You can grow crypts, ferns and anubias very successfully without co2 in fact many crypts don't like the pH swings created by the co2 and are prone to melt.
Yep, perfectly normal.
Most people keep them in tanks with very low flow but as you have seen they prefer high flow, highly oxygenated, soft water.
Nice pics BTW
I have found that the "Blue top granny's" like in the top left of your photo do better in tropical conditions so I would avoid adding any more of them 8)
I purhased a kilo of them about a month ago to trail as part of a varied diet for my fish.
The fish accept them readily, all the fish are in good health with many of them breeding.
I have no complaints so far.
Ahh well, new time you purchase a product or service that doesn't meet the retailers or manufacturers claims and they didn't "deliberately mislead you" we wont hear you complaining or asking for a refund will we :roll:
I feel that it is ultimately the retailers responsibly and if there is any doubt over an ID that could mislead or deceive the customer then the customer should be made aware, just like when suspected Rio Ucayali could not be 100% identified and they were sold as "spotted bristlenose" instead.
Yep.
There was one of these for sale on TM recently
http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=99
I really wanted it but he wouldn't ship
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=355742641
"Even very young children need to be informed about dying. Explain the concept of death very carefully to your child. This will make threatening him with it much more effective." - P. J. O'Rourke