What is on the garden this year - 2011

[ghostsword]

The weather is picking up, and from March to September I usually have aquatic plants on the garden, just need to top up with tank water, and let them grow.

This is what I got this year.


DSC_2014 by GHOSTSWORD, on Flickr


DSC_2011 by GHOSTSWORD, on Flickr


DSC_2000 by GHOSTSWORD, on Flickr


DSC_2004 by GHOSTSWORD, on Flickr


DSC_2009 by GHOSTSWORD, on Flickr


DSC_2008 by GHOSTSWORD, on Flickr

[discusturkguy]

they look amazing and that`s what impresses me, is the fact you are able to try various techniques out and still have healthy growing plants that have been scaped fantastically 

[ghostsword]

Cheers, :)

Not so sure about the scaping, :) , the plants outside allows me to see them in a different way.

For example, there is riccia emersed, picture 2004, and you would not have guessed that it was riccia.

Also, the Polygonum sp on picture 2008 is so different from what we get from tropica that one would say that is a different plant.

The Rotallas are goind good, so is the Pogostemon erectus, picture 2000, or the hydrocotyle st on picture 2011.

I need to clean the plants and take some more pictures, it is really interesting how they grow. As they are outside they get some dust on the leaves, and some spiders take residence on it.

The best is that I saw a robin drinking water from it, so it is really a piece of nature on the yard. :)

I am building small stand and light fixture for this tray, so that when the summer is gone I can put the plants inside the house.

[discusturkguy]

this is the other thing that impresses me is that you bring something different to the forum from time to time that we wouldn`t otherwise see and adds more interest into the hobby. and has a extra bonus is to have a robin having a drink from what you have created.

i do have one question though that i always mean to ask, i look at everyones journals and photo`s and im inspired by them all. but to create the scapes and even these emeresed ones in the garden makes me ask where did your inspiration come from 

[ghostsword]

I will not lie, for the fish tanks I look a lot at what Amano has done, I have all his books, and look at the pictures as often as I can.

For the emerse side, I just try. I buy a lot of plants from Tony, some die emersed, others thrive, but it is only when one tries new things that we will learn from the failures.

For example, I believe that the fastest way to scape a nano is to use mesh, plastic mesh, tie the plants to it, and add moss, then drop into the tank, you can move the plants around between tanks, and try new layouts.

Ultimately my interests are in emersed growth, as I like to see stems flowering, and how the plants grow and change.

I do like fish, but I am happy to have the normal fish, tetras and corydoras.

I am getting very interested in shrimp, but most to put with mosses and maybe some crypts, or then with just emersed plants.

[Les]

I think your emmersed setups are fantastic Luis. I will have to look into doing something similar this year.

[ghostsword]

I think your emmersed setups are fantastic Luis. I will have to look into doing something similar this year.

Thanks Les,

It is very easy, from March to September, and even into October you just need to put something on the garden. :) Just remember to water it, these plants are mostly marsh plants.

What I have not managed is to get a Amazon sword to grow emersed, but I will get there one day. :)

[discusturkguy]

i love watching his setups on youtube and did see his big tank that himself and about 4 others setup using what looked like near on a full sized tree can`t remember how big the tank was but looked really impresive. and i agree that in order to learn we have to try which is probably why i am so hooked on planted aquariums has you never learn all of it. but theres always pleasure in getting a fantastic looking scape. but i can also see why you are also fascinated in emersed plants after seeing that journal you and scape you made and must admit i have had one plant that produced flowers but was so long ago i couldn`t even remember the name of it now and that got me into plants has well 

[ghostsword]

There are some amazing setups using emersed plants, I am just trying to learn as I go along. :) To do it properly one would need a humidity area and then dedicated light, after all these plants do come from the tropics. :)

One of the reasons I still have my main tank is that I got my color variation of cory's, which cannot be found anywhere else, and they need a tank. ;)

Although soon I need to start relocating them, got about 20 corydoras on my 120L tank.


Black Cory's by GHOSTSWORD, on Flickr

[discusturkguy]

very true and i would imagine the cost in trying to replicate those climates would be huge and not something you could really do at home due to the temperature. i really do like those ones and have never seen any with the same red finnage anywhere, but will be a shame if you re-home these unless it`s into another tank you have 

[ghostsword]

These Corydoras with the red fins apparently only I have them, posted them on planetcatfish, and they did not know them.

They are a new colour variant from the Aeneus, a mix of the green shoulder and the albino.

They spawn frequently so I usually got some fry surviving to adulthood. Rarely see them, they usually are at the back of the tank, in between the plants.

I will need to give some away to forum members, the tanks I got at home are for plants, not fish.

Also, I am relocating to south africa next year, so I cannot take them. Waiting on Tony to have a display tank on the shop so that I can put some there, and get new blood in.

[discusturkguy]

that must have been the best news you heard knowing you are the only one with this variant has they do look amazing, and fully understand the need to re home them and i can safely say these will be re homed fast and think you will have a lot of interest from everyone for these 

[frosties]

I too am looking forward to homing these in a show tank. I am thinking to put these in the special show tank.

[discusturkguy]

sounds a really good idea tony and will look fantastic, must admit i do love corries but lately i don`t seem to have much success with them so have got some s.a.e`s now and will see how i get on with these 

[ghostsword]

I too am looking forward to homing these in a show tank. I am thinking to put these in the special show tank.

Cheers, they are very prolific so on a large tank they will multiply easily!



.