Need a plant to camoflague my air filter

[DeepWater]

Since I started my tank, the intention has been to have a plant to block the air filter. Though I have gotten some other plants to grow, everything I have tried for this purpose has died. What recommendation do you have as a natural wall that wants hard alkaline water?

Plants I tried so far that have failed-

• Scarlet Temple
• Cryptocoryne
• Moneywort
• Bacopa Caroliniana

Plants currently growing in tank-

• Moss ball
• Java Ferns (2 types)
• Amazon Sword
• Vallinsineria
• Red Root floaters
• Moss
• Anubias

 

Tank Specifics:

29 gallon tank, 2 years old

gravel bottom (dirt underneath) - enhanced with root tabs

Recent Tank Metrics:

iron	copper	nitrate	nitrite	hardness	chlorine	alkalinity	carbonate	pH	ammonia
0	0.5	25	0	120	0	128	180	9	0

 

Fish in tank are:

Rasboras (Harlequine)

Plattys

Guppies

Cherry Barbs

Panda Corys

Kuli Loach

Amano Shrimp

Snails

Beta

Endlers

[Kurt Brutting]

I would try Red Dwarf Aquarium Lily. One bulb can create a nice thick bush. A couple of them together and it would create a thick lush wall. They love harder water. Once they start to send out shoots you just bury the bulb. Give them plenty of root tabs to keep them happy. 

[Patrick_G]

What @Kurt Bruttingsaid. They’re great and very easy to grow plants. I would add another Amazon sword and one of the Lily bulbs. After a month it’ll be full size. 

[KittenFishMom]

Many of my sponge filters and intake filters are starting to get covered in java moss or Christmas moss. I thinking about trying my hand at topiary 

[KittenFishMom]

I think someone should go into business making painted/printed tri-fold screens to put in front of sponge filters. Sort like old style room dividers. Maybe printed on silkscreen fabric, netting glued to frames. the water could flow through, but the picture would hide the sponge.

They could be landscapes, or still life, I think a big bowl of fruit in an underwater world would make someone look twice.

How does a steam locomotive with the rising air billowing out the smokestack? 

Maybe a Roman Candle fireworks with the bubbles being sparks?

Or make a Right Whale blowing bubbles?

I'm just trying to get into a better mood.

I bet some well place driftwood and a few rock would hide a sponge filter without blocking water flow.

a cave like opening in front of the black sponge would give the impression of a cave, with lots of depth.

[Tanked]

If it grows for you, Wisteria is a fast grower and easy to propagate.

[JoeQ]

I think first we have to question your ph of 9! Was that a typeo? 

[MattyM]

I've found Pogostemon Stellatus Octopus to be easy to grow, and the more you trim it the bushier it gets. 

[DeepWater]

I wish my ph was something other than bouncing around 9. I have gotten different test kits and both come up with the same results.

 

 

[JJenna]

Ludwiga Repens would be a good option, especially if you put together two bunches of stems....it has grown to the top of my tank faster than any other plant. Ooops I gots a runaway floater photobombing the pic!

Edited December 27, 2022 by JJenna

[Ninjoma]

Of the large plants I've grown that can do well in alkaline water, baby tears (giant) and ludwigia come to mine. 9ph is pretty high though, so no promises.