Trying to conceal hardware, looking for ideas

**alexbn024** · 04-20-2012, 03:57 AM

Hello all,

I have a big void space (4in x 3in area) in my 5G tank that I was using to grow some young E. Parviflorus. Besides that, most of my hardware, mainly intake tube, heater and CO2 diffuser are also there. I would like to hide that hardware by maybe some nice bush of small leaf stem plants maybe?

My parameters are:
pH: 7.0, KH: 5dKh, GH: 10dGh, CO2: ~26ppm (dark green);

EI with Seachem line, 50% weekly water change. Light AquaRay Mini LED400 at 10Hrs/day, T=27C

Substrate: Seachem Flourite gravel (1.5 - 2in), Tank 10in x 10in x 12in

I tried Cabomba Carollina, which in my set up grow long intermediate stems and did not look attractive at all. I also tried Valliseria Spiralle, it did not adopt to my tank

.

I am thinking about one of those:

Ammania gracilis
Bacopa myriophyloides
Didiplis diandra
Pogostemon stellata

Any comments and suggestions are highly appreciated!

P1000563.jpg

**Tom Barr** · 04-20-2012, 04:18 AM

The last two, or M matogrossense would do the job.

**alexbn024** · 04-20-2012, 05:39 AM

Thank you Tom! Would "Myriophyllum tuberculatum" be the same as "M matogrossense"? I'll try to get it along with Didiplis Diandra, will see which one I like more.

**jerrybforl** · 04-20-2012, 06:43 PM

"Myriophyllum tuberculatum"

This is a very nice plant! Similiar to cabomba and does very well.

I have tried Diandra many times with no success until now. I have it in my 29 gallon with around 70-80 mmols at the substrate, EI, and CO2. Looks great!

I don't see anything about the light that you are using. Let us know. Your cabomba may be leggy because of inadequate lighting.

**Jeremy1** · 04-21-2012, 02:16 AM

Originally Posted by alexbn024

Thank you Tom! Would "Myriophyllum tuberculatum" be the same as "M matogrossense"? I'll try to get it along with Didiplis Diandra, will see which one I like more.

I've got some M. matorgressense I will be trimming soon if you are interested.

**alexbn024** · 04-21-2012, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by jerrybforl

This is a very nice plant! Similiar to cabomba and does very well.

I have tried Diandra many times with no success until now. I have it in my 29 gallon with around 70-80 mmols at the substrate, EI, and CO2. Looks great!

I don't see anything about the light that you are using. Let us know. Your cabomba may be leggy because of inadequate lighting.

Hi JJ,

I am using AquaRay Mini LED400 at 10Hrs/day, from what i was told it generates approximately 30 µEinsteins/sec/m2,through air at ~16in distance. My tank is ~ 12in tall, with 1.5in of substrate. I really liked Cabomba when it was not too leggy, but I was not able to figure it out the cause. I wrote down few theories that I was able to find: 1) Too much light, 2) Too much light and CO2, 3) Not enough light. As I can't measure PAR I can't really say which one is true. May be you have some insights?

Alex