DrFish --

The "ground cover" I had in mind is riccia fluitans. If you have access to one of the books by Takashi Amano, he uses it in most of his aquariums.

http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/2339/ricwd.jpg
(link added by feldon26)

Yes, I'm planning on having a snail or two roaming the tank.

This is sounding absolutely fabulous! :TU: ....... I can't wait! :)

Keep up the good work Jim, - Take as long as you need!!!!

just awesome, Jim! that tank setup looks great!

Jim, your tank looks sooo clean, almost as if there were no water in it.

The rock on the left should be a skeleton of a sunken ship. :)

There's water buit no fish yet. I have a double-element filter system. The streaks at the top of the screen are bubbles from the water stream. I've also got CO2 injection for the plants. Sure wish I could find some Riccia Fluitans. Freshwater tanks take on a whole different look when there's ground cover.

The rock on the left is important since it forms a ledge for critters to lurk under (after the Creature Pak comes out).

You've been calling around?

Calling, driving, checking out websites. In one forum there is a message from a woman who claims it's illegal to sell it in her area (San Diego). I have no idea why that would be true. Most of the aquarium shop owners just say it's "out of season".

If it is classified as a threat to local ecosystems, then I can see why it would be illegal.

There are many cases of plants and animals being brought from other countries or areas and introduced into new environments where their natural predators are no longer there to control their populations.

http://www.thebutlerchain.com/introduction.htm
"The Butler Chain of Lakes has had some problems with exotic, noxious aquatic weeds that were brought in by boats. Aquatic weed control is an expensive, not always successful, program."

Yes, this is true. In the Savannah, Georgia area you can catch Oscars in a local river ( The Ogeechee). This is a fish native to South America but is now considered a sport fish in Florida. All because someone thought it would be fun or just got tired of raising them. Though I don't believe they pose any threat to the eco system here but time will tell.

I doubt if that is the case with this type of plant. From what I've read, it's very hard just to keep it alive. CO2 injection is vital. I've never actually seen it in an aquarium, only in Amano's books.

Jim, it looks great! I can't wait to compare it to the final product! Thanks for keeping us abreast.

Jim, your real tank looks like it's coming along nicely. I've had a heavily planted tank with CO2 injection for about 4 years now. Once it got stablized (took about 3 weeks), it has been very low maintenance. Mostly trimming back plants. Never had algae. It won't be long before your tank starts to fill out with the plants. As for Riccia, I have had it in the tank and it did well for a while but died out. Not sure why but probably my lighting. I only have 1.5 W per gallon so I rely on plants adapted to lower light levels.

Looking forward to any new products you happen to get out there for us. Of course, your freshwater screensaver will have to compete with the real freshwater tank in my office. If it's the same quality as your saltwater tank then it might be a close call.

aloha, Neil

Totally Awesome!!
 

I, like so many others, can not wait to see the finished product!!

As for toys in the water......

My rule of thumb has always been:

Less is best as overcrowding the Aquarium can soon take away from the whole perspective of the Aquarium to begin with..........

THE FISH!!

GOD BLESS

PS That is just my own personal opinion

can somebody mail me the pic to the link:
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/2339/ricwd.jpg

it doesn't work anymore ixnay@gmx.ch is my adress
thanks

I like bannana plants myself not really sure why but just seemed it made a good place for fish to swim around n thru in my old tanks

Do you have a pic?

I could be wrong, I'm not sure about what I am searching for in this instance. It look's like there are several species in this family but most of the photo's that I find are topwater plants. Am I missing something here? I can't tell if this is an aquarium plant or more towards something that you would find in an outdoor pond.

Banana Plant
Nymphoidea aquatica
http://www.petswarehouse.com/plants/pic/52BR.jpg

Doesn't do much for me. :)

Me, either. A little too weird.

Well the site I was getting some info from is located here http://www.wetwebmedia.com But it seems, at least to me that there is a difference between aquarium plants, and planted aquariums.