Duckweed, Native Plants

To: "'Aquatic Plants List'" <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
Subject: Duckweed, Native Plants
From: Bruce Hansen <bhansen at oznet02_ozemail.com.au>
Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 07:13:23 +1000
Encoding: 50 TEXT
Re Duckweed, Eric -

I recommend Rainbowfishes, especially the various colour morphs of 
Melanotaenia trifasciata. Not only do they control the problem bit they 
reward you for their trouble with better health and brighter ( if that is 
possible) colours. In fact a planted tank is the " only" way to really 
appreciate these gems.


Re Native Plants -

For years I have spent my vacations here in Australia wandering around the 
various swamps and waterways collecting native fishes and surveying aquatic 
habitats. In the past my attempts at bringing back native plants and 
keeping them at home produced very ordinary results. More recently I have 
tried a native low budget, modified hi-tech aquarium with better results. 
The addition of some substrate heating, yeast CO2 and timed stronger lights 
etc has made a major difference and it has added a whole new dimension to 
my enjoyment and satisfaction.

I have been amazed at the variety and beauty available but overlooked. I 
strongly recommend listmembers consider local plants as well and post us 
with their results.

Just a few practical hints from my own experience. Please don't collect in 
legally protected places, try to minimise the size of your collection and 
leave the donor site in good condition. Take notes on the local conditions 
such as temperature, soil type/substrate, water parameters, lighting, time 
of the year, other plants nearby, state of maturity of the plant ( e.g. 
 whether flowering, producing runners, size etc) and any other factor that 
may be helpful later on and away from the collection site. I find it best 
to take small to moderate sized specimens as intact as possible and wash 
off all soil and place in a labelled clear plastic take-away food container 
( those ones with the clip-on lids) which is then stacked in a styrofoam 
fish box in the shade as I have lost many a plant from overheating and 
dessication. Putting each plant type in it's own container prevents damage 
to others from allelopathy or rot and makes later handling minimal before 
planting.

An alternative is to wrap each in slightly damp newspaper and then place in 
a plastic bag of air ( for cushioning) and rubber-banding. IMO crushing and 
consequent injury is another major cause of failure.

I have, on occasion even taken home buckets of substrate with good results 
as the microbial flora that has evolved in parallel is still available to 
"cushion" the translocation stresses.

Bruce Hansen

ANGFA