5 Gallon Tank Good Plants for just beginner in a 5 gal.

Hi there!

Don’t go off on me on how a 5 gallon is too small. I’m just looking to start a planted tank, and maybe add a betta in a couple months. Since I’m a beginner, I’m sticking to a small tank just to not have too much pressure on getting many plants and maybe later not being able to take care of them. So any good plants for a 5 gal? I’m getting 3 moss balls. (They come in a pack.) that’s for sure. And I really want some Java fern. But unfortunately they are all out of stock. So any other good low maintenance plants are welcome! Thanks!

 

Java fern is always my go-to recommendation! So easy to grow. Anubias is super easy as well, but slow growing. I haven't grown them myself but I've heard crypts are super easy.

 

Anubias is super easy as well, but slow growing.

I’ve been in this hobby for a very long time but I never had any success with anubias. I lose them all. I got one for my 5 gallon and it is slowly dying.

I have a wonderful, easy and fast growing plant to suggest but I don’t know it’s name. I’ll post a picture tomorrow.

 

I’ve been in this hobby for a few decades but I never had any success with anubias. I lose them all. I got one for my 5 gallon and it is slowly dying.

That's so weird! I've got anubias nana petite growing like a weed in a low light, no fert, no co2 shrimp tank.

 

Crypts can also be slow growers (from my experience), and they can melt when you first get them. To limit this I leave the crypts in their pots in the tank for about a week and after that time plant them they can get "acclimated".

 

Java fern is always my go-to recommendation! So easy to grow. Anubias is super easy as well, but slow growing. I haven't grown them myself but I've heard crypts are super easy.

Anubias aren't too slow growing, a few leaves in a week, you can propagate them a few times a year.

 

I think it's great that you want to do a planted tank
If you want java fern, you can shop around online. Java Fern
Like redmare said, check out YouTube; there are lots of videos that give general info about each plant. Do you know the dimensions of your tank? Just curious b/c there are some plants that are easy but they get kind of tall.

Edit: spelling

 

I think it's great that you want to do a planted tank
If you want java fern, you can shop around online. Here's aquarium co-op's: Java Fern
Like redmare said, check out YouTube; there are lots of videos that give general info about each plant. Do you know the dimensions of your tank? Just curious b/c there are some plants that are easy but they get kind of tall.

Edit: spelling

I think I've heard that aquarium co-ops plants are filled with pests.

 

I think it's great that you want to do a planted tank
If you want java fern, you can shop around online.
Like redmare said, check out YouTube; there are lots of videos that give general info about each plant. Do you know the dimensions of your tank? Just curious b/c there are some plants that are easy but they get kind of tall.

Edit: spelling

The height is 10.5 inches I think? Sort of eliminates a lot of plants, unfortunately.

 

I think I've heard that aquarium co-ops plants are filled with pests.

Oh, gosh, really? Like ich or is it just snails?

Aurorafishy there are certainly other places to get plants. Personally I have only bought them at my LFS so I don't know which stores is best. Maybe others can recommend their favorites?

 

Oh, gosh, really? Like ich or is it just snails?

Aurorafishy there are certainly other places to get plants. Personally I have only bought them at my LFS so I don't know which stores is best. Maybe others can recommend their favorites?

I've heard of damselfly nymphs and other outdoor species as well.

 

There is someone here on fishlore called Vishaquatics that sales plants. Check to see if they might have what you want.

 

Cardinal plants are a nice looking plant that I have found easy to care for that doesnt get huge, so would work nicely in a 5 gallon.

Stem plants are an option as well if you don't mind trimming when they get too tall. Easy options include anacharis, moneywort and rotala.

Floating plants are also nice - bettas especially love these. In a 5 gallon I'd stick to dwarf salvinia, frogbit or red root floaters. Water lettuce a hyacinth will be too big for such a small tank, beautiful though they are.

Mosses - a great easy to grow option for a small tank, moss stays small too! It tends to spread over decorations like rocks or driftwood, or plastic mesh if you want to make a 'moss wall' along the back of your tank. Java moss is probably the most common, but subwassertang, christmas moss and pellia are pretty common too, and all easy to grow.

 

aquariumplantsfactory.com has pretty good plants and a wide variety, I've ordered from them 3 times or so, I've never had complaints with them

 

Here’s my easy plant on the right, which I don’t know the name of. On the left, the yellow anubia.

 

Here’s my easy plant on the right, which I don’t know the name of. On the left, the yellow anubia.

View attachment 714140

I think the plant on the right is a hygrophila species.

 

Here’s my easy plant on the right, which I don’t know the name of. On the left, the yellow anubia.

View attachment 714140

Ah okay, that looks really cool, I might look into it, and try to find if anyone is selling around me!

 

Ah okay, that looks really cool, I might look into it, and try to find if anyone is selling around me!

Let me know if you find out what it is !