Resources for Aquatic Plants and Related Items
last updated February 1997
This section contains mail-order sources for much of the plant-related
items discussed elsewhere. They are all listed here so this section can be
kept up-to-date without the bother of changing the others. Oh, one more
thing, these are United States sources, and will probably be useless to
the rest of the world (feel free to volunteer info for other countries,
and we will try to add it).
The Siamese Algae Eater, Crossocheilus siamensis, the only
fish known to eat red algae, was not generally
available in the United States until recently; lately, it seems
several wholesalers have been starting to import them, so you may
have better luck locally. (They may be
sold as "Algae Eating Sharks", "Siamese Flying Fox", etc. Make sure
to ID the fish carefully; they may be the so-called "False Siamensis").
If no local sources can be located, here is the ``original'' US source,
that imports them directly and may be able to ship you a quantity
order (be nice to them, they're just a small fish store, not a
mail-order business).
Contact:
Albany Aquarium
818 San Pablo Ave.
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 525-1166
A good
identification article by Neil Frank and Liisa Sarakontu is freely
available at http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/cyprinid.html.
Delaware Aquatics Imports
This was once the best and only place to mail-order plants. Alas, they are
no longer in business. :(
Aquarium Driftwood
PO Box 91491
Mobile AL 36691
phone 334-345-2323
Higher quality, higher price. Their selection is more limited than
other sources. Check their web pages for online catalog, etc.
The Aquatic Greenhouse
P.O. Box 290421
Tampa, FL 33687
813-630-9130 FAX 813-630-0171
Been around since about 1995. Reportedly good service and turnaround.
They stock the elusive Glossostigma.
Natural Aquarium and
Terrarium
3209 Bouquet Road
Pacific, MO 63069
phone 800-423-4717, 314-458-4717 FAX 314-458-9722
Reasonable prices, and easy-to-comprehend catalog.
They also sell books, driftwood, Dupla and other plant-growing products.
Arizona Aquatic Gardens
520-579-3098
Large selection listed in their catalog, and prices are quite low.
Tropica
Tropica plants are known worldwide for their quality. Unfortunately,
due to the United States import/export laws, they are not available in
this country. Check their
web site for details
on availability throughout the rest of the world.
Horizon Growers
PO Box 2330
Ramona, CA 92065
phone 619-789-2983, FAX 619-789-0297
Horizon has licensed the Tropica name and supposedly uses the Tropica
"method" of hydroponic growing in the US. However, they are not otherwise
related, and Tropica has no actual control over Horizon's quality.
Some have reported problems with delivered selection, and inclusion of
bog plants unless they specify otherwise.
All Aquatic
Plants
90 Bruce Lane, Covington, Georgia 30014
Phone 770-786-1953
All Aquatic Plants is run by Dan Quackenbush (the "kitty litter" guy).
A relatively new aquatic plant business (at least to the Internet),
I've heard a few reports, all of them positive.
Hobbyist
growers
There may be hobbyists in your area willing to trade cuttings.
Consider joining an aquarium society,
or you may be able to locate people through internet mailing lists
(Steve Pushak maintains one such list at
http://home.infinet.net/teban/where.html,
though it may not be current.)
Please send names of your favorite supplier; this section could be expanded.
You can get many of the supplies for building your own CO2 injector from
local welding shops and carbonated beverage distributors. Some of the
equipment has been found particularly inexpensive:
- Cylinders: (This comes from
Matt McCabe)
One cheap source is Geer Gas in Ohio, $38.50 for a 5lb cylinder, plus big
shipping. It's still cheaper than buying it in some places.
1-800-696-4337 (614-464-4277). Refill at fire extinguisher store or
beverage supply house.
- Regulators: We had previously recommended something here called
a "FROG." This device is actually a flow regulator, and is
not really recommended for the bubbling rate we use in planted tanks;
at best, it will merely keep your system from exploding if the needle
valve breaks under all the pressure. If you are looking for a cheaper
regulator, try beverage supply models, which are less rugged than
welding regulators.
- Needle Valves: (originally located by
Gary Bishop)
An inexpensive metering valve (around $14) is the ARO model "NO1" or "NO2" from The ARO
Corporation, One
ARO Center, Bryan, OHIO 43506, Phone (419)636-4242. In Canada, (416)213-4500.
