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ryanoh

Large Fish
Mar 22, 2010
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Today I gave up on my UGJ and ripped it out of the tank, and it looks a lot better in there now. I also picked up another Amazon Sword, and it looks a lot better than the original one I had. Why is it that they're tall when you get them from the store, but they grow all short and squatty in the tank?

Also, does anyone know if a Rena XP2 is a decent canister filter for my 40 gallon?

I was also wondering a way to diffuse C02 into a canister filter? I've read its bad to get gasses trapped inside the canister.
 

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bassbonediva

Superstar Fish
Oct 15, 2009
2,010
0
0
Northern Arizona
On the swords, it's because they're grown immersed, not submerged. I can't remember what the exact difference is, but I know that when they're in the stores, they're immersed. When you get them home and put them in your tank, they become submerged and grow differently. It also depends on the type of sword it is. All swords sold as "amazon swords" at places like Petsmart and Petco aren't actually necessarily true amazon swords (which are HUGE plants in reality), so they grow differently. Google "amazon sword" and you'll see some pretty spectacular plants.

IDK about the Rena, sorry.

I was told that diffusing CO2 through a canister filter is super simple. All you do is still the end of the tubing from your CO2 unit into the intake of your canister filter. It'll then diffuse through your spray bar and viola! Never heard anything about gas being trapped in the canister itself.
 

ryanoh

Large Fish
Mar 22, 2010
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Yeah, I was googling around earlier and I saw some that made the crappy plant I've had for months now just looks terrible. Is there anything I can do to make it grow better?
 

Feb 27, 2009
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I also picked up another Amazon Sword, and it looks a lot better than the original one I had. Why is it that they're tall when you get them from the store, but they grow all short and squatty in the tank?
As basebonediva stated, the difference is that most aquatic plants are grown in the air instead of submerged under water (for those that can grow either way). Growing in the air is faster, so it is a business decision. When your LFS and then you submerge the plant underwater, it most cases, the plant must shed its 'air' leaves and grow 'water' leaves. How tall the submerged growth will be is determined by the light/nutrients/CO2 available for the plant in your tank.

Here is a link to the largest USA aquatic plant nursery:

Florida Trip – Florida Aquatic Nurseries (Day 5)-- Guitarfish
 

Feb 27, 2009
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If you ever want to see the difference in submerged, floating, and complete air growth of a plant, get some Hygrophila difformis (commonly called Water Wisteria). The submerged growth is very different looking from floating growth, which is very different from air growth. You'd swear it was 3 different plants.
 

bassbonediva

Superstar Fish
Oct 15, 2009
2,010
0
0
Northern Arizona
That little experiment is actually going to take place in my tanks...well, at least the difference between submerged and floating. I am going to be planting water wisteria in my 55gal and floating it in my 46gal bowfront. I'll post pics. :)
 

aakaakaak

Superstar Fish
Sep 9, 2010
1,324
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Chesapeake, Virginia
From what I rememeber (and have seen in my own tank) wisteria grows in two distinctly different forms. The small leaves are supposed to be the submerged version, while the chunky leaves are supposed to be for shore plants. For some reason I seem to be getting a misture of both in my 29 gallon.
 

aakaakaak

Superstar Fish
Sep 9, 2010
1,324
0
0
Chesapeake, Virginia
Random announcement: My lone pond snail was kind enough to only hermaphroditically reproduce in the bare bottom breeder tank I put it in with all the fry. Either that or my fish were eating the pond snail fry before they got too big. Pond snail overpopulation prevented by not overfeeding....my ass.
 

bassbonediva

Superstar Fish
Oct 15, 2009
2,010
0
0
Northern Arizona
Unfortunately, no. That was a 35gal FBH and the people never emailed me back about it.

I think there might be something wrong with my email. I have emailed several people about different items and never heard back from them. It's rather annoying, really, especially when they don't include a phone number in their ad.
 

bassbonediva

Superstar Fish
Oct 15, 2009
2,010
0
0
Northern Arizona
All he wants for Christmas is a Nintendo DSi XL...which I can't afford (if I were to get him anything but the system itself). I've been looking for one used and I still can't afford the prices (they want more for a used DS than those people want for that tank!). I want the tank, but I wouldn't get it. The floor in my house wouldn't support it. :p
 

aakaakaak

Superstar Fish
Sep 9, 2010
1,324
0
0
Chesapeake, Virginia
What's different from the DSi than the DSi XL?

Edit: Google says it's just bigger. No special features.

So 150 for a DSi and 170 for a XL. Theoretically you could go down to a DS Lite and as long as you're not going overboard with the games or if he needs DS internet access, or DSi only games it should work. It's up to you and yours though. Every kid is different.
 

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bassbonediva

Superstar Fish
Oct 15, 2009
2,010
0
0
Northern Arizona
I don't have to worry about it, actually. I just called his dad (found some deals on DSis on eBay) and he already bought him a DSi-XL for Christmas. So, we're going to get him some games. Still not getting the tank, though. Just because I now have the money doesn't magically mean that my floor is going to support a tank that size.
 

ryanoh

Large Fish
Mar 22, 2010
858
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Hey guy, quick question. I posted in the 'other aquarium creatures' board if you want the whole story, but I just need to know real quick if ghost shrimp are going to eat my fish. I'm probably being super paranoid, but I found some stuff online that has me worried...