Calling on the planted tank gurus out there, want to pick your brains for a minute. I'm trying to figure out a plan for my next tank, it will be a 90 gallon room-temp tank for a greater siren (aquatic salamander). I would really like to make it planted, but I was wondering if I will run into any problems considering the temperature? It will be unheated but not otherwise chilled, so will hover around the mid-sixties. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
Planting a cold water tank?
- Thread starter rudukai13
- Start date
Most common aquatic plants do fine at those temps. A bigger issue will be finding plants that can withstand your siren running all over them. I suggest mosses, floating plants, and drifting masses of stem plants (hornwort, ludwigia, myriophyllum, elodea, etc.). Anything anchored is more likely to be flattened/broken/uprooted by your amphibian bulldozers.
I was already thinking about doing duckweed for top cover (I'll be using a canister filter, so not as worried about it getting sucked in). Most of the scape will driftwood and maybe a few larger rocks, and I can secure some moss onto that. Anything else you can suggest?
I don't know anything about the salamander, but there are a lot of plants that are native to north america, so they should all be fine at room temp (and below). Ludwigia and Hygrophila would probably do well. The Hygro 'angustifolia' had giant roots, so something like that might stay rooted better.
Java fern and anubias will attach to rocks and driftwood too
Java fern and anubias will attach to rocks and driftwood too