Replacing Fake Plants With Real Plants - Help!

[SeanyBaggs123]

Hello all,

My freshwater, 60 gallon tank, is about 4 months old and I HATE having all these fake ornaments and plants in it. So, I slowly want to remove some of them, and replace them with java moss, and either java ferns or hornwort. I am looking for advice on how much I should plant, whether or not to fertilize, and what products to use. I currently have some ideas and have done some research, but wouldn't mind help!

The tank is currently stocked with 3 boesemanI Rainbows and 6 tiger barbs.

Kind Regards,

Sean

 

[ETNsilverstar]

I just bought some plants, pulled out the fake ones, and planted the real ones. I only grabbed a couple because I wanted to make sure they would survive my goldfish before getting a ton of them, and to make sure they would actually grow in my tank.

I don't really have much experience with plants otherwise (yet), but that's what I did and it has worked fine so far.

 

[WTFish?]

Beware! Once you go live you won’t go back to fake. Lol. What is your lighting like and substrate? The ones you mentioned are great beginner plants that don’t require much at all. Those also either float or attach to decor and aren’t planted. I use a liquid fertilizer (thrive s and flourish) as well as root tabs for my planted ones.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

I just bought some plants, pulled out the fake ones, and planted the real ones. I only grabbed a couple because I wanted to make sure they would survive my goldfish before getting a ton of them, and to make sure they would actually grow in my tank.

I don't really have much experience with plants otherwise (yet), but that's what I did and it has worked fine so far.

Thanks ETNsilverstar! Out of curiosity, what kind of plants did you get, and did they grow?

Beware! Once you go live you won’t go back to fake. Lol. What is your lighting like and substrate? The ones you mentioned are great beginner plants that don’t require much at all. Those also either float or attach to decor and aren’t planted. I use a liquid fertilizer (thrive s and flourish) as well as root tabs for my planted ones.

I have two LED strips (probably 10 diodes in each) that stretch the length of the tank, and black gravel substrate. Haha! I think the time spent on the plant side of the hobby may help curb my urge to fill every open space in my house with fish tanks! So, its a welcome addiction. You think I need fertilizer for those plants? I read a few places that hornwort is a nutrient hog.

 

[WTFish?]

I have two LED strips (probably 10 diodes in each) that stretch the length of the tank, and black gravel substrate. Haha! I think the time spent on the plant side of the hobby may help curb my urge to fill every open space in my house with fish tanks! So, its a welcome addiction. You think I need fertilizer for those plants? I read a few places that hornwort is a nutrient hog.

Those will be fine without ferts but will grow slower. Ferts really do help. Anubias would be another great one for you, even water sprite. I’m on the fence with hornwort, when it dies off needles go everywhere! You really need to stay on top with trimming.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Those will be fine without ferts but will grow slower. Ferts really do help. Anubias would be another great one for you, even water sprite. I’m on the fence with hornwort, when it dies off needles go everywhere! You really need to stay on top with trimming.

Not sure if its true, but I saw somehwere that snails help with hornwort cleanup...

 

[napa15rt]

I tried the hornwort and did not like it. It seemed to collect dirt like a duster. moving it around to trim would make stuff float everywhere and needles falling off. Also had a gourami that ate some and choked for about 5 minutes before it finally spit it out.

 

[WTFish?]

Not sure if its true, but I saw somehwere that snails help with hornwort cleanup...

Quite possible once it’s rotting, I threw mine out so I’m not sure. Lol

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

I tried the hornwort and did not like it. It seemed to collect dirt like a duster. moving it around to trim would make stuff float everywhere and needles falling off. Also had a gourami that ate some and choked for about 5 minutes before it finally spit it out.

Any other recommendations? I want the moss to cover the decor I have now (and maybe the back wall if I get ambitious), but I also want a tall plant to break line of sight between the two schooling fish if they need it.

Quite possible once it’s rotting, I threw mine out so I’m not sure. Lol

Any other recommendations? I want the moss to cover the decor I have now (and maybe the back wall if I get ambitious), but I also want a tall plant to break line of sight between the two schooling fish if they need it.

 

[WTFish?]

Any other recommendations? I want the moss to cover the decor I have now (and maybe the back wall if I get ambitious), but I also want a tall plant to break line of sight between the two schooling fish if they need it.

The water sprite will get really tall.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Does anyone have experience with
Jungle Vallisneria?

 

[WTFish?]

Does anyone have experience with
Jungle Vallisneria?

I do not, I’ve heard good and bad things. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

[yinoma2001]

Beware! Once you go live you won’t go back to fake. Lol. What is your lighting like and substrate? The ones you mentioned are great beginner plants that don’t require much at all. Those also either float or attach to decor and aren’t planted. I use a liquid fertilizer (thrive s and flourish) as well as root tabs for my planted ones.

This is the complete truth. I've spent more on buying plants than actual fish.

It's basically a plant tank! LOL.

