Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: 12 Tropical Aquarium Plants From the Cuttings and Floating Types Are Recommended

Recommendations are given for a selection of
tropical aquarium plants from the cuttings and
floating plant types available. 12 are
recommended with four described in detail.

A cutting, the Red Rotala (Rotala macandra) has
soft delicate leaves that could easily be damaged
if they are situated in strong water currents. In
order to maintain the red color this plant needs
bright light on a regular basis.

A temperature range of 22 to 28 degrees
centigrade and pH range of 5 to 6.5 is suitable.
Fast growing, the Rotala likes to go up to the
surface and then goes on to grow with leaves
floating at the surface. The leaves appear to get
bigger and redder the nearer they get to the
light.

A cutting, the Giant Hygrophila (Nomaphila
stricta) is also known as the Indian Water Star.
It has broad lance shaped leaves, is great for
fish to shelter in and is also useful as sites
for spawning. Prefers slightly hard water and a
strong light.

It appears that snails like this plant so look
out for them. A temperature range of 20 to 28
degrees centigrade and pH range of 5 to 7 is
suitable. Another plant that grows fast and will
need trimming regularly.

A floater, the Butterfy Fern (Salvinia
auriculata) is also known as the Eared Watermoss
and is really easy to keep and grow. Bubble
nesters can use the plant for their nest and fry
can shelter and hide underneath in the roots that
dangle down in the water.

But remember that, as with all floating plants,
do not let them cover too much surface area as
this will restrict light getting to plants lower
down the tank and they will die off.

It is related to the Salvinia molesta which out
in the wild can grow like mad and cause lots of
problems in waterways as it doubles its size over
a few days. In fact they are prohibited entry
into Tasmania and can not be sold or distributed
there as they have been declared weeds under a
Weed Management Act (1999).

A floater, the Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana) is
very common in freshwater aquariums. Like Riccia,
it attaches itself to driftwood, rocks and roots.
Java Moss has no onerous requirements or any
special attention as it will survive in varying
water conditions, even weakly brackish, and under
all sorts of light levels.

But it thrives better under low to moderate light
conditions and a temperature range of 21 to 24
degrees centigrade but it can survive
temperatures of up to 29 to 32 degrees centigrade.

As you do not plant the Java Moss, you will need
to fix it temporarily, for example, to a rock
with some fishing line. Then, when it has used
its own tiny roots to adhere to the rock you can
remove the fishing line. You can also produce a
moss wall effect by adding the moss to a net
which is fixed to the tank wall by suction
devices and nylon string.

It is an excellent plant in which spawning can
take place and in which the hatched fry can
shelter and hide. Egg laying fish that scatter
their eggs would benefit most from this plant.
From a maintenance point of view you need to keep
it clean of algae which will have a detrimental
affect on it.

Other recommended cuttings plants are; * Cabomba
caroliniana * Bacopa caroliniana * Hygrophila
salicifolia * Ludwiga repens

Other recommended floating plants are; *
Ceratophyllum spp. * Ceratopteris thalictroides *
Pistia stratiatos * Riccia fluitans

----------------------------------------------------
Paul Curran is webmaster at
Fresh-Water-Aquariums-Guide.com and provides a
care information system for fresh water
aquariums. Get your FREE E-Course on how to set
up and maintain a beautiful aquarium, have the
healthiest, happiest fish around AND learn about
more tropical aquarium plants at
http://www.fresh-water-aquariums-guide.com/tropica
l-aquarium-plants/

EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=126353

>