Re: [APD] The problems with generalizations (long)

["S. Hieber" <shieber at yahoo_com>]

Seems okay, as a general rule of thumb ;-)

sh
--- Laura Burbage <leuhrich at yahoo_com> wrote:
> I?d like to suggest that we be a tad more careful with
> generalizations on the list.  We seem to forget that
> different species of plants hail from different
> places, all with different environmental conditions. 
> While a particular species may be quite adaptable,
> some are not.  This can even be true within a genus. 
> For example, Bacopa caroliniana and B.
> madagascariensis both grow better in soft water
> (Kasselmann, C. 2003.  Aquarium Plants.  Krieger
> Publishing Co.).  However, Bacopa monnieri can grow in
> either soft or hard water (also from Kasselmann
> 2003).  Brasenia schreberi (water shield) is a
> difficult plant to grow, and requires very soft water
> (Rataj, K. and T. J. Horeman.  1977.  Aquarium plants,
> their identification, cultivation, and ecology. 
> T.F.H. Publications, Inc.).  
> 
> Different species can also have different lighting
> requirements.  Some shade plants will not survive high
> light intensity, while full-sun plants will not
> survive shade. (Kasselmann 2003)
> 
> Different species also have different substrate
> preferences.  Some plants grow well in sand, some do
> not, and require at least some mulm if not silt and
> clay particles (personal observation).  Different
> plants can also have different nutrient requirements
> in both water and substrate.  Different plants have
> different temperature tolerances.
> 
> Therefore, I always try to get a feel for the
> preferences of the plants that I am trying to grow,
> much in the same way that we look at the preferences
> of fish.  While some plants, like some fish, can do
> well in other environments, some will do less well,
> and some can do very poorly.  Just as discus and
> mummichugs will not thrive in the same tank, neither
> will some plants.  Just this past weekend, I caught
> native fish in South Carolina.  I do not expect to
> keep the blackbanded sunfish with the shiners, as they
> are from different systems with different water
> parameters, substrate, and cover.
> 
> I think this is especially important when we consider
> that people (including myself) read the list looking
> for information to use on their own aquariums.  When
> giving advice to individuals, I think we should be
> careful not to say ?Plants like condition X?
> or ?Condition Y always helps?.  While it may help the
> plants of the individual in question, it may not be
> advisable for others reading the post.  Better
> statements might be something like ?The plants you
> have prefer condition Q?. I think we should even avoid
> saying ?most plants available in pet stores?, since we
> all know that many (not all) pet stores will sell just
> about anything if it sells well.
> 
> I am particularly bothered by blanket statements
> like ?P substrate is the best?, or ?Q condition is
> necessary?, as they can be very misleading.  I would
> much prefer to say ?R works for me? or ?I have seen
> species S grow well under Y conditions) or ?author Z
> or company S says that Y conditions are required for
> this plant?.
> 
> There, end of rant.  I?m not meaning to pick a fight,
> or be nit-picky, but I do know that we all grow
> different things, from Anubias to Vesicularia, (some
> people with passions for particular genera) and we
> might want to avoid lumping them all in together.  We
> live in a wonderfully diverse world, with many
> beautifully different nuances.
> 
> -Laura
> 
> 
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=====
S. Hieber

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Amano Returns! 
at the AGA 2004 Annual Convention -- Nov -- Baltimore

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