Large Java fern plants, and a small type that is nice in the aquarium foreground. Also a cut-leaved variety - makes a pretty floater but one has grown so huge my fish hide and mope in its shade. Anybody want it? Java moss, too. Makes nice compost or mulch > or great for purifying water, inhibiting algae and sheltering tiny fishies. A pretty, delicate ferny thing. There may be duckweed or snails with. Hard to get them all out! These are tropical aquarium plants. Not for ponds. Will trade for woodland perennials, or what have you got? Barb

Thanks, both of you, for your suggestions. Kayjones, I did try my local pet store, but the guy there seemed to have mostly plastic plants in his aquariums and was only able to dig up one live one for me. Eahamel, you're probably right that it's getting too late to mail plants now. Back when I posted, we were still having a few nights above freezing. But that's probably over for a while now! I do have unusual seeds to swap and some cuttings rooting on my windowsill--things like variegated abutilons, tropical hibiscus, etc.--that I could probably trade eventually. But those take longer at this time of year, and I think only the fuchsias and impatiens have already rooted.

Hi There is a large variety of submerged water plants and some will grow in any situation. There are floating as well as plants that attach to rocks or wood . Substrate is not necessary. Java moss and fern as well as Anubias must be planted this way. For rootted plants probably the easiest substrate is 2/3 mm gravel . Many types will grow in this quite well. Light is the limiting factor the more light the more choice. 5 watts per gallon is probably ideal but again many will do quite well on a lot less.. Size will be the biggest problemm in a small tank. But even that isn't too much of a problem Just root some cuttings when they get too large. The gourami and Cories are good choices for a planted tank. The main method is to decide what type of plants interest you and set it up with those guidelines. A planted tank can be as much or as little work as you want to do. gary

Here are some pics of my planted tanks....some have been posted on here before. This bottom pic is plastic plants and just one of those plastic picture backs taped to the back of the aquarium. I know you are sorting out the good info from the bad...but I really can't express enough that a quarantine tank is VERY IMPORTANT......it regardless of where you purchase your fish.....some fish diseases don't show up for a long time......such as 4 to 6 weeks.....Even if all the fish in the store look healthy....you don't know what they were exposed to before they were put into the store tanks. Sometimes just the stress of shipping causes illnesses to show up. Having managed fishrooms for two pet stores and having my own fishroom.....I have seen this. One time I purchased some huge georgeous swordtails....put them into a quarantine tank for less than a month...all looked healthy......so I didn't wait the 6 weeks or two months.....I added them........I lost the whole tank of fish. The store where I purchased them...was a very reliable fish store that always had healthy looking fish...they were not a pet store! He lost them all too. There was no guarantees in this store...so I had to take the loss........won't mention how many $$ I lost with this mistake.....and I did know better too. The tank had to be taken all apart and disinfected and recycled before new fish could be added.... I would never go without quarantining any fish before adding to a community now......and I quarantine for 6 weeks or more......its a safety precausion...that works. Again, its one of those decisions that you have to make for yourself. The size of the tank....is really up to you....what you want to maintain and the size of space you have. Any of the Innes books, or Axelrod books are good to read. You mentioned an Atlas.....is it the Axelrod atlas? There is also the Baensch Aquarium Atlas.....there are soooo many books out there.....again its difficult to just name one or two that might help. Are you anywhere near an aquarium club? Some clubs also offer long distance membership and usually there is a bi-monthly newsletter where members write about there experiences with plants and fish. Also there are mags such as Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Aquarium Fish Magazine and Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine...there are probably others as well. Hope this helps and doesn't add to the confusion! Sierra