My daughter's betta tank has the fake stuff but it's cute, (i.e. mushroom house and neon lily pads).

 

[Fishwifery]

I did this in a 5 gallon and never went back, lol. The only reason I didn't before is because there weren't good plants in the stores around. But petsmart now has a small collection of healthy plants so that's where I've been getting mine. I started with amazon sword and bacopa.

 

[ETNsilverstar]

Thanks ETNsilverstar! Out of curiosity, what kind of plants did you get, and did they grow?

I started with some moss balls, amazon swords, java fern, and anubias. The moss balls were doing fine until my goldfish tore them to shreds. The amazon swords haven't done the best, but they were in tubes at petsmart and everyone says they have quite the adjustment period as they get used to being fully aquatic. I have seen a little growth on them, but not a ton. The java fern I have no idea. It doesn't seem to be in bad shape, but the goldfish is always pulling it up so I can't really tell if it's grown. The anubias is growing VERY slowly, but it IS growing and seems to be doing fine. I actually noticed another new leaf sprouting up this morning.

Then I added something that looked cool (some type of bamboo, apparently), but when I did more research it turns out it's not fully aquatic. It's doing okay for now and has done some growing as well, but it's not something I would recommend unless you are able to have plants sticking out of the tank.

Recently I added some anacharis that I got from another member here and it's just floating in the tank for now. It's grown quite a bit, and I have more on the way to me now.

I tried duckweed, red root floaters, some water lettuce, and a couple other floating plants that I never figured out what they were, but I can't say anything on those because it was all eaten by the goldfish before it got a chance to grow. I did see some roots starting to pop up though, so it did manage a little growing for the short period that it survived. lol Everyone says duckweed will take over your tank, but if you find that happening, just get a goldfish...XD

On a side note, some plants may be considered "invasive" for your area and can't be ordered. Anacharis is considered invasive in MI, so I can't order it online but I can get it from other members. Which is funny, because they have a bunch in the ghost shrimp tank at my local petsmart.

 

[WadeEH]

I started switching over from fake to live plants about 3 months ago and now everything in both my tanks is real. I now wish I had done it a long time ago. It is a little more work, but I think it's well worth it. I have found the plants to be just as much as the fish.

I have gravel, average LED lights and use Thrive liquid fert and Thrive root tabs. The plants that are doing well for me are Java Fern, Melon Swords, Jungle Val, Crypt Wendtii, Aponogenton and Anubias. I think the Melon Swords and Jungle Val would look really good in a tall tank like your 60g.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

I did this in a 5 gallon and never went back, lol. The only reason I didn't before is because there weren't good plants in the stores around. But petsmart now has a small collection of healthy plants so that's where I've been getting mine. I started with amazon sword and bacopa.

That Bacopa is exactly what I'm looking for for a tall plant! Thank you

I started switching over from fake to live plants about 3 months ago and now everything in both my tanks is real. I now wish I had done it a long time ago. It is a little more work, but I think it's well worth it. I have found the plants to be just as much as the fish.

I have gravel, average LED lights and use Thrive liquid fert and Thrive root tabs. The plants that are doing well for me are Java Fern, Melon Swords, Jungle Val, Crypt Wendtii, Aponogenton and Anubias. I think the Melon Swords and Jungle Val would look really good in a tall tank like your 60g.

Thanks Wade! Sounds like we have similar setups! I'll post a picture of the tank later.

I started with some moss balls, amazon swords, java fern, and anubias. The moss balls were doing fine until my goldfish tore them to shreds. The amazon swords haven't done the best, but they were in tubes at petsmart and everyone says they have quite the adjustment period as they get used to being fully aquatic. I have seen a little growth on them, but not a ton. The java fern I have no idea. It doesn't seem to be in bad shape, but the goldfish is always pulling it up so I can't really tell if it's grown. The anubias is growing VERY slowly, but it IS growing and seems to be doing fine. I actually noticed another new leaf sprouting up this morning.

Then I added something that looked cool (some type of bamboo, apparently), but when I did more research it turns out it's not fully aquatic. It's doing okay for now and has done some growing as well, but it's not something I would recommend unless you are able to have plants sticking out of the tank.

Recently I added some anacharis that I got from another member here and it's just floating in the tank for now. It's grown quite a bit, and I have more on the way to me now.

I tried duckweed, red root floaters, some water lettuce, and a couple other floating plants that I never figured out what they were, but I can't say anything on those because it was all eaten by the goldfish before it got a chance to grow. I did see some roots starting to pop up though, so it did manage a little growing for the short period that it survived. lol Everyone says duckweed will take over your tank, but if you find that happening, just get a goldfish...XD

On a side note, some plants may be considered "invasive" for your area and can't be ordered. Anacharis is considered invasive in MI, so I can't order it online but I can get it from other members. Which is funny, because they have a bunch in the ghost shrimp tank at my local petsmart.

