luna

My tank's just a 5 gallon hex, so I don't have a lot of space...and my substrate is flat marbles. Because I have a betta, I don't want to change the substrate - anything else she might try to eat or tear her fins on (she dives headfirst into her marbles digging for what I'm guessing is bits of food). I think this probably limits my options more than anything else.

The current light setup is 2-3 watts per gallon (I don't know if the bulb included with the hood was 10 or 15 watts, but the replacement bulbs I have are 15w).

Are there any plants that would actually integrate into my tank without requiring a lot of work or maintenance, or the changing/addition of any equipment?

Shaina

I have Water Wisteria and Java moss in tanks with gravel, stock lighting, a standard HOB and/or sponge filter, and they've been doing very well. The Water Wisteria, though, is in a well-established tank so that might help with nutrients, and I doubt the smooth marbles would be good for it.

I've also heard Java Fern and Anubias work well under such circumstances. I don't have any Java Fern, though, and my Anubias are in a tank with CF lighting so I can't say for sure. Both Javas and any Anubias shouldn't be planted: you can just tie them to whatever you want them on, and let them do their thing. Java Moss has the added benefit of thriving as a floating plant, so you could float a little in the corner for your Betta to blow bubble nests in. Guppy Grass is another option if you don't mind trimming it back frequently to keep it from covering the surface of your tank.

Even with 2-3 Watts/gallon, you probably can't go to higher light-req plants because stock lighting often doesn't have the right intensity, though you may be fine, and you'll want to avoid plants that depend on their roots due to your substrate.

luna

Well, SHE doesn't blow bubble-nests...

With the current I have from the filter/BIO-wheel and the airstone, I don't know if a floating plant would work well. The surface of the water moves a little too much for something like that to stay put, unless I hid it behind the filter intake and output, as far from the light and the bubbles as I could get something.