Looking for replacements for my Vals

Bunny13 · 02-29-2008, 07:16 AM

I currently have lots of leopard vals in the back of my tank and I like the overall look. However, I have a 30gallon and these vals have been known to reach about 3feet in length which blocks out alot of light and becomes a pain to trim. Does anyone know of a species of vals of similar plant that stays shorter, maybe 1-1 1/2 ft?

RTR · 02-29-2008, 07:45 AM

Perhaps Sagittaria subulata? Broader leaf, a bit stiffer, and shorter.

Bunny13 · 02-29-2008, 09:11 AM

That seems like a nice replacement. How quickly does it grow and is it as invasive as the val?

wesleydnunder · 02-29-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunny13

That seems like a nice replacement. How quickly does it grow and is it as invasive as the val?

I've found it to be so, bunny. It sends out sub-surface runners like val and if you let it, it will quickly fill in available space. I have sag. subulata in most of my tanks, and actually like it more than I did the val. In my 30 gal long it stays under four inches tall and made a thick spikey carpet. Several of the ones in my 125 gal and 30xh have produced flowers.

Here are some pics of it in some of my planted tanks. The best pics are the taller growth in the 30xh and the short carpet in the 30 long.
My tanks

Mark

IceH2O · 02-29-2008, 09:54 AM

You might want to consider something not so grassy and give Bocapa Carolina a shot. I use it in my 75 gallon on the spraybar side so it bends from left to right. Its about 2 ft long and when you trim you have new plants to use to fill in empty spots and is tons easier to control.

TwoTankAmin · 02-29-2008, 11:13 AM

Corkscrew vals are also a possibility. I have had them in a 50 gal for years and the tank is basically 19 inches tall. The tank is my high light tank with co2 added (not required for them) so it gets great growth. They do make it to the surface and then some but normally wont get that tall. They spread like any val. The one thing is they are a more rigid plant which if handled roughly can snap/break.

Here is a pic taken to get the farlo and eggs- but there is a stand of these vals in the back:

Unfortunately you missed a chance to get my prunings which I just sent to wes and Trix :-(

RTR · 02-29-2008, 03:07 PM

For me, the sag is not quite as vigorous as the val, but both do require semi-routine harvesting.

The val only flowers a lot in one tank for me, the sag flowers much more often, in several different tanks.

Nice tanks Mark & TTA.

Trixie · 02-29-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoTankAmin

Unfortunately you missed a chance to get my prunings which I just sent to wes and Trix :-(

And I have already put them in my 37 - I will post a pic as soon as it fills in a bit.
Thanks, TTA!

Bunny13 · 02-29-2008, 06:09 PM

Thanks for all the responses!

Due to several things my tank has been left to its own accord for the last couple months with very little input from me besides the occasional pruning. Now that I am back around and have time to give the tank the attention it needs I am working to bring it back. I stopped by today to fill up my Co2 and I changed out the lights for new ones a couple weeks back. I have been re-reading all the information about EI and Co2 because I found I forgot a lot of it in the months I was out of practice.

I stopped by my lfs and they had some Sagittaria subulata so I picked some up. They also had dwarf sagittaria and some red Indian sword that I picked up as well. I will give them a try and see how they work out.

I spent almost all day working on the tank and I am looking forward to it filling in and me being able to have more time for it.

joephys · 02-29-2008, 07:38 PM

Sounds you have found something, but I figured I would atleast mention, my val. spirialis never got taller than about a foot in my aquarium.

BiscuitSlayer · 05-03-2008, 01:55 AM

I know that this thread hasn't seen any activity in quite a while, but I have a type of hygro that is an excellend val alternative. The exact type of hygro escapes me, but here is a picture:

If you look on the right hand side of the image (a little left of far right), it is the plant with the super long leaves. This type of hygro will get tall, but not as quickly as most types of vals. I belive that it is hygro salifolia or willow leaf hygro.

It is definately one of my favorite plants.

reiverix · 05-05-2008, 12:27 PM

I'm enjoying crypt spiralis as a val replacement. A slow grower and dead easy to keep.