Web site:
http://aro.ingersoll-rand.com/power/valve.htm It provides
infinite control from full-close to full-open. It has a neat color
scale to indicate the degree of openness and can be locked at any
setting. The adjustment is very smooth; I can go from off through
incredibly slow flows to just right and beyond to way more than I
need. You can locate a distributor of this valve
in your area by calling the ARO company. Even if you cannot locate
this exact valve, your local dealer might be able to suggest an
equivalent substitute of a different brand. A more expensive option
(around $50) is one of the fine metering needle valves by Nupro, such
as the "S" Series (model B-4MG2).
Web page: http://www.swagelok.com/
- Solenoid Valves: (from Gary Bishop)
``$24.00 from "Air Power Inc." (In Yellow Pages under
Valves). This is solenoid valve model "CAT33P-012D" from "The ARO
Corporation, One ARO Center, Bryan, OHIO 43506, Phone (419)636-4242".
You can get it with a variety of coil voltages. I chose 12 volts DC.''
Dupla supplies CO2 equipment, fertilizers, and heating cable systems,
among many other nifty expensive specialty products.
In the US, Dupla is imported through
J.P. Burleson and Company, but they
do not sell directly to the consumer. You can either bug your local retailer
to special-order something for you or purchase through a mail-order company.
Two popular mail-order house are
DaleCo and
Pet Warehouse.
(This came from Shaji Bhaskar)
The aquatic plant mailing list is intended to be a medium for exchange
of information about all aspects of growing aquatic plants as a hobby.
Postings on both aquarium plants and pond plants are welcome. Topics of
discussion include (but are not limited to):
- Individual plant species (identification, cultivation, propagation, etc.)
- Aquascaping
- Substrates - pros and cons of commercial substrate additives, potting
soil, peat, etc.
- Water conditioners and fertilizers
- Hardware - heaters, filters, surface skimmers, etc.
- Compatibility of fish and other organisms with aquatic plants
- Trades/exchanges between hobbyists (advertisements from
commercial-scale operations are not permitted.)
To subscribe, send the following in the body (not subject line) of an e-mail
message to ``Majordomo@actwin.com'':
subscribe aquatic-plants
``Purpose of the AGA:
- disseminate information about aquatic plants
- to study and improve upon techniques for culturing
aquatic and bog plants in aquariums and ponds.
- to increase interest in aquatic gardening
- to promote fellowship among its members.
The journal of the AGA is called The Aquatic Gardener and we put out
6 of these a year.
The publication is usually 25-30 pages long and contains good info.
Membership dues are $15.00yr, U.S./Canada/Mexico and $28.00/yr, all
other countries.
Send check or money order to
Jack O'Leary
71 Ring Road
Plympton, MA 02367-1406 (USA)
(All funds must be in U.S. Currency)
AGA is a non-profit organization.
(This list originally came from George Booth)
Plant basics
- Aquatic Plants; Hobbyist Guide to the Natural Aquarium
Aquarium Digest International #45
Andrews, C.
Tetra Press
- Hobbyist Guide to the Natural Aquarium
Andrews, C.
1991, Tetra Press
- A Fishkeeper's Guide to Aquarium Plants
James, Barry
1986, Salamander Books Ltd., London.
``Lots of people recommend this as a great first plant book.'' -- E.O.
- Water Plants in the Aquarium
Scheurmann, Ines
1987, Barron's Educational Services
- Aquarium Plants Manual
Scheurmann, Ines
1993, Barron's Educational Services
``Lots of detail and good photographs for a small book.
Well worth the price.'' -- E.O.
- The Complete Book of Aquarium Plants
Allgayer, R., and Teton, J.
1987, Ward Lock Limited, London.
Plant Identification and Culturing
Technical Setup, Equipment and Maintenance
- The Optimum Aquarium
Horst, K., and Kipper, H.
1986, AD aquadocumenta Verlag GmbH.
``The bible for anyone interested in high-tech planted tanks.'' --
E.O.
More detailed information on plants and planted tanks can be obtained from
``the Krib''
World Wide Web pages (http://www.thekrib.com).
End of Plant FAQ.
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