Dragoness Eclectic (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dragoness_e) wrote2010-04-13 07:19 pm
dragoness_e) wrote2010-04-13 07:19 pm
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Aquarium: first plants
Sunday, I went shopping for some plants for my new aquarium. Delta Pets, the pet store I went to earlier in the week, was closed, so I checked out the other place in this end of town. Pets Plus also had fairly healthy-looking fish and they had a small selection of plants. I was too impatient to wait another day, so I picked up some sprigs of Anacharis, a potted little red sword plant of some kind, and a pot of "microswords".
I can't say I liked the potted bit; my gravel was too shallow for the pots, so I cut off the little plastic pots and removed most of the foam so I could plant the plants in the gravel. I decided that Monday, I would go back to Delta Pets and get another pack of gravel. I also wanted a few sprigs of Vallisneria to add to the tank.
Initial set up with Anacharis, sword plants & fake plastic rocks
I ran a pH test, and was shocked to discover how extremely alkaline (over 7.6) our tap-water (and my aquarium water) is. After doing some research, I learned that tetras prefer more acidic water, but several other species I was considering are fine with alkaline water. A bit more research, and I learned that chemically treating pH is a bit unreliable, as the water pH will change back every time you change the water. However, putting a piece of driftwood in will lower the pH slowly, in a stable manner.
Monday, I went over to Delta Pets and talked with the manager (owner?) about fish, local water and stuff. Their plants were much healthier looking; I ended up getting a couple of sprigs of Italian Vallisneria, a package of matching gravel, and a driftwood piece.
Once home, I took out the fake plastic rocks and replaced them with the long driftwood log. I washed the extra gravel out, and put it into the tank, shoring up the back first, and making sure the plants were decently planted now. I planted the Vallisneria, and in the process, noticed that I'd gotten something extra: some filamentous plant that looked like green hair net. It may be Java Moss.
Tank with driftwood and Vallisneria
My Vallisneria
Microsword plant in the foreground
I can't say I liked the potted bit; my gravel was too shallow for the pots, so I cut off the little plastic pots and removed most of the foam so I could plant the plants in the gravel. I decided that Monday, I would go back to Delta Pets and get another pack of gravel. I also wanted a few sprigs of Vallisneria to add to the tank.
Initial set up with Anacharis, sword plants & fake plastic rocks
I ran a pH test, and was shocked to discover how extremely alkaline (over 7.6) our tap-water (and my aquarium water) is. After doing some research, I learned that tetras prefer more acidic water, but several other species I was considering are fine with alkaline water. A bit more research, and I learned that chemically treating pH is a bit unreliable, as the water pH will change back every time you change the water. However, putting a piece of driftwood in will lower the pH slowly, in a stable manner.
Monday, I went over to Delta Pets and talked with the manager (owner?) about fish, local water and stuff. Their plants were much healthier looking; I ended up getting a couple of sprigs of Italian Vallisneria, a package of matching gravel, and a driftwood piece.
Once home, I took out the fake plastic rocks and replaced them with the long driftwood log. I washed the extra gravel out, and put it into the tank, shoring up the back first, and making sure the plants were decently planted now. I planted the Vallisneria, and in the process, noticed that I'd gotten something extra: some filamentous plant that looked like green hair net. It may be Java Moss.
Tank with driftwood and Vallisneria
My Vallisneria
Microsword plant in the foreground