Plants Suited for Tropical Communities

Hello all,

I am interested in adding a few live plants to my new 30-gallon tank. It is 28'' tall so if at least one of the plants could have the potential to reach this height that would be great.

Specifically, the tank will probably be housing small schools of bloodfin tetra and cory, as well as a dwarf gourami and bolivian ram.

I've been reading that bloodfin like broad-leaved plants and dwarf gourami appreciate floating plants (haven't seen much on cory and bolivian ram preferences if they exist).

If any of you have suggestions for plants that would thrive in this environment and be beneficial for my specific community of fish, I would greatly appreciate it!

A secondary concern of mine is how hearty the plant is. Since I am a beginner, I would prefer a plant that doesn't require above-average amounts of care.

 

The first thing with determining plant selection is your lighting, once we get that down it really gives you a good group to pick from.

what do you have for light now and are you willing to upgrade for plants you may want?

 

The first thing with determining plant selection is your lighting, once we get that down it really gives you a good group to pick from.

what do you have for light now and are you willing to upgrade for plants you may want?

I am willing to upgrade if it is necessary. Having the right plants for my fish is important to me. Right now all I have is the light that came with the tank. It is a small bar that has 40-some small white daylight LEDs, and a few blue LEDs (for nighttime I think). Not sure of the specs.

The tank is here:



Maybe from there someone could tell me the wattage and whatnot. I couldn't figure out how to find it. Are LED lights not ideal for plants?

 

Good morning,

There is some good information concerning Led Lights and Plants in the link/thread below:


For my plants in my 33g long tank, I use T5 HO (high output) 28w 10,000K

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/common-aquarium-plants.74395/



https://www.fishlore.com/Plants.htm

Ken

 

Good morning,

There is some good information concerning Led Lights and Plants in the link/thread below:


For my plants in my 33g long tank, I use T5 HO (high output) 28w 10,000K

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/common-aquarium-plants.74395/



https://www.fishlore.com/Plants.htm

Ken

Thanks for giving me some direction. I think I will start out with something easy and suited for low light, like the java fern or anubias.

 

I think you will find yourself needing different lighting to do led lighting for plants it requires royal blue a specific red and 3 colors of white all in higher than normal output. I don't believe the marine land led package is able to do even low light plants.

Another issue you will probably run into is the depth of the tank at almost 30 inches your light will need to be intense enough to get enough light down to the substrate.

 

I think you will find yourself needing different lighting to do led lighting for plants it requires royal blue a specific red and 3 colors of white all in higher than normal output. I don't believe the marine land led package is able to do even low light plants.

Another issue you will probably run into is the depth of the tank at almost 30 inches your light will need to be intense enough to get enough light down to the substrate.

Guess I will start looking for some. Sounds like mine is not going to cut it. Thanks for the tips!

If anyone reading this has some recommendations on affordable lighting for my particular situation, I would appreciate them!

 

I have only .66 WPG lighting and my Amazon Swords do great!

I believe rams like diffused lighting from floating plants. If so, water lettuce may be a good option for you! You could also try duckweed, but it can completely cover your tank in a matter of weeks....

 

Water sprite would be great for a floating plant.

https://www.fishlore.com/encyclopediaaquariumplants.htm

Welcome to Fishlore

 

I have only .66 WPG lighting and my Amazon Swords do great!

I believe rams like diffused lighting from floating plants. If so, water lettuce may be a good option for you! You could also try duckweed, but it can completely cover your tank in a matter of weeks....

That's cool! What type of light is it? And yes I think I will try for some floating plants, but ideally not a species that will take up all of the surface (gotta fit some food in somehow haha).

 

Wisteria can be floated, also.

I have a stock fluorescent bulb.