planted native tank?

So the last few days I've been researching native tanks I'm considering doing a native tank, what I would like is anybody's input and or experience with this, as far as plants go I want to keep Washington native plants I've been researching Washington's native plants the last couple days so far what I've seen this state has more aquatic plants than I realized I usually come across milfoil when im out fishing which I know is invasive and not native. Also I'm still researching fish which would be good for a 10G any advice or pics ideas would be much appreciated

Sounds like an interesting project vance1013. I'll be following the thread to see what develops. Are you going to go random, or choose a biotope like Wash river, Lake, swamp? I am sure they all have specific plants that only grows with each individual biotope along with common species each biotope share.

Washington state does not allow the collection of native fish for aquarium use, but you can keep some other species that are native to the USA. Here is an ID guild for some of our flora, it's collection regulations though I am not clear on. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

You know now that I think of it there is a member here that may have some interesting insight. She isn't on much these days but still answers PM's. She's very cool and has some wicked native fish like the Sculpin (I think that's how to spell it). Anyway, her screen name is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

I was thinking a lake biotope since I haven't seen much in the way of plants in our river systems, yes I know the laws about collecting fish, I had planned on researching what species we have here in the state that are common else where in the US and ordering them online

fishNAbowl wrote:You know now that I think of it there is a member here that may have some interesting insight. She isn't on much these days but still answers PM's. She's very cool and has some wicked native fish like the Sculpin (I think that's how to spell it). Anyway, her screen name is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

swamp-rat is another option for speaking with someone.  Kat actually did the speaker talk for the GSAS Native Fish talk.  Lots of great information.  

As for plants...there is a book called An Aquatic Plant Identification Manual for Washington's Freshwater Plants.  Do a search on it and I think you can find an on-line copy.  It can also be ordered in hard copy format (I did this and ordered an extra which I used for a GSAS purpose)...its a great book.  It discusses collection of plants and things to consider.  It also identifies plants by shoreline, floating, submersed, submerged...etc.  And it will help you identify sensitive, threatened, and endangered species.

Have fun with this project.  I can't wait to see how it develops.

thank you fishnabowl ill have to send a pm to her

interesting cichladgal, ill have to look that up probably order the hard copy, I didn't know there was a book like that I'm glad there is lol

thank you hobby for that link I've come across similar lists in my research so far that link will be very usefull

We were recently on vacation and stopped at Fort Simco on the Yakima Indian Reservation.  They had a natural spring in the park...it was beautiful.  I think I took more pics of the spring than the other stuff.  Anyway...here are some of the plants we saw.  We didn't see any fish but really only the start of the spring was visible and where it pooled further down was not accessible to foot traffic.

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We didn't do any collecting here as this is a State Park and I was uncertain about what restrictions might exist on "park" land.  I would also wonder about any locations that are State owned or Federally owned but I would think any private property would be fine for collection so long as what you are collecting is not illegal or endangered in some way.

Fontinalis antipyretica, Elodea nuttallii, Cabomba caroliniana Gray, fanwort im thinking these 3 plants should do since its a 10g I wont need much before it would all fill out, I actually already have some elodea nuttalli it came in on my fishing gear this morning I recognized as a native plant ill get a picture shortly

beautiful I haven't been to the Yakima region yet even though ive lived here my whole life lol

when you get something set up please share some photos. We would all enjoy seeing them.

I most definitely will

this is my that I have already had the sand and hardscape in quite awhile ago

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ill have a pic a little later once my kids wake up from their nap I refilled it and added those elodea earlier today

Here is a link/guide to native plants in WA.

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Sorry, I forgot to write the rest of my post and hit send.

This guide is very descriptive and informative. I have it save on my home screen so I can read a little each week.
Good luck!!!

I got those pics used my wifes phone it takes hell of a lot better picture than mine lol

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I know its dirty been empty for a bit need to do a good vacuum and scrub rocks

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so after studying the list of native fish here for Washington for a few hours the most common one small enough and is country wide, ive come up with is Gambusia affinis, mosquito fish, any thoughts on that

cichlid-gal wrote:We were recently on vacation and stopped at Fort Simco on the Yakima Indian Reservation.  They had a natural spring in the park...it was beautiful.  I think I took more pics of the spring than the other stuff.  Anyway...here are some of the plants we saw.  We didn't see any fish but really only the start of the spring was visible and where it pooled further down was not accessible to foot traffic.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

We didn't do any collecting here as this is a State Park and I was uncertain about what restrictions might exist on "park" land.  I would also wonder about any locations that are State owned or Federally owned but I would think any private property would be fine for collection so long as what you are collecting is not illegal or endangered in some way.

that is what I found out ive read some rules that I could find private property would be the way to go, I would just have to indentify and be careful not to over collect also, what I read is that there is permits you can get but from what ive read that permit is for is helping keep invasive and over abundance of invasive species under control

I keep meaning to try collecting from the bogs near where I work. A co-worker and I regularly go walking past them at lunch. There are some interesting-looking plants that grow both emersed and submersed right next to the walking paths. If I finally end up grabbing some, I'll post some photos.

pbmax wrote:I keep meaning to try collecting from the bogs near where I work.  A co-worker and I regularly go walking past them at lunch.  There are some interesting-looking plants that grow both emersed and submersed right next to the walking paths.  If I finally end up grabbing some, I'll post some photos.

