Alternanthera reineckii and 2 Footer Aquarium update

Not really a big fan of stem plants, but I just give it a try on keeping this Alternanthera reineckii 'red' . It has a very nice red stem plant but everywhere I read on net, they always saying that this type of species are difficult to grow. It's been in my tank for almost 10 days, and I can see the grow rate is rather medium even with intense lights and co2. It is in the dirt tank after all! Here are the pics :

first day planted

after 10 days planted

current 2 footer tank

2 Footer Tank Update (November 2013)

Here are some update of my 2 footer planted tank at the moment. Plants keep growing and growing, esp. my mosses. But, I noticed some fluffy slime green algae on it. Will keep you update on the next post. I saw my pregnant Ghost Shrimps actually hatched the eggs, but not seen any fry though!

Side view of Ghost Shrimp

 

Ghost Shrimp scavenging on the Christmas moss

Christmas moss in growing stage

Red Java Fern Update

Just to show you some updates on my Red Java fern that's been in my tank about a week now. After sending out a new shoot, one leaf has opened and is showing the redness already. I don't know how long it will last, but time will tell.

2 footer Planted Tank

Just about 25 days after set up. This is an old tank that sat at the balcony previously. Now, here it is:

Tank size : 60cm x 30cm x 30cm

Lighting system : T4 day light (6400K) = 2 x 20w

CO2 : Diy CO2
Substrate : Dirt (Clay+bake soil+Laterites+ 2 years old Daz planted  soil) capped with gravel

Plants : Microsrum pteropus, Microsorum pterous 'red', Marsilea hirsuta, Cabomba furcata, Hygrophila difformis, Ottelia alismoides, Taxiphyllum barbeiri, Taxiphyllum sp, Vesicularia dubayana, Vesicularia montagnei

Java fern "Red"

I've heard talk previously about Java fern 'Red'. What I found on the net typically said that Java fern 'Red' originally comes from Thailand; whilst Tropica, an aquatic plants supplier in Germany, also have this species in cultivation. I've seen many Java ferns growing in the wild but most of them are just the common Microsorum pteropus, but not this one! Its' leaves are a little bit narrow and longer, with a touch of redness on the tips. The size is probably about 1 to 1.5 feet long. Surprisingly, it grows vigorously even though fully exposed to sunlight, unlike many common Microsorum species where they are usually found in shade and in high humidity on the edge of streams. I spotted just two places today where these species were growing... and it was in the same stream! Here are the pics!

I put this one in my tank!

the redness is possibly because of the exposure to full sunlight

Update on emersed setup for Marsilea Hirsuta and Java fern (Microsorum pteropus)

Some update on Marsilea hirsuta and Java fern. This was setup not long ago:

Java fern planlets taking off in emersed form

Jave fern plantlets in a plastic cup

Marsilea hirsuta

Created this emersive set-up for Marsilea hirsuta as I wanted to see the production of spore caps. Have been keeping this type of plant for about a year or so now and they hardly produce any spore caps underwater. In this case, I positioned them in the balcony area outside my window, so they were exposed to hot and occasionally humid conditions, though not in the full glare of the sun. So we shall see in due course if the emersive state is necessary to produce spore caps. You can check the previous setup here: How to propagate Java fern plantlets

My previous 2.5 ft planted aquarium

This was my previous planted tank. Been setup about 6 months, and plants are Bolbitis heudolotii, Anubias nana, Java ferns, Java fern 'narrow leaves', hyghrophila polyperma sunset, Brazillian pennyworth, Blyxa ubertii as background plant. Diy co2 been used.

That was my Plecos resting on my Anubias at the right side of the tank.

Microsorum pteropus (java fern) & Marsilea hirsuta pearling

Some shots of java ferns and marselia hirsuta pearling.

 When there's enough lights,and percents of co2 in the water, photosynthesis occurred!

Pearling Java fern

Marsilea hirsuta

Nano Tank Update July 2013

Just some update on my nano tank at the moment. Marsilea Hirsuta and Java Ferns doing great! I can say that with co2 injection, Marsilea really taking off!

Plants hunting 2013

Hunting some plants in Pahang yesterday. I got some cryptocoryne affinis, Java moss and Java ferns. Here are pics of the day ;-)

C. Affinis flower

These growing in full sunlight

Malaysian trumpet snails

took some of these lovely crypts!

big leaves of Java fern.. 1 foot long!!

emersive form of  Java ferns

Java ferns :)

Chrismas moss

Habitat

Fessidens sp

is ready to put in your tank :)

Java Moss

Cryptocryne Affinis