If you have floating junk...just overfill and float it off the top. I started with a 35 gallon preform and in a lot of ways it can be tougher than a larger container. Try some small water changes. About 10% a day or dip out about 1 gallon and replace it with fresh water. I started a 500 gallon lily tank this spring with growing plants. It also has 10 small goldies from last summers spawn. It has no pump or filtration. It is clearer right now than my 750 gallon tank with the large fish, pump and large skippy type filter.

So I went by Lowes today and saw a couple of Hibiscus I could't live without. They are 2 small plants, but they were $4 each. They are a bright fuscia color. I didn't know Hibiscus was such a pretty flower....so much to learn! So I brought them home. I should of bought some pots too, but afraid hubby will notice a major charge on the debit card. LOL I figure if I keep frequent low charges, they aren't as alarming...LMAO! Yes, I am planning on attending the plant swap. I do need to print up the directions and all. As far as Salvia goes, not sure what kind I have, I'll have to pull up the tag and read it when I get home. I didn't put the seeds far in the dirt. I just sprinkled the seeds on top of the soil and put about 1/8 of an inch of soil spread on top. So they are very lightly in there. Hopefully they'll still be okay. Ooo, yes, I looked up the pics of the Salvia, and I like. And I'll have to look up what the Texas Star Hibiscus looks like, but I know I'll probably like those too if I like the ones I bought already. Thanks so much for your help! I can't tell you how much it's appreciated!

Sometimes to get a large plant, it's OK to pay a little higher. I bought a $5 sans with leaves around 4-6" tall last year...it's still small! I did make several more plants from it by taking the leaves and planting them, but the ones that made it now have 1" leaves....I'd much rather have something like yours now. But I'll look forward to seeing these grow.

If the soil is peaty, I'd repot it again now too. With those *GIANT* windows, anything that doesn't require significant direct sun should do well. If you plan to live there indefinitely, (I'd have to be dragged out, kicking & screaming...) and you'd enjoy more plants, you might look at a few that are usually too big for the average home/window, like Monstera deliciosa, and bird of paradise (Strelitzia, there are several diff species.) Trees like various types of Dracaena, Schefflera (actinophylla is the bigger one,) and China doll (Radermachera) are usually fairly easy to find. Palms! I need to click submit now before I start rhapsodizing about the plants you could hang...!