Plants for river aquaria

[Rocco]

Since I plan to set up a river pond, I might as well ask.

What plants are good for this kind of setup? I'm looking to keep it as asian as possible for a shoal of clowns and yoyos.

[mistergreen]

There are plenty of plants you can use. Any rooted plants are good since they are 'planted' in the substrate and won't float away. Stay away from stem plants whose root systems are pretty light. There are exceptions of course.

Just keep in mind that raising plants is another headache you have to deal with. You have to deal with nutrients, lights, and CO2.

But if you want to keep it simple go for Cryptocoryne sp, java ferns, java moss & anubias sp.

oh, the loaches like to dig a little too. So a rooted plant would be good.

[Diana]

Given the fast water movement in a river set up I would stick with small plants that are well anchored in the substrate or attached to the rocks and driftwood. Plants that are growing above the tank and trailing in the water work well if you can leave the top open.
If you can plant something in the substrate, then surround it with rocks this may hold it down better.
Rotating algae covered rocks is a good way to get the algae into the tank to feed the fish, and get some greenery in the tank.

The natural look in such places is not much actual plant life in the water: the force of the water does not allow many seeds to root and grow, and would tear up the leaves of any plants that do sprout. Algae is the one major exception. Such rivers are often well exposed to the sun, and the water flowing over the rocks is often shallow enough that the algae will thrive. How to set this up in your tank is up to you.

[crazy loaches]

Diana - I dont think Clowns or Yoyo's need algae covered rocks - algae at all for that matter.

And the term 'river pond' seems to be conflicted. A river would be fast uni-directional flow, a pond would be very gentle flow. Clowns and Yoyo's would like fast flow, but dont quite need as much as say hillstreams.

[Martin Thoene]

I'm sure Rocco knows what he means. See here:

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=8866

Mistergreen's answer is good as regards plant species..

Martin.

[Rocco]

Thanks everyone. I have the river-pond laid out in my mind and it'll have a section of calmer water for the fish that prefer it. Thats probably where I'll put most of the plants and rounded stones.

I'm looking forward to setting it up but I have to wait a few weeks and then we begin with the laborious process of moving the ponds current occupants (carp) to another pond, cleaning out the pond, building the manifold, putting in the gravel, aquascaping, filling it with water, planting it, and then letting it run for a few weeks before putting the loaches in.

I'll document the process when it begins and make posts and updates.

[bobthefish]

Sorry to hijack the thread- but how about aponogeton crispus- do they do well in currents?

[Diana]

All the Aponogetons that I had (admittedly not many) were not really geared to high water movement. They had long, thin stems and leaves that seemed to want to float on the surface, or move slowly in a gentle current. Perhaps A.crispus is different.
I would stick to low growing, strong rooting plants, plants that will anchor themselves onto the rocks and driftwood. In a fast flowing stream there is not a lot of soft soil for plants to root in. Algae is one plant that will grow well in fast moving water. It clings to rocks and thrives in direct sun.

[Total Package]

vals tend to do well in high flow areas. I've got quite a few along the back of my tank in the direct flow from the powerhead.

[Blue]

vals tend to do well in high flow areas. I've got quite a few along the back of my tank in the direct flow from the powerhead.

I agree with that.