Narcicius

I've researched the benefits of plants and I would really like to have a few real ones. By doing so how much trouble would I be getting into as far as care. I have the time I just don't know what else is involved.

Austin {Aquarist}

hi can you get on your IM account and I can talk to you there?

joshthefisherman

what kind of fish are you planning on housing and what plants just like fish they have different requirements

sirdarksol

First of all, if you have stock aquarium lighting, you're going to be limited to the low-light plants, unless your tank gets a lot of ambient light. Check out plantgeek.net, look at the "Plant Guide," sort them by "Light Levels", go to "Low", and you'll have a list of low light plants. This will also give you ideas of how large particular plants grow and particular care instructions.
The most common suggestions around here are Java Fern and Java Moss. Warning regarding Java Moss, though, is that it spreads and needs periodic "mowing" to keep it under control. Either will grow when rooted to a rock or plant, or can be left free-floating.
A lot of people also like the different swords, and I think there are several that can survive lower light.

MissMTS

Care is pretty minimal. You have to prune them occasionally and add some plant fertilizer or food to the tank a couple times a week, but other than that, no extra work

angelfish220

by far the easiest things to keep alive are floating plants and moss. I would suggest getting some water sprite or water lettuce and some different mosses java moss and willow moss are the most popular.

sirdarksol

Fertilizer should not need to be added a few times a week. Most tanks produce more than enough nitrogen for the plants, so you've just got to make sure that there are certain necessary minerals in the water/substrate. There are root tabs or spikes that do this over a long period of time.

COBettaCouple

Water sprite, water lettuce, java moss and java fern are all pretty easily kept plants that just about grow out of control without a lot of effort. We just take out any dead/dying parts when we do the tank cleaning. Otherwise, they're pretty low-maintainance.

Narcicius

Sorry it took so long but I'm going to get some gouramis which like to have floating plants in the tank, I'm considering water sprite because people say the roots dangle nicely and I beleive that will look natural and I appreciate that look. So any advice on floating plants will be appreciated especially if you reccomend something other than the sprite because I want the most beneficial plant possible for my fish.

HatchetHaven

Narcicius

I found a little fish store with a fish guru behind the counter today who got me some taller looking plant that he said would do fine free floating and didn't need any fertilizer or anything. I just couldn't find any water sprite but this stuff looks pretty good and he said the roots would dangle eventually.