[quote=”Peter Finke” post=1571]Jordy, your plant list must be commented upon in many respects. I confine myself to
“crypto soorten”: Most commonly used aquarium crytos are Sri Lanka species. They live in water totally different than that for Paros. It is a science of its own to develop a method of keeping those fish together with cryptos of the black waters. It is nearly impossible, a matter of different structure. Better, you leave cryptos out.[/quote]
Peter, I often read about your total refusal of using cryptos in paro tanks. Your argument is that most species live in completely different water conditions.
I think it is a lost chance not to try it with some crypto species. There are lots of informations about plants in the internet, and you can find out which species might fit. Here, for example.
I keep Cryptocoryne undulata and C. walkeri in the tanks I use for my paros or which are in preparation. They are recommended for a ph-level from 5 upwards. They look very well, at least after keeping them for some months. If they would suffer from the wrong water conditions, they wouldn’t look that healthy.
I think you should think even beginners capable for chosing the right plants ……….
Even with no ground layer you can plant them in small pots, using fertilizer balls which only release their components into the immediate root area. I currently try this with Blyxa japonica – were the limiting factor is not the ph-level, but the light. I put it in the brightest spot in the tank – up to now it looks fine.
I also keep Hygrophila difformis (which has been a wrong delivery) – I clamped it in a holder adhered to one side of the tank, and it lets it’s roots grow freely. It is said to remove nitrates just as well as Ceratopteris does.
I think some plants are worth a try and we shouldn’t refuse this from the first. There’s enough information on the web, and it’s not true that most plants offered for the aquarium trade need ph-levels of 6 at the minimum. There are many plants which fit to levels around 5, and what you have to do is find plants within this range which need only little light.
I additionally restrict my search to plants from the Asian region – but that’s a matter of purism.