I Want To Add Plants But I Don't Know How...

I have a 5 gallon tank with a DG in it. I may add a snail to combat with the algae, but I was told to add plants. I would like to add plants but I don't know how to care for them or which kind to add. The room my tank is in has windows so the tank receives sunlight. I am new to plants so patience may be needed. Thanks in advance!

 

If you buy plants that don’t have very difficult requirements then from my experience you can just give them 6-8 hours of a tank light and they grow fine. All you do to introduce them in push them into the substrate gently. Sometimes it can be good to buy mineral enriched soil to put under sand but that’s probably unnecessary in a 5 gallon tank. Best of luck

 

Oh, there are plenty of plants that require nothing but a standard light (don't even need substrate)

Java fern is a favourite because it quite large but it's slow growing so it's more of a decorative thing..

Anubias or water sprite are good plants to sit on the water surface and suck up nitrates and other nutrients.

My personal favourite is anacharis though because it looks beautiful and grows quite fast.

(As I said, nine of these plants need anything but a little light, no substrate. If you put them under substrate they will die )

 

Is the tank in direct sunlight? Is there any other light source? Adding plants can be helpful, but algae will take over the plants as well if there is excessive light and the plants can't use it all up, especially without pressurized co2.

 

I have gravel, will this kill it? I think I have the wrong definition of substrate in my head.

 

It has an LED light and the room is well lit, but the tank does not get much of the natural light. I have had the tank for 14 days now and there is not much algae.

 

It's fine to have gravel just don't put any of the plants on that list in the gravel. They don't need it.