BabySinclair
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- Sep 26, 2014
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- Location
- Washington state
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- Studiov13
First i want to say Thank you for any help you may be able to give.
So I recently (over the past 6-7months) built my first 55 gal Viv, done with "Great stuff foam, sand, paint and resin. It's been cycling for about a month, with another 2weeks to go. My problem is that this is a cooler temperature set up. I will be keeping Axolotls in it, so my water temps must stay In the 60's, thus the water will be chilled. The ambient air would be around 70* in the winter time, and up to 85* in the peak of summer (about a month) with humidity levels being low. However, if I need to add a misting setup, I can/will do so. I already have plants in the aquatic section, so that issue is resolved. But I need above ground plants. I would like a variety of plants, But again, I'm not sure of what I can use. Some areas have more water and some have none so I would be hand watering. Is there a tropical plant that grows in between rocks and flowing water? Not moss, but something that can handle water flow.I would like the occasional flower. But again, the Axolotls come first in this setup and plants, second. I would also like to add, no matter how much "water flow" I mention. The Axolotls will experience none of it.
Right now I have your basics
aquatic: pond parrot feathers, Java moss, pond clover fern, Dwarf water lettuce, salvinia, azzola.
marginal/terrestrial: spider plants, Kennilworth ivy and Lysimachia nummularia (aquatic and terrestrial) I only used the scientific on the last one because it goes by so many other names by state/locality.
Btw, I have hard water with high mineral saturation. And The ph generally runs around 7.7-9 out of the tap, and 7.5-7aged. So I assume any plants I use would have to be tolerant of such a high ph. I can lower my ph, but because of the Axolotls, I wouldn't want to go below 7. honestly, I'd like to keep it at its already natural/constant 7.5
The lighting is low tech. 2, T8 full spectrum plant bulbs. So far none of the plants I have are "stretching" towards the light. And the Kennilworth ivy is in full bloom
I intend to leave ALL tannins in the water to help defuse some of the light that breaks through the water surface plants. So far tannins have not reduce Ph. Well, maybe .1 to .2
In the vivarium I have wall planters as well as marginal/wet areas of the Viv
There are also soft foam areas on the side walls to pin/place things like air plants. But to be honest, I'd really like a natural shallow pond/lake side look. At some point there will be danios after they are done in quarantine.
please let me know if pictures of the Viv would help
Any and ALL advice will be greatly appreciated I'd like to get the Viv finished befor I put the Axolotls in next month.
Thanks in advance
Tori
I'm not sure of small vining types of plants. I'm also very Leary of buying commercial plants do to the pesticide factor.
So I recently (over the past 6-7months) built my first 55 gal Viv, done with "Great stuff foam, sand, paint and resin. It's been cycling for about a month, with another 2weeks to go. My problem is that this is a cooler temperature set up. I will be keeping Axolotls in it, so my water temps must stay In the 60's, thus the water will be chilled. The ambient air would be around 70* in the winter time, and up to 85* in the peak of summer (about a month) with humidity levels being low. However, if I need to add a misting setup, I can/will do so. I already have plants in the aquatic section, so that issue is resolved. But I need above ground plants. I would like a variety of plants, But again, I'm not sure of what I can use. Some areas have more water and some have none so I would be hand watering. Is there a tropical plant that grows in between rocks and flowing water? Not moss, but something that can handle water flow.I would like the occasional flower. But again, the Axolotls come first in this setup and plants, second. I would also like to add, no matter how much "water flow" I mention. The Axolotls will experience none of it.
Right now I have your basics
aquatic: pond parrot feathers, Java moss, pond clover fern, Dwarf water lettuce, salvinia, azzola.
marginal/terrestrial: spider plants, Kennilworth ivy and Lysimachia nummularia (aquatic and terrestrial) I only used the scientific on the last one because it goes by so many other names by state/locality.
Btw, I have hard water with high mineral saturation. And The ph generally runs around 7.7-9 out of the tap, and 7.5-7aged. So I assume any plants I use would have to be tolerant of such a high ph. I can lower my ph, but because of the Axolotls, I wouldn't want to go below 7. honestly, I'd like to keep it at its already natural/constant 7.5
The lighting is low tech. 2, T8 full spectrum plant bulbs. So far none of the plants I have are "stretching" towards the light. And the Kennilworth ivy is in full bloom
I intend to leave ALL tannins in the water to help defuse some of the light that breaks through the water surface plants. So far tannins have not reduce Ph. Well, maybe .1 to .2
In the vivarium I have wall planters as well as marginal/wet areas of the Viv
There are also soft foam areas on the side walls to pin/place things like air plants. But to be honest, I'd really like a natural shallow pond/lake side look. At some point there will be danios after they are done in quarantine.
please let me know if pictures of the Viv would help
Any and ALL advice will be greatly appreciated
I'd like to get the Viv finished befor I put the Axolotls in next month.Thanks in advance
Tori
I'm not sure of small vining types of plants. I'm also very Leary of buying commercial plants do to the pesticide factor.