Feedback On Design For Aquascape, Please?

We're really fortunate here in Indy - the 'plant guy' at our local LFS is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to aquarium plants. It's mind-boggling the amount of info this guy can throw out on anything you ask him in regards to a plant, and he stocks a really good selection of stuff.

The only thing I had that was off the beaten path as such was one, Limnophila Sessiliflora, which I really love but I'm thinkin' I'll skip for this scape. The other was minI pellia / coral moss, which seems to be a bit harder to find than just walking into a shop. At least yet.

Who do you buy from online? Wouldn't mind having a good source in tow.

Buceplant.com, though I don't think any of the plants they stock will be going into your tank. It's worth a look though, I absolutely love everything about them haha.

Amazon, aquabid and eBay should be decent places too.
Aquariumplants is also a place some members use, though I personally haven't bought anything from them.

 

We're really fortunate here in Indy - the 'plant guy' at our local LFS is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to aquarium plants. It's mind-boggling the amount of info this guy can throw out on anything you ask him in regards to a plant, and he stocks a really good selection of stuff.

The only thing I had that was off the beaten path as such was one, Limnophila Sessiliflora, which I really love but I'm thinkin' I'll skip for this scape. The other was minI pellia / coral moss, which seems to be a bit harder to find than just walking into a shop. At least yet.

Who do you buy from online? Wouldn't mind having a good source in tow.

eBay seller plantsfactory. Pretty much the only source I trust. Don't get me wrong, I've bought from many other sellers on eBay, but plantsfactory always provides a stunning specimen in proper packaging. Last winter they shipped me anubias plants and some crypts when it was -5 to 10 degrees out and when I opened them up they were perfect looking. No chance of snails. Proper packaging and snail-less pots have become more important to me than saving a few bucks from other sellers. Whenever I've bought a plant on eBay from lesser sellers and I get it, open it up, and pull out a mess of plant wrapped with soggy newspaper and sealed in two ziplock bags I always wish I could see them in that moment. See them, and throw it at their head...

Someone else could have a completely different experience, but I doubt it. I get a lot of stuff from those guys without issue.

Oh yeah, and they have all the plants I suggested with my drawings because the night before I was looking through their listings and ordering Crypt WendtiI 'Green' and Rotala Rotundifolia. I had Crypt Retrospiralis in my cart, but didn't have an idea for it, so didn't get it.

Edit: actually I don't think they had spiralis - only retrospiralis which has different coloration.

 

Oh yeah, and I'd do yourself a favor before you put substrate in that if you haven't already thought of different nutrient sources! Buy some cheap osmocote+ root tabs on eBay, since your substrate is completely without nutrients, and pop open like 5 capsules and spread evenly on the bottom of the tank the areas you plant to plant, then dump an inch of sand, place the stones you want buried more (probably the octopus driftwood too) fill another inch.

The Anubias aside, all the other plants develop huge and very thick root systems, so the osmocote on the base layer will go a long way during their acclimation period and the first few months of their growth.

This is what I used to do when using inert sand void of nutrients.

 

Oh yeah, and I'd do yourself a favor before you put substrate in that if you haven't already thought of different nutrient sources! Buy some cheap osmocote+ root tabs on eBay, since your substrate is completely without nutrients, and pop open like 5 capsules and spread evenly on the bottom of the tank the areas you plant to plant, then dump an inch of sand, place the stones you want buried more (probably the octopus driftwood too) fill another inch.

The Anubias aside, all the other plants develop huge and very thick root systems, so the osmocote on the base layer will go a long way during their acclimation period and the first few months of their growth.

This is what I used to do when using inert sand void of nutrients.

I'm glad you mentioned this Silister, and thanks for the direction! I've been wondering and wondering about root tabs or laying down some stuff under the sand, esp. given that crypt is a root feeder. And I've not been getting a real clear direction or info on how to create that w/the sand bed. This sounds like a really doable solution to start with and at least gets the substrate kick-started and ready to take planting.

Thanks too, for the online resources, guys. A couple I've come across just from extensive hunting and researching different stuff, and I appreciate adding new ones to that folder. I've not (yet) bought anything on Aquabid, but more time will probably change that. Using Amazon for plants makes me a bit nervous, after reading reviews from customers about some of the sellers there.

Btw, spoke w/LFS this morning on plants and what I'm looking for - said they have a MASSIVE plant order / restock coming end of the week, and I'll be in there Saturday am to shop, for starters. It's gonna' be a good weekend.