>I am writing this Email the second time because my Compuserve e-mail
>spell-checker just deleted my whole Email. I am hoping to keep some
>cold water catfish with either Aldrovanda or aquatic Utrics. How do I
>set my tank up and what sort of gravel/compost should I put at the
>bottom, what sort of pH value should I have??? I believe Aldrovanda
>and Utrics can be over wintered at 1 or 2 C so eliminating the need for
>a water heater. Thank you everybody for all you help (in
>anticipation!) and hear from you again soon. Maybe. If my E-mailer
>still works.
I thought I answered all this in earlier mails this month!
Aldrovanda is reputedly not that fussy about pH. However it grows
superbly for me in acid water, neutral rainwater over a 5cm peat bed
with added rainwater boiled with peat. Pleco's love acidity. Use any
neutral gravel as a 3cm deep layer over the peat bed. The peat shpould
be boiled to wet it and drive out air and to sterilise it.
You can keep Aldrovanda even at sub zero temperatures. But it grows in
climates where there is seasonal heat creating very warm water. You
will need good summer temperatures and I recommend a water heater.
Regards
Paul