New wood and crypt plants!

[Phoxly]

I found two crypt plants (Cryptocryne Parva) at petsmart, they are in lil plastic planter pots with roots growing out the bottom. They are about 3 inches tall atm, I plan to put one in each side divide of my tank and then the large piece of wood in the middle (it has many caves and I'll probably attach my java ferns to it).

Should I remove the crypt plants from their plastic containers or just put them directly in the substrate (the roots are growing out the bottom of the plastic thing.

Also I am soaking the wood for 24 hours and I hosed it off pretty good.

I was going to take the wood back to the tropical store after a cockroach crawled out of one of the holes in it and escaped my screaming sister and my stomping attempts at killing it. (its probably under my bed, or in the suitcase next to the bed by now.) I know cockroaches spread some bad diseases so I am skiddish about putting it in with my tank til its been thoroughly soaked/rinsed/soaked/rinsed/and maybe some vinegar.

Edit: Well apparently the cryptocoryne parva grows really slow, and doesn't get very tall. I was kind of hoping to use it as a tall grassy piece to put against the divider... So it might end up in a corner foreground, and I'll get some fake grass to obstruct the view of the dividers til I come up with something else.

[dr2b]

I actually recommend boiling the driftwood a couple of times. Helps to get rid of some of the tannins in it and kills anything on it that you don't want in your tank. I personally boil my driftwood until the water being boiled is a extremely light tan color.

All crypts are slow growing. I found my wendtii's are tall. They would be good for blocking dividers. Also, crypts almost always experience crypt rot when first put in the tank. So don't be alarmed if it starts dying. Just pinch dead leaves off and it will grow back :)

[Phoxly]

I read crypt parva doesn't get crypt melt online, which is a relief. I still dont know if I should keep it in its plastic tubing it came with the roots sticking out?

Good idea on boiling the driftood too :D

[dr2b]

All crypts get crypt rot. If it is a crypt, it gets it.

Take it out of the black cup it comes in and plant it in the substrate.

[Phoxly]

Well they said it doesn't get it as bad or severe, so we'll see. D:

[Synthisis]

All crypt can get rot.

Boil the drift wood several times... The water will turn brown other wise, but will eventually get clear again. Plus you want to kill any bacteria that in/on it.

Remove the pot from the plants and wash them all... cut off any brownish roots as they are dead.

[Phoxly]

Thanks for the advice, since the cryptocoryne parva is my first root based plant should I get something other than Nutrafin Plant Gro for my tank...?

[dr2b]

Nope...just that.