That would be cool, I'm very interested in learning more of our plants here, im thinking I might substitute water moss for java moss, im not sure where I could find water moss at

ok nevermind after a little digging into the water moss Fontinalis antipyretica turns out its also known as willow moss easily bought online funny how weve got similar plants in our backyards

vance1013 wrote:so after studying the list of native fish here for Washington for a few hours the most common one small enough and is  country wide, ive come up with is Gambusia affinis, mosquito fish, any thoughts on that

Gambusia is not on the invasive list but is on the regulated list

Animal Fish
Family: Poecilidae
Classification: Regulated


Mosquito Fish
Mosquito fish
The virtues of the mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis, have been extolled by many mosquito control organizations. However, the species can be a major pest when introduced outside their natural range. In addition to eating mosquito larvae they eat a variety of other insect larvae, zooplankton and aquatic plants. They are aggressive and have been known to feed on eggs, larvae, and juveniles of various native fishes and amphibians. Because of these negative impacts, Gambusia is a regulated species in Washington State, and cannot be introduced without a fish stocking permit. Under current WDFW policy, transfer/stocking permits may only be issued to organized Mosquito Control Districts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and city, county or state health departments, they may not be issued to private individuals. It is prohibited to stock Gambusia in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Grays Harbor, Mason and Thurston and portions of Lewis County that drain into the Chehalis river to protect the Olympic mud minnow.

I think that being on the regulated list would just mean be super careful with them. It says you cannot introduce the fish without a stocking permit but I also would not think you need a stocking permit for an aquarium (I could be wrong though) but I would think you might need a permit for a pond possibly? All these rules and regulations make assumptions that we laymen know what all these terms and such apply to...but at least we are trying to learn also. A call to the Department of Ecology or Fish and Wildlife might clear things up.

pbmax wrote:I keep meaning to try collecting from the bogs near where I work.  A co-worker and I regularly go walking past them at lunch.  There are some interesting-looking plants that grow both emersed and submersed right next to the walking paths.  If I finally end up grabbing some, I'll post some photos.

Living in the country "ditches" abound. I'll have to stop more often and scout them for interesting plants and such. There was one thing I came across in my readings about "native plants" and that's they can bring with them "native pests" into your aquarium. The article I was reading was someone that had a tropical tank and introduced "native" plants. They blamed the plants on bringing disease into the tank via some form of parasite. I'm not sure about this or if it could happen but it is something to consider depending on your investment in your "native" tank as some native fish are not cheap.

That's an excellent point - never put anything wild-collected into your tanks without taking precautions or at least being aware of the possible consequences.

I plan to identify the plant, then maybe add it to one of my emersed grow tubs.

Those are very good points I will give those departments a cal to get more info, with further plants if I collect I'll take extra precautions if I can't find them online, then I'll collect would s hydrogen peroxide dip a good measure in sanitizing these plants then if I do collect more

out of all that all i got was olympic mud minnow, now i want to head out to my buddies and try to track some down for giggles.

... and by "identify", I mean post photos of it and see if anyone here knows what it is

I grabbed some while out walking today.  It's a stem plant that looks somewhat similar to bacopa, but I'm pretty sure it's not.  Anyone??

I took photos of it still in the bag since I'm still at work and didn't want to make a muddy mess.

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Hmm I'm not sure was it floating I'd take a look through the list of plants and start looking at pics I've seen the plant before I just don't remember where or the name

Actually, I think I've identified it: Pond Water-Starwort, Callitriche stagnalis.

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It's invasive and difficult to keep alive in an aquarium. Oh well

Looks similar I've seen it before just don't remember where lol

I'm pretty sure this is the stuff - the collection area looked exactly like other wide angle photos I found via bing.

Edit: WA doesn't consider it invasive, in fact they seem to say it's important for fish habitat and as a food source for ducks.

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Edit Edit: This is more or less what it looked like where I collected it:

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Very interesting that's a cool looking plant what do you plan on doing with it oh and update I've ordered willow moss and added some of my salvinia minima to the tank since I needed to spread it out I'm still on the hunt for the cabomba I'll get pics soon once my willow moss comes in

I think I'll give it a shot in my emersed setup first, after a hydrogen peroxide bath to reduce hitchhikers.