post some pictures of her lovely inspiring tank! (Hint, Hint)
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Her tank is the whole reason why I want to spend more time on mine. Simply beautiful tank that she has and it really made me think about the love and effort I should put into mine, not just my Axolotls
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I don't think you really need the additional substrate. If you're putting sand in, just put enough where you can bury the roots of the plants (if they need burying, some don't). I've had wonderful luck with java moss, and not so wonderful luck with my anubias (which the axolotls tore stem from stem). It's since been moved to a less stressful tank, and is doing well. I also had good luck with Hornwort before I killed it. It doesn't like an overly aerated tank. I've never tried cabomba, but was told it's rather picky about light requirements and needs more than usually available in an axolotl tank. Duckweed can grow to cover the top of your tank within days, and needs to be thinned out regularly. With that many axolotls, you won't need any sort of fertilizer (is that tank big enough for 6 axolotls? what's the footprint on it?).
 
Rheann - I agree with Joan, you don't need the additional substrate, the axolotls will dig down into it no matter what you do.

Axolotls and planted tanks just don't go well together. Axolotls lumber through things and rip them up, some plants require more light than axolotls like.

I ripped out a beautiful planted tank to turn it into an axolotl tank. I still have a community tank that is planted, there is a pic of it here in a rather unpruned state
http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/793/34055.jpg
It just has regular small aquarium gravel, no clay or anything like that.

I would suggest... (and this is only a suggestion) that you don't turn the axolotls large tank into a planted tank but take your small tank that will be empty afterwards and use it as a planted tank so you can add the additional light that most plants thrive under.

Your list of plants:
Duck Weed - will block the light from the plants under it, only use it if you are going with ALL low light plants.

Baby Tears - needs moderate to high light.

Aponogeton ulvaceous (Very fast growing) - easy for axolotls to break.

Anacharis (bunch plant)- needs moderate to high light.

Cabomba caroliniana- needs high light.

Crystalwort/Riccia (If I can find it) -needs VERY high light.

Java Moss - great low light plant.

Watersprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides) - dies off easy and makes a mess. Needs moderate to high light.

Dwarf Lilly (Nuphar stellata) - I have never tried these.

This site is great for finding out plants needs:
http://www.tropica.com/default.asp

(Message edited by cynorita on November 08, 2005)
 
Thanks Cynthia, Thanks Joan for the help
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- My tank is a 60 gallon. I got it for the price of a 50 gallon - 10 free gallons whoopee! Just enough for 6 Axies.

Some Better pictures to show size:
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The tank is huge! It looks skinny from the angle of the picture, but it really isn't.

- I for sure won't go with the clay substrate now. I read up on it and it eventually overtime blends in with the sand substrate. What I read on it was the only method to solve against this was to add another layer of sand. I really don't want to go through that trouble and from you both said it sounds like I wouldn't have to anyway
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As for the small planted tank idea Cynthia - That's a wonderful idea! My 20 gallon tank will be perfect for that. After I get done with this large tank project and also most of my web page work done, I think I will start working on the smaller planted tank idea
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For my large one however I would like to also make it a planted garden tank, but not too fancy and try to use low lighting plants. I noticed at Capital Aquarium they have about 3 tanks that are nearly covered on the top with duck weed. All of these tanks have low lighting plants. I think it's pretty neat because that way picking out plants from there I don't have any trouble figuring out which types like a lot of light or low or moderate light
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Cynthia - your planted tank is so beautiful. I could spend all day looking at a tank like that. Does your tan have any special needs or special lights? Also, the last link that you posted doesn't work for me. It might be my internet connection or that the link is broken.

I also found out that the root (pictured) that I "thought" was bad to keep in the tank actually isn't a problem even though it originally was designed to keep in reptile cages. The same type of root is also made for aquariums. Good too, because that root couldn't fit into my gecko tank, and I really didn't want it to go to waste
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Another good low light plant is amazon sword, but that might get ripped up. It is a cool plant though.
 