02-29-2008, 07:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bunny13 Dela-where? Join Date: May 2006 Location: Delaware at the moment Posts: 1,010	Looking for replacements for my Vals I currently have lots of leopard vals in the back of my tank and I like the overall look. However, I have a 30gallon and these vals have been known to reach about 3feet in length which blocks out alot of light and becomes a pain to trim. Does anyone know of a species of vals of similar plant that stays shorter, maybe 1-1 1/2 ft? __________________ Rachael Sherman's Lagoon Photo Journal of my 20Gallon Planted Tank "As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction."

02-29-2008, 07:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
RTR RTR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Exurban MD, USA Posts: 849	Perhaps Sagittaria subulata? Broader leaf, a bit stiffer, and shorter. __________________ Where's the fish? - Neptune

02-29-2008, 09:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bunny13 Dela-where? Join Date: May 2006 Location: Delaware at the moment Posts: 1,010	That seems like a nice replacement. How quickly does it grow and is it as invasive as the val? __________________ Rachael Sherman's Lagoon Photo Journal of my 20Gallon Planted Tank "As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction."

02-29-2008, 09:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
IceH2O Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill,SC Posts: 636	You might want to consider something not so grassy and give Bocapa Carolina a shot. I use it in my 75 gallon on the spraybar side so it bends from left to right. Its about 2 ft long and when you trim you have new plants to use to fill in empty spots and is tons easier to control. __________________ Welcome to America, no the streets aren't paved with gold but if you sneak in we'll give you everything on a silver platter. My tanks http://aquariumboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2082

02-29-2008, 11:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
TwoTankAmin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Westchester Co., NY Posts: 722	Corkscrew vals are also a possibility. I have had them in a 50 gal for years and the tank is basically 19 inches tall. The tank is my high light tank with co2 added (not required for them) so it gets great growth. They do make it to the surface and then some but normally wont get that tall. They spread like any val. The one thing is they are a more rigid plant which if handled roughly can snap/break. Here is a pic taken to get the farlo and eggs- but there is a stand of these vals in the back: Unfortunately you missed a chance to get my prunings which I just sent to wes and Trix :-( __________________ Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure.

02-29-2008, 03:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
RTR RTR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Exurban MD, USA Posts: 849	For me, the sag is not quite as vigorous as the val, but both do require semi-routine harvesting. The val only flowers a lot in one tank for me, the sag flowers much more often, in several different tanks. Nice tanks Mark & TTA. __________________ Where's the fish? - Neptune

02-29-2008, 06:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bunny13 Dela-where? Join Date: May 2006 Location: Delaware at the moment Posts: 1,010	Thanks for all the responses! Due to several things my tank has been left to its own accord for the last couple months with very little input from me besides the occasional pruning. Now that I am back around and have time to give the tank the attention it needs I am working to bring it back. I stopped by today to fill up my Co2 and I changed out the lights for new ones a couple weeks back. I have been re-reading all the information about EI and Co2 because I found I forgot a lot of it in the months I was out of practice. I stopped by my lfs and they had some Sagittaria subulata so I picked some up. They also had dwarf sagittaria and some red Indian sword that I picked up as well. I will give them a try and see how they work out. I spent almost all day working on the tank and I am looking forward to it filling in and me being able to have more time for it. __________________ Rachael Sherman's Lagoon Photo Journal of my 20Gallon Planted Tank "As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction."

02-29-2008, 07:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,384	Sounds you have found something, but I figured I would atleast mention, my val. spirialis never got taller than about a foot in my aquarium.

05-03-2008, 01:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
BiscuitSlayer Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3	I know that this thread hasn't seen any activity in quite a while, but I have a type of hygro that is an excellend val alternative. The exact type of hygro escapes me, but here is a picture: If you look on the right hand side of the image (a little left of far right), it is the plant with the super long leaves. This type of hygro will get tall, but not as quickly as most types of vals. I belive that it is hygro salifolia or willow leaf hygro. It is definately one of my favorite plants.

05-05-2008, 12:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
reiverix Ach Join Date: May 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,764	I'm enjoying crypt spiralis as a val replacement. A slow grower and dead easy to keep. __________________ John R Puffer Forum

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