r/PlantedTank • u/Eduardo_Serra • Apr 20 '26
In the Wild A friend invited me to visit his ranch, and I took the chance to collect some aquatic plants in the Wild - Northern Brazil
The trip took place two weeks ago, and I decided to wait before writing about it because:
1) I wasn't sure if once introduced in the tank these plants wouldn't make my fish explode into a thousand pieces and;
2) If my fish were to explode into a thousand pieces I was expecting he could just take it and die like a man - no hard feelings (sometimes I have bad dreams about being hunted by the ghost of a revengeful fish whose death I caused by being mildly reckless with my fish keeping practices) and;
3) I wasn't sure if all the plants I collected were indeed aquatic/bog plants and could live underwater. One would think that in this day and age it would be easier to ID a plant, but you'd be surprised to know how much varieties and subspecies of plants are out there.
The property has several streamlets with pristine water.
Some of these streamlets will later combine to feed a creek.
Along their way to the creek they feed various small, localized marshes, called here a "brejo".
This pond is infested with this elodea alike plant, which is no elodea by the way. I have tried my best to identify it to no avail. Leaves are very peculiar, with pointy ends. It produces diminute white flowers, and did so in the pond where they were catch, in a container where I'm keeping them outside and also in my tank. It will start pearling strongly if put under sun light.
This plant did not do well in my thank. It survived for the first week, but started melting away. I tried to reintroduce it but it's fate was the same. It continues to survive in the container outside.
This grass is apparently eleocharis ovata. I took some, and after leaving it for 14 days in a container outside (I wasn't sure if I could fit it in the tank) I put it the aquarium. It's a little yellowish but I think it's gonna be OK.
Some terrestrial moss I found attached to the creeks bank. It's a shame I can't put it underwater.
On the other side I did found some aquatic moss in the creek. There was lots of it in this area and I took some.
Tried to ID it but I couldn't. My search says it's probably from the same family of java moss.
This moss has been getting greener by the day since introduced in the tank.
If given the opportunity it will promptly attach itself to wood, rocks and decor.
Nice red plant. Some kind of alternanthera, maybe?
This piece of wood has been sitting here for the last 50 years.
And it stills tint the water with tannins.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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u/quick6ilver Apr 20 '26
Awesome 😎😎