Rheann -
Cynthia - your planted tank is so beautiful. I could spend all day looking at a tank like that. Does your tan have any special needs or special lights? Also, the last link that you posted doesn't work for me. It might be my internet connection or that the link is broken.

I fixed that link I had accidently added a "v" from my copy paste. Try the link again it will work now.

My planted tank has double lights and its only 18" tall so the plants are closer to the light. I give it leaf zone plant food every week.
 
Jordan - Thanks for mentioning the Amazon sword plants. I checked them out on the net, very pretty and different types too
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. next time I go to Capital Aquarium, I'll check it out to see if they have any in the low lighting tanks. I'm pretty much going to stick to low lighting plants for my Axolotl tank, and the 20 gallon planted tank various types.

Cynthia - thanks, I got the link to work. I also book marked it.

I found this cool site that shows some very nice planted tanks and also cool terrarium set-up instructions
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http://www.victri.net/tanks.html

Thanks also for the info about your tank. I am very excited to start setting up my tank. I am just waiting for my filter to come in the mail and I still have to get the sand from Home Depot, then it's off to set up and cycling my tank!
 
My axolotls ripped up the amazon sword within days. They're not very sturdy plants. Pretty, but not sturdy.
 
Oh, I've just realised that that's what my plant is - but they call it "ruffled amazon" in my lfs.

This is my first live plant, so I'm not expecting too much of it - it looks nice though and Stella and Martini haven't ripped it up yet, so I'm doing okay!
 
my tank is planted and the axolotls dont rip up the plants at all but they love hidding in between them, So i dont really know the what the fuss is about not having planted tanks with them.

I put in 2 plant food tablets into the sand once a month on opposite sides to help the plants but they still seem to die out on me. I give them heaps of light and care but they're still dieing. Im no really suprised since ive only had plants for a couple of months but i just want to know if anything mabey wrong with the tank or substrate not the plants.
Also are the food tablets for the plants a harm to the axolotls and ive also heard that uv light from the light for the plants are bad for white albino axolotls. Just wanted to here your opinoin on that querie.
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Thanks in advanced, stipe.
 
I'd love to have a planted tank. However, mine just rip up plants for the sake of rippping up plants.

Not everything about plants is light, water, and food. Some plants need aditional iron, fluorite, etc. If you're not heavily planted, your plants will get enough food from the axolotl waste that you shouldn't need to fertilize.

Two plants I do keep in my axolotl tank are lots of java moss (kind of messy, but works well) and moss balls! They're cute, and the axolotls don't seem to mind them.

(Message edited by Joan on November 09, 2005)
 
Joan - Are you talking about the Japanese moss balls? They are cute! I love them but if I want them I have to order them on the net. Petshops here do not carry them as far as I know.

I like the idea of them rolling around though and Axolotls trying to balance on them like clowns on a ball lol. So cute
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Did you get yours off the internet, Joan? Do you have a picture of your tank you could share with us?
 
Wow from the image rheann pasted in m head, i also want to see these plants.
 
I got mine on ebay. Here's a not-so-great pic of my tank. It's a 55 gal. You can see a slightly deformed moss ball in the front (it kind of got jostled during the move) and some java moss ontop of the blue rock. All the other plants are silk. The hides are a couple of PVC tubes and two ceramic pots.

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Joan, I think this might be the first picture of your tank I have ever seen lol. I don't remember! Thanks for posting it
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Lost of hiding holes for your little guys, I like the plants and that blue rock.

I learned that the Japanese Moss balls are a national Treasure in Japan
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Since that is where they come from. They can live for years and TAKE years to grow huge.

Do they ever attach them selves to anything? I think I will get some... they are so cute.
 
I have a rock just like that blue one but its red. I like the way you surrounded the pot with plants.
 
I like having the large tank. I use it as a semi-room divider. Also allows the axolotls to beg from every angle.
 
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