jsalemi

Due to a family emergency, I didn't get to open the box with the plants I ordered from LiveAquaria until today (they arrived on Thursday -- my neighbors took them in, and put the box in our house). I ordered 2 large Amazon Swords and the 'standard plant pack' for 55g, which has 15 plants.

I'm happy to report that the plants were very well packed -- the Java Ferns, Anacharis, and Cabomba were all together, wrapped in wet newspaper, and there were 3 Java Ferns instead of 2. The Amazon Swords, Dwarf Hairgrass, Anubias barteri round leaf, Green Cryptocoryne and Water Sprite plants were all in individual pots, with plastic sleeves and a little identifier in each. The whole bunch of potted plants were wrapped in more wet newspaper, and both bundles were inside a sealed plastic bag. That was wrapped in layers and layers of blank newsprint-type paper, which kept the plant bag from banging around in the box.

The plants are in excellent shape. I had to do very little trimming -- everything was nice and green, with almost no dead leaves. Nice, solid roots, which in most cases were growing out of the pots. So it took a little work to remove the pot and the rock wool, but there were enough roots to put the plant pretty solidly in the substrate.

I've got the 56g tank planted, filtering and I'm starting the cycle. I'll post some pictures in my thread in the 'Members' Fish Tanks' forum tomorrow after the filters have a chance to clear the water.

So it should be obvious I'm impressed with LiveAquaria. They may be a bit more expensive for shipping ($13.99), but the plants arrived in two days, survived two additional days still in their packaging, and are outstanding and in ready-to-plant shape.

sirdarksol

I was very happy with what I got from liveaquaria, too. As you said, expensive shipping, but they sure know what they are doing.

Isabella

Thanks for the feedback Joe I'll keep that in mind next time I will want to order some new plants

jsalemi

The planted tank. Most of the plants on the left side are the live ones; there's also the hairgrass and one of the anubis on the right. The Anacharis and Cabomba are in the back middle, but are too short to be seen well yet.

Attached Images

joes_56g_1.jpg (464.6 KB, 50 views)

Isabella

Wow, I love how you scaped it! Looks beautiful

jsalemi

Thanks, Isa! The hairgrass is barely hanging on, but the rest of the plants are doing great. The corys love hanging out in the tree stump decoration, and the tetras have adopted the Amazons as their primary home. I'll be adding more fish after Thanksgiving most likely, and then post some updated pictures.

Sal

That shipping is not bad at all infact very inexpensive. The local chain type pet store around here has deplorable plants for tanks and ponds and even with shipping cost way more than liveaquaria

I bought some pond plants from them last week as another place I use didnt have a particular plant I wanted and was also very happy . The shipping was more as I had it overnight but it wasnt needed .

I went overnight as its hot here but again wasnt needed.

Your Amazon swords are breathtaking. I heard they tend to "die' off after planting but will come back as long as not disturbed?

jsalemi

I haven't heard that about swords. One or two of the bigger leaves are dying off now, but I've got a couple of new leaves shooting up, so I guess they're getting enough light.

neverendingninja

I haven't heard that about swords, either. I think you may be thinking of crypts, which get 'crypt melt' or 'crypt rot'...they tend to lose all their leaves after any major change, or minor ones they don't like for that matter, then come back stronger after that.

jsalemi

Just an update on the plants I got from LiveAquaria.com -- the Anacharis isn't doing so well, but everything else is taking of. My Amazons have sent up a flower stalk. I've attached a picture here, and put some updated pictures in my thread in the Member's Tanks forum.

Attached Images

joes_56g_dec4.jpg (286.3 KB, 15 views)

Butterfly

Swords tend to be grown emersed (http://www.plantgeek.net/glossary_viewer.php?gid=6) and have to grow submerged leaves. Quite a few aquarium plants are grown this way.
carol