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Post by lloyd on Jun 30, 2006 12:37:15 GMT -5
I first got involved with CP's when I saw sundews and pitcher plants in Ontario Swamps when I was a kid. Any sort of plant interested me and I thought at one point that I would go into Botany. Unlike some of you other Cp'ers, I went into more conventional work but I often had a Venus fly trap to keep up my interest. Over the last few years, I've had more time for hobbies so I started up with CP's again. The internet of course has opened up an incredible world of CP's. I now have 3 modest terrariums plus a number of plants that are able to go dormant in the sunroom where it gets cooler next to the windows. I like showy plants but I have a special interest in anything weird or peculiar. This includes the utrics both aquatic (which always die under my care) and the epiphytic ones. If anybody has any hints about getting my U. humboltii to thrive, please let me know. I have a good collection of orphaned orchids which people throw away after they flower. Plus I'm trying to grow as many aquatic plants as my fish will allow in my two fresh water aquariums. Sadly the aquatic utrics don't survive long in my fish tanks.
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Post by tom on Jun 30, 2006 20:31:41 GMT -5
Ever tried U.gibba Lloyd? It seems to thrive in my aquarium... and i could send you a pot full of it if you wish!
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Post by lloyd on Jun 30, 2006 21:56:06 GMT -5
Hi Tom, I wonder if Quebec City water is different? I know the pH in Toronto is 7.4. I'm not sure if the fish (maybe platys) ate the gibba or the water quality was wrong. Anyway my 10 gallon tank now just has neon tetras, one golden tetra, two Kohli loaches and a dwarf pleco, none of which should eat the gibba. It's mostly a plant tank and looks sort of jungly. Do you think the gibba will survive? I'd really like to have it grow in there. If you will send me any aquatic utrics that would be great. Let me know any culture hints. I will cover any costs. Please let me know. Thanks. Any comments on the humboltii? It keeps growing but never really spreads out.
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Post by tom on Jul 3, 2006 10:43:11 GMT -5
I,ll try to make a 'résumé' of my tank along with pictures soon. Quebec city's water is around neutrality (pH 7), but the tank has garden soil in it, I'll take a pH measure too...
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Post by tom on Jul 3, 2006 15:35:17 GMT -5
Here it is: My aquarium is a 10G planted 'on a student budget' (I found the 'setup' on a website called Planted aquarium on a budget student and liked the title ). Basically, there is about 2" of garden soil and vermicullite mixed (50/50) at the bottom, then covered by white quartz sand (the one used in pool filter), about 1" of it. I planted the plants and placed the 'scenery', and added water. I waited one month for the nitrite cycle to be done. The inhabitants are quite diversified: 1 Pelvicachromis taeniatus couple (fluviatile African Cichlids), 1 Blue Gourami, 1 rock shrimp, 1 Amano shrip couple, 1 glass catfish and another one that I forgot the name (sucking the window and rocks...), plus a few snails. I planted 3 types of plants prior to U. gibba, but most got uprooted... Should replant them soon (yeah im lazy). pH of the aquarium: 7.4-7.8 The U.gibba is always found 'stuck' in the long strands of plants, so it can grow without being disturbed by the filter. A 2 x 20W fluorescent rack is placed on the top, both tubes are cool white type. When I decided to clean the whole packed mass up, I placed a portion of the utric in a old plastic milk bag with water from the aquarium and tie it up. My 'mother plant' is kept in a cookie-style glas jar with a almost hermietic lid, in which I added one handful of peat. It is in this container since February and I haven't added water since then, so it pretty much undisturbed. I have about 10 flowers stalks out of the water right now, still waiting for on to open...
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Post by Flytrap on Jul 7, 2006 13:48:31 GMT -5
Hello to you Lloyd, and welcome. I guess you're the same Lloyd I just traded with!
Look forward to some of your interesting CP thoughts and experiences.
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Post by dvg on Mar 11, 2008 19:05:31 GMT -5
Hi Lloyd, have you tried U. aurea in your fish tanks. I was in a fish hobbyist store in Edmonton a couple of weeks ago and the owner said as far as aquatic utrics were concerned, he brought in U. aurea. When asked how the fish breeders liked these plants in their tanks, he replied, "They hate them". So not thinking I inquired why that was. "They eat all their babies". I kind of had to chuckle at that. Gotta luv the cps.
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Post by lloyd on Mar 11, 2008 19:40:43 GMT -5
The last year or so I've had reasonable success with U. gibba in my 10 gal. tank. I've reduced the dissolved salts from tap water 190 ppm to ~55 ppm and I supplement 1/2 strength Hagen aquarium fertilizer every two weeks or so. I'm looking for some more aquatic utrics if anybody has any.
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Post by daniello on Mar 15, 2008 11:51:35 GMT -5
welcome! although you seem to have made yourself quite welcome already! just kidding.
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Post by lloyd on Mar 15, 2008 14:12:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the greeting.
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