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RE: Live plants

austin123 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:33:49 GMT

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:32:16 GMT

I'd say that you'd need at least Flourish for fertilizers. Java Fern and Java Moss don't really need them fertilizers; the fish poop is enough for them.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:23:14 GMT

no fertilizers and its a 10g

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:19:01 GMT

What is the tank size? Do you use any fertilizers?

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:43:06 GMT

120 volt, 19 watt light

blue gravel (It's just colored gravel, nothing benificial)

I don't know what fert is

air stone

-----fish-----

gold gourami, chinese algea eater, 5 1" tetras ( I don't know what kind)

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:31:35 GMT

Looks like Anacharis or something of the kind. What are you tank stats?

(Lighting, substrate, ferts, etc)

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:27:49 GMT

I couldn't find my good camera but I found a cheap $5 camera. They're really blurry.

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:21:24 GMT

Sounds good. We'll need the pictures to ID the plant to make sure it'll thrive in your tank.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:31:55 GMT

I went there today to get them and I hadn't noticed the cost before but they're $6 each. I don't have much money right now so I bought 2 other ones for $3 each and I think they look better. The guy at the store said it didn't need anything added for it.

I can't find my camera right now but I'll post some pictures of my plants and redecorated 10 gallon once I find my camera.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:40:27 GMT

I think I'll get 3 or 4.

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:53:27 GMT

If it were a higher-needs plant, you'd have to mind your nutrient and CO2 levels, but since Java fern is an undemanding plant and doesn't use up a lot of nutrients, as many as you want will be fine. You can't really "overstock" this plant the way you can overstock fish.

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:48:11 GMT

Your preference.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:08:59 GMT

Next time I go I'll buy some.

How many do you think I should get for a 10 Gallon tank?

RE: Live plants

JCHAMPAGNE — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:59:30 GMT

Java lace is a smaller variety than java fern. It is a low light plant. Treat it like you do java fern. I like the way java lace looks. Give it a go and tell us how it works.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:43:53 GMT

How big does lace java fern get?

Does it require c02 or special lighting?

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:19:02 GMT

I've seen all lace Java instead of the regular variety at Petsmart as well...think this newfangled cultivar is being stocked by more chains since it's new and exciting? I don't think it even looks as good as regular Java fern...Oh, well. Still a decent-looking plant.

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Lace Java Fern is basically a strand of Java Fern. It's still Java Fern though. Go ahead and get it, at least it looks prettier than the regular kinds.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:52:54 GMT

The past times I went to preffered pets didn't have any java ferns. I went today and they had lace java fern. Is that ok too?

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:29:20 GMT

Dang. They sure do charge a lot for some moss stuck on a ping-pong ball. >_>

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:32:23 GMT

Well... I'm going to demand the money back. The Petco isn't exactly close.

I hope so, it cost me $4.49 + tax!

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:43:50 GMT

Did they give you your money back?

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:22:50 GMT

There are differences between a moss ball and a marimo ball. You see, a marimo ball (Cladophora aegagrophila) is not moss, rather algae. The algae is not invasive like the algae in tanks, for example, brown diatom algae. It grows rather slowly, about 5 mm in diameter a year. The inside is the same as the outside, and when it grows large enough, gets hollow. Notice the texture and the "furry" look of the algae.

Now this is a lovely picture of a pearling marimo ball. Look at the "fur" and the non-adventurous strands of algae.

A moss ball, is actually just moss wrapped around a styrofoam ball. Fishing line is used to wrap it around and create the ball appearance. Note that it is MOSS, not the algae that is wrapped around.

I learned my lesson just yesterday. Petco was selling some moss balls, and I thought that it ws a Marimo Ball, because their common name is Moss ball occasionally. I bought it, and was going to take the fishing line off when I uncovered a bit and inside was a styrofoam ball. I felt ripped off of $5 and demanded a refund.

Oh yes, this is not very common, so be careful in large chain stores. It's a national treasure in Japan and illegal to take out of streams and rivers there. Its natural habitat is Iceland.

Hope this helps.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:16:48 GMT

FattFishy (8/19/2008)

Hm... Java Ferns and Mosses are very easy to acquire, as they are commonly available through special ordering and just plain buying it. Why not persuade your lfs to carry them? Easy to keep, many people will want to buy it, as it's a live plant and need virtually no care. I have them and they're doing great; the moss in my bigger 28 gallon is stuck onto the flower pot in the corner and cramped the sides of it; no fish can get in. It's also stuck to the pot, I try getting it off and it feels as if you're ripping off some glued paper. The Ferns immediately started growing daughter plants within a week (hey, they grow slow) and one of them has 6 roots and 2 leaves already... (already being 1 month ahaha). I HIGHLY recommend them. Ah! almost forgot. Persuade the lfs to carry Anubias species as well... same benefits, live, look good, virtually no care, and people will buy them for these reasons! Some common Anubias species: nana (for smaller tanks), nana "petite" (for very small tanks or foreground), barteri (for bigger tanks, as a backdrop, and shade), and various others... I had a brain fart so sorry if a lot weren't mentioned. Google it, you'll find many species... ask for common ones! www.plantgeek.net is a great site for aquatic plants and to figure out which ones aren't aquatic. Keep in mind it's a growing site so some plants might not be mentioned in the "non-aquatic" section.

