Page 196 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

194 FRESHWATER PLANT DIRECTORY

SUBSTRATE PLANTS

Hundreds of plants are available to the freshwater
aquarist, and selecting the right species means
matching the optimum conditions for the
plants to the needs of your fish. Plants and fish
should share water chemistry needs and thrive
under the same lighting conditions. Themed tanks,
in which the geographical origins of fish and plants
are matched, can work well. If your tank fish
browse on vegetation, avoid slow-growing plants,
which will not recover quickly enough;
similarly, avoid prolific species that
will soon outgrow a small tank.
The cryptocoryne group includes some of the most popular
aquarium plants. It contains 60 different species, although
only about half are cultivated for aquarium use. This is one
of the smaller species, known as the Dwarf Crypt (C. nevillii).

Vesicularia dubyana Aponogeton madagascariensis Microsorum pteropus
Java Moss Madagascar Laceplant Java Fern

ORIGINS Parts of southern Asia, ranging from India ORIGINS The island of Madagascar, off the Southeast ORIGINS Occurs widely throughout Southeast Asia,
through the Malay Peninsula to Java. coast of Africa, and also on nearby Mauritius. ranging into southern parts of China.
SIZE Forms strands up to 4 in (10 cm) long. SIZE Leaves can be 20 in (50 cm) in length. SIZE Leaves may grow as large as 12 in (30 cm).
WATER Temperature 72–77°F (22–25°C); soft WATER Temperature 72–77°F (22–25°C); soft WATER Temperature 72–86°F (22–30°C); hard
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic to neutral (pH 6.5–7.0). (50–100 mg/l) and around neutral (pH 6.5–7.2). (100–150 mg/l) and around neutral (pH 6.5–7.8).
PROPAGATION Break off pieces of the moss and fix them PROPAGATION Divide a rhizome. A root above the PROPAGATION Divide mature specimens, or remove the
in position as required. substrate may also produce a plant. Rarely seeds. tiny plantlets that form on older leaves.
Madagascar Laceplants will grow readily from
rhizomes, but they can be tricky to maintain. Shade
them from bright light and keep them cool.
Well-filtered water will stop debris
from clogging their open leaf structure
and prevent contamination by algae.
Coloration varies from
green to greenish-brown

This moss will help to create a natural aquascape, The tough nature of Java Fern enables it to survive
growing readily over rockwork and on bogwood. in tanks where most plants would be destroyed by
In the first instance, attach it with an elastic band the fish, although there have been suggestions that
and allow it to put down its rootlike hapterons, it is toxic to a few species. The rhizome should be
which will bind it in place. Take care to ensure that Tough, attached to the decor with an elastic band, rather
the lighting is not too bright; otherwise, the Java rigid than set in the substrate. The fronds will develop
moss will be overgrown by algae in the water. leaves transparent areas if the lighting is too bright.

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