Lets talk plants!! Plant suggestions

So I'm at that stage where I grew out of the all-plastic plants' stage. I have been researching some beginner plants recently and I can't really find any that matches what I want. So the next best place would be to ask here. Based on your guys' experience, what would y'all recommend for an absolute beginner? I have some duckweed in my tank and I absolutely love it.

Here's what I'm looking for:
Preferably fast-growing, so I can propagate it and make my tank look lusher.
Something that doesn't need a nutrient-rich substrate and can thrive in normal gravel
Plants that can be planted floating like water wisteria and not like duckweed
Something that is easily accessible at stores (not rare to find)
Easy to maintain and no CO2 injections needed
Also, something that would look good with multiple plants in a 20g high

I would appreciate it if y'all could drop some plant suggestions based on your experience.
Thanks in advance!!

 

Java Ferns, Valls, Anubias, Moss, Crypts and Amazon Swords are a few

 

I definitely agree with what Dennis said. Especially the amazon sword -- It's quite fast growing and fills in the tank very well. You may have to trim it a bit to avoid it taking over, but I have one in my 5 gallon and it is doing great. However, it does need a nutrient-rich substrate. If you are interested, you can get root tabs to put in the gravel and your plants will get adequate nutrients.
As for floating plants, I would recommend something like frogbit. Fast-growing if you provide it with enough lighting and nutrients, will suck up all that excess nutrients and prevent algae growth, and has large enough leaves to remove easily.

 

I definitely agree with what Dennis said. Especially the amazon sword -- It's quite fast growing and fills in the tank very well. You may have to trim it a bit to avoid it taking over, but I have one in my 5 gallon and it is doing great. However, it does need a nutrient-rich substrate. If you are interested, you can get root tabs to put in the gravel and your plants will get adequate nutrients.
As for floating plants, I would recommend something like frogbit. Fast-growing if you provide it with enough lighting and nutrients, will suck up all that excess nutrients and prevent algae growth, and has large enough leaves to remove easily.

Amazon swords were one of the plants I researched about. About root tabs..... I've seen multiple fish YouTubers having major casualties with using root tabs such as MASSIVE ammonia and nitrate spikes right after putting them in. Is this a common problem or just a problem with certain brands?

Also, I have duckweed, so I don't really want to add frogbits. When I meant by floating, I meant by plants like water wisteria that can be wedged into a piece of driftwood and not planted into the substrate. I should have chosen better words for that sorry

Java Ferns, Valls, Anubias, Moss, Crypts and Amazon Swords are a few

Java ferns are something that I am considering. Thanks for the input. I will look more into Anubis and crypts

 

Amazon swords were one of the plants I researched about. About root tabs..... I've seen multiple fish YouTubers having major casualties with using root tabs such as MASSIVE ammonia and nitrate spikes right after putting them in. Is this a common problem or just a problem with certain brands?

Also, I have duckweed, so I don't really want to add frogbits. When I meant by floating, I meant by plants like water wisteria that can be wedged into a piece of driftwood and not planted into the substrate. I should have chosen better words for that sorry

Java ferns are something that I am considering. Thanks for the input. I will look more into Anubis and crypts

Hmm in that case Brazilian Pennywort may be an interesting idea. It's a water column feeder that you can plant at the bottom of the tank and it'll grow to the top and be an excellent floater.

 

Forground:
Crypt parva
Crypt lutea 'Hobbit'
Anubias nana 'Petite'

Midground:
Bacopa sp. 'compact'
Sagittaria subulata
Blyxa Japonica
Crypt wendii (any colour varient)
Crypt lutea
Crypt flamingo
Crypt mioya
Crypt petchii
Staurogyne repens
Staurogyne sp. porto velho
Any Java Jern
Any Anubias
Any Bolbitis
Any Sword
Dwarf Tiger Lotus

Background:
Bacopa caroliniana
Rotala rotundifolia
Ludwigia repens
Ludwigia repens 'Rubin'
Ludwigia ovalis
Crypt spiralis
Crypt balansae
Nymphoides sp. 'Taiwan'
Lloydiella Lysimachia Nummularia Aurea
Any Cabomba
Any Myriophyllum


I have grown all of these low tech in plain sand with only water column fertilizers, no CO2 and moderate - strong lighting.

Most of these are available in stores, if not they are pretty easy to find online.

 

Sessiliflora is my favourite plant and grows so fast , I love how the tops close at night and open again during the day ! Any type of Anubias also gets my vote as you have wood for it to be stuck or places on.

 

Red Tiger Lotus is another of my favorites

 

. . . Here's what I'm looking for:
Preferably fast-growing, so I can propagate it and make my tank look lusher.
Something that doesn't need a nutrient-rich substrate and can thrive in normal gravel
Plants that can be planted floating like water wisteria and not like duckweed. . .

• For fast growing and easily propagated, most of the easy stem plants would be good. You mentioned water wisteria. That definitely qualifies. If your tank is at least moderately tall vallisneria is a good option. Once it gets established it will send out runners and propagate itself without any effort on your part.
• There's a wide variety of plants that will thrive without a nutrient rich substrate. All my tanks (except the newest; see 20 Gallon Tank - Finally setting up a dirted tank | Freshwater Aquarium Journals Forum | 512240) have just sand, and plants thrive.
• Pearl weed and guppy grass are two plants that do well floating or planted in the substrate. Not everyone likes guppy grass, but if you like duck weed you probably won't mind it. Water sprite is another, and one of my favorites. In fact, in my tanks it does better floating than planted. It will also readily produce new plants while floating. I've had a single plant get to around 12" in diameter before removing it.

 

Forground:
Crypt parva
Crypt lutea 'Hobbit'
Anubias nana 'Petite'

Midground:
Bacopa sp. 'compact'
Sagittaria subulata
Blyxa Japonica
Crypt wendii (any colour varient)
Crypt lutea
Crypt flamingo
Crypt mioya
Crypt petchii
Staurogyne repens
Staurogyne sp. porto velho
Any Java Jern
Any Anubias
Any Bolbitis
Any Sword
Dwarf Tiger Lotus

Background:
Bacopa caroliniana
Rotala rotundifolia
Ludwigia repens
Ludwigia repens 'Rubin'
Ludwigia ovalis
Crypt spiralis
Crypt balansae
Nymphoides sp. 'Taiwan'
Lloydiella Lysimachia Nummularia Aurea
Any Cabomba
Any Myriophyllum


I have grown all of these low tech in plain sand with only water column fertilizers, no CO2 and moderate - strong lighting.

Most of these are available in stores, if not they are pretty easy to find online.

That's quite a list, Thank you so much! I think I will do more research on java ferns and anubias nanas and amazon swords since I am favoring them a lot more than the others on the list!