Good luck!

The moss they have at my pet store they call "moss ball" and its just a ball of moss. I don't know what's in the middle. It might be rock or mud but it looks kinda like this. Would this be ok?

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:33:01 GMT

I really don't think Java fern would outgrow his tank, though. Some of the larger cultivars could, certainly. Those things can turn into monsters. But most of what you find at chain pet stores where I believe Mr. Austin purchases his stock/plants are smaller varieties. They're easier to propagate en masse. I've never had a Java fern from Petsmart/Petco grow to the massive sizes that some varieties of the plant achieve. Plus...pruning! :)

RE: Live plants

filipem — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:26:18 GMT

Lighting the tank is going to be an issue as well.

RE: Live plants

princessotfu — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:03:57 GMT

I don't think there is going to be much that will fit for long in a 1g tank, other than some of the dwarf species. Even the hornwort will have to be constantly trimmed back.

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:48:14 GMT

Fairly slow but no pruning. Especially when it gets the right size, it looks great for quite a long time before any trimming is needed. Hornwort provides very nice cover though.

RE: Live plants

filipem — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:40:06 GMT

I don't think java fern is a good choice for a one gallon tank. It gets to big for a tank that size. The moss is a good idea.

You could try hygrophila polysperma, hornwort, anubias nana, or anubias barteri. all are easy low light plants. the hygro and the hornwort will grow fast but trimming these plant are easy. all of the other plants mentioned will grow fairly slow.

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:49:42 GMT

Good luck!

RE: Live plants

jsmith11618 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:40:00 GMT

austin123 (8/19/2008)

Last time I went to my petstore there were no java ferns or moss and the live plant tank only had a few kinds. But I'm going again soon so I'll check again.

Ask if they can order it if they dont have it next time. My local store carries few plants but can order anything one wants 99% of the time.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:14:42 GMT

Last time I went to my petstore there were no java ferns or moss and the live plant tank only had a few kinds. But I'm going again soon so I'll check again.

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:05:51 GMT

Oh yeah, get some moss too. It looks great when you mass plant it in the corner or something.

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:24:28 GMT

Throw it out and get a Java fern. Waiting a week for them to stock more is a small price to pay compared to having a rotting plant in your tank. It's best you remove that mondo grass now before it starts to die, because that kind of decay is something you do NOT want in your betta's tank.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:21:28 GMT

I think it's mondo.

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:30:07 GMT

Yeah, even if they live they get too stringy without adequate light.

But we can settle this without even having pictures, I'll wager. With just one question: Did it come in a pot?

When Petsmart sells dwarf hairgrass, it sells it potted. That's the way the shipments come. Acorus and mondo grass even vallisneria species, on the other hand, come with sturdy root systems and are just tied with lead weights and sunk until you take them home. So if he got his in a pot, there's a chance it's hairgrass or some other foreground plant like dwarf sagittaria - they sell all kinds of species in those things. Sometimes you can get some pretty rare stuff...

Er, back to the point. Try looking it up. Acorus and Mondo will take a while to die and rot, but won't live long in your tank. Hairgrass will die very, very quickly and make a huge mess. So to avoid that, do some research and get back to us with exactly what plant you have.

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:22:26 GMT

Many "carpet" plants like grasses are usually very demanding on lighting, CO2 and nutrients. That's why I'm unsure...

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:18:00 GMT

If it's tall, it's more likely acorus or mondo grass, and either one of these is going to drop like a stone in that aquarium.

The petsmart closest to me always keeps both these plants in stock. Acorus looks like tall, narrow grass with hard leaves and light and dark green bands. Mondo grass has more of a curl to it and is always a dark green.

Problem is, acorus needs high lighting, and mondo grass isn't aquatic at all. It'll live for a while, but it's actually a bog plant and over time, it will drown.

Find the exact species and get back to us. I'd bet my hat that you're going to have to change that plant out with one that will actually survive in your aquarium.

RE: Live plants

FattFishy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:57:03 GMT

Do you know exactly the species? It might be dwarf hairgrass... it needs CO2 and high lighting. I wouldn't buy any plants before I research it... I hate the look of a dead, rotting plant in water anyways.

RE: Live plants

austin123 — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:55:15 GMT

I went to my pet store and there were no java ferns:angry: so I bought a different one. I forgot what it's called but it looks like tall grass.:D

RE: Live plants

Nikita — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:35:20 GMT

Well, the past little bit I've had very little to do because I'm feeling too lazy to start packing my personal things to move to college. So I'm basically just sitting here bored, clicking Refresh and thinking, "Come on. Post. Make my day." Actually I tend to do that whenever I'm left to my own devices. But don't worry, I'm not gonna be watching the place like a hawk in the next couple of days; I'll be too busy.

I set up a betta tank for a friend and stocked some Java fern in there...and in three weeks it had grown more than the Java ferns I'd been maintaining in my 29g for a year. I dunno if it liked the water or the lighting or what, but it's a hardy plant and is good for a beginner to learn with.

Just be prepared to prune on occasion if it acts like that one did. ;)