Plant suggestions for a 5gal

Alright, so I have a five-gallon on the way for my guppy because in a cleaning accident his tank got cracked. I'm wanting to do an aquascape with a piece of driftwood in the middle, some taller plants in one back corner, some shorter plants in the opposite front corner, and maybe some floating plants on the top. All I have right now is one sad little pink Alternanthera, and I know little to nothing about different aquarium plants. I need some suggestions for some lower maintenance plants (I don't have the greatest track record with aquarium plants, but I'm really trying to do better)
I'd also take advice or critique on my layout idea, and any ideas on where I could get good plants other than Petsmart because I don't love supporting chain pet stores, but everywhere online I've found is either expensive or seems really suspicious. I am working on a slight budget here
If it's important, my substrate is gravel, not sand.

 

Try some hornwort in your little tank.

Check your local craigslist and search for aquarium plants.

Folks that have tanks often trim their plants back and sell them on craigslist. Or freecycle.

Learn where your local people are that have planted aquariums. Healthy tanks have growing plants and need to be trimmed and given to somebody.

 

vallisneria is pretty good. i have some in my 20 gallon, and it makes runners all the time.

 

Alright, so I have a five-gallon on the way for my guppy because in a cleaning accident his tank got cracked. I'm wanting to do an aquascape with a piece of driftwood in the middle, some taller plants in one back corner, some shorter plants in the opposite front corner, and maybe some floating plants on the top. All I have right now is one sad little pink Alternanthera, and I know little to nothing about different aquarium plants. I need some suggestions for some lower maintenance plants (I don't have the greatest track record with aquarium plants, but I'm really trying to do better)
I'd also take advice or critique on my layout idea, and any ideas on where I could get good plants other than Petsmart because I don't love supporting chain pet stores, but everywhere online I've found is either expensive or seems really suspicious. I am working on a slight budget here
If it's important, my substrate is gravel, not sand.

anubias nana petite or java fern, you've probably heard this before though, as these are very popular plants because they are low maintenance no ferilizer and you can just attach them to driftwood/rocks or just leave them floating. : )

 

I have some anubias nana in my 10 gallon and I am a huge fan of it, I started with a small plant and now I have two big ones, so I might just take a runner of it instead of having to buy more. I also love the look of java fern, so those were both great suggestions. If I were to leave either of them floating, would the roots and stems be unkempt looking? Because the anubias I have has some extreme roots

The hornwort and vallisneria are both things I hadn't considered, both are really lovely so I will definitely look into those as well. I guess my decisions will be dictated by what's available near me, but I would have never thought to look for plants on craigslist so I will definitely look at that.

 

I have some anubias nana in my 10 gallon and I am a huge fan of it, I started with a small plant and now I have two big ones, so I might just take a runner of it instead of having to buy more. I also love the look of java fern, so those were both great suggestions. If I were to leave either of them floating, would the roots and stems be unkempt looking? Because the anubias I have has some extreme roots

The hornwort and vallisneria are both things I hadn't considered, both are really lovely so I will definitely look into those as well. I guess my decisions will be dictated by what's available near me, but I would have never thought to look for plants on craigslist so I will definitely look at that.

I have a few floating java ferns in my 10, they look kinda unkempt but not outrageously , craigslist is a wonderful option just be careful if you don't want little hitchkihing snails

 

Well, I looked a craigslist, and the only thing remotely close to me is some Cryptocoryne 50 miles away so I don't think it's going to be an option. It's probably a better tool for someone who isn't in as much of a rural area.
I did find one website that seemed to be decently reputable with no outlandish prices. (like 8$ for a java fern which I don't really think you can beat)
I'll probably put some feelers out on Facebook first, but that seems like the best option at the moment.

 

Lots of home aquarium sellers on ebay for small bunches of plants.

 

I will check eBay then. My only worry about getting from eBay is unwanted snails, is there anything in particular I should look for to avoid buying plants with snails?

 

Guppy love guppy grass

 

Don't forget to use the ebay tools to search for close by sellers! It will help you find fellow aquarium people in your neck of the woods.

Snails are part of the ecosystem and self regulating. The only reason some folks get over run with snails is that they have to much uneaten food and dead stuff in the tank. They keep feeding them so the snail population grows and grows!

Try feeding your fish pellet food that they eat whole, or bugs so there is no wasted food. Then the snails will self regulate and should be a beneficial part of your little 5 gallon ecosystem in balance.

Your guppy needs a friend too.

 

Don't forget to use the ebay tools to search for close by sellers! It will help you find fellow aquarium people in your neck of the woods.

Snails are part of the ecosystem and self regulating. The only reason some folks get over run with snails is that they have to much uneaten food and dead stuff in the tank. They keep feeding them so the snail population grows and grows!

Try feeding your fish pellet food that they eat whole, or bugs so there is no wasted food. Then the snails will self regulate and should be a beneficial part of your little 5 gallon ecosystem in balance.

Your guppy needs a friend too.

Ok, all of this advice/information has been so helpful and brought a lot of things I hadn’t considered to my attention (Like the eBay and Craigslist stuff) so thank you!
I am planning on getting a snail or two, but I have seen cases where plants have come with pest snail eggs that hatched in large amounts and ruined the tank balance and were hard to get rid of, but I don’t think that’s a common problem.
I am also planning on getting two or three more short finned males, but I want my tank to balance out before I introduce anything else to add to the bio load.

Guppy love guppy grass

How big does guppy grass get, and is it an easy keeper?

 

Snail dip for plants: Buceplant Plant Dip for Snails/ Algae

 

Alright, so I have a five-gallon on the way for my guppy because in a cleaning accident his tank got cracked. I'm wanting to do an aquascape with a piece of driftwood in the middle, some taller plants in one back corner, some shorter plants in the opposite front corner, and maybe some floating plants on the top. All I have right now is one sad little pink Alternanthera, and I know little to nothing about different aquarium plants. I need some suggestions for some lower maintenance plants (I don't have the greatest track record with aquarium plants, but I'm really trying to do better)
I'd also take advice or critique on my layout idea, and any ideas on where I could get good plants other than Petsmart because I don't love supporting chain pet stores, but everywhere online I've found is either expensive or seems really suspicious. I am working on a slight budget here
If it's important, my substrate is gravel, not sand.

try some moneywort too! It would definitely be a backdrop plant as it grows to the height of your waterline. but mine was seven dollars, has grown in gravel with no fertilizer, required absolutely no maintenance and has been around for about 3.5 years. i don't think it's possible to kill it!