That's crazy! I guess you have to be part of corporate America to break the rules! I currently have java ferns and they are doing really well. I just really want some tall plants and decor/ground cover to get rid of the fake junk, give me something to do, and make my fish happy and colorful! I think I'll try anubias, jungle val, and some sort of moss...

Although, I just discovered a Local Fish Store that seems to know what they're talking about. I am visiting for the first time Saturday, so that could change all of my plans!

 

[ETNsilverstar]

That's crazy! I guess you have to be part of corporate America to break the rules! I currently have java ferns and they are doing really well. I just really want some tall plants and decor/ground cover to get rid of the fake junk, give me something to do, and make my fish happy and colorful! I think I'll try anubias, jungle val, and some sort of moss...

Although, I just discovered a Local Fish Store that seems to know what they're talking about. I am visiting for the first time Saturday, so that could change all of my plans!

I'd totally recommend the anacharis for a tall plant then. I would have mine planted, but I know the goldfish will pull it up until it grows some really good roots...

Oh, I also have some moss that came in a mystery floater package. It was mostly eaten, but there's one piece still floating around that seems to be growing. lol

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Current Situation

I'd totally recommend the anacharis for a tall plant then. I would have mine planted, but I know the goldfish will pull it up until it grows some really good roots...

Oh, I also have some moss that came in a mystery floater package. It was mostly eaten, but there's one piece still floating around that seems to be growing. lol

Would you mind posting a picture of your tank?

 

[ETNsilverstar]

Would you mind posting a picture of your tank?

Sure! This is an old picture, but it's pretty close to how it is right now, except the java ferns are tucked in behind the bamboo so they're not just floating everywhere, and the moss ball in the pic isn't there anymore. I can take another pic when I get home if you'd like though.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Sure! This is an old picture, but it's pretty close to how it is right now, except the java ferns are tucked in behind the bamboo so they're not just floating everywhere, and the moss ball in the pic isn't there anymore. I can take another pic when I get home if you'd like though.

That would be great!

 

[86 ssinit]

My 90 gal all easy plants. Get ready. You’ll be buying lights and ferts once you start. Good luck your stepping off the ledge now.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

View attachment 522288 View attachment 522287 My 90 gal all easy plants. Get ready. You’ll be buying lights and ferts once you start. Good luck your stepping off the ledge now.

Looks good 86!!! Thanks for sharing! Diving over the edge is more like it, and I can't wait!

 

[Fishwifery]

Then I added something that looked cool (some type of bamboo, apparently), but when I did more research it turns out it's not fully aquatic. It's doing okay for now and has done some growing as well, but it's not something I would recommend unless you are able to have plants sticking out of the tank.

Yeah, half the plant are only semi-aquatic at petsmart which is a bummer to me since I love those ferns and things. The aquatics ferns I got look bad, turning brown and just aren't as appealing. I'm going to send a picture to H2O plants and have them figure out what plants I need, I want it lush and awesome.

Sure! This is an old picture, but it's pretty close to how it is right now, except the java ferns are tucked in behind the bamboo so they're not just floating everywhere, and the moss ball in the pic isn't there anymore. I can take another pic when I get home if you'd like though.

Lol, kids tanks are the cutest. Here's our good start after the first round of crazy cycling. For some reason I don't have good pics of our Halloween and Christmas decorations. The bowl in my sig wasn't prospering in the winter so that plant got put in the new 65 and it's coming back around nicely.

 

[Chadwick122191]

Jungle Val or Italian Val, house those as a background, the grow like wild fire and get to for you're tank. I had a 60 then it went salt, then a leak. So I convinced my gf into a 75 salt.

Jungle Val or Italian Val, house those as a background, the grow like wild fire and get to for you're tank. I had a 60 then it went salt, then a leak. So I convinced my gf into a 75 salt.

Forgot pics. Now and before. I had to toss a few out, the had black beard algae. But my tank exploded. Just go cheap now. Get a seachem substrate, I would say just get the Fluval aquasky but the 60 is deep and won't penetrate. It's doing okay in my 54. I also use florite by seachem (I think is florite) dose it according to the directions. You're plants might look like they are be dead the first week, but they are just acclimating to the tank. Keep up on those water changes too btw. And if you have carbon, get rid of it or it will eat up the fertilizer. Any questions just ask. Here to help.

P.S. Bonus eel

 

[ETNsilverstar]

That would be great!

Here you go! There's amazon swords on the left near the heater (though they don't look great right now), the bamboo things in the middle with java fern kind of behind them, and anacharis on the right that's hooked on the anubias so it looks like it's planted. lol Of course the fish is blocking the anubias and he didn't want to move for the picture...

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Jungle Val or Italian Val, house those as a background, the grow like wild fire and get to for you're tank. I had a 60 then it went salt, then a leak. So I convinced my gf into a 75 salt.

Forgot pics. Now and before. I had to toss a few out, the had black beard algae. But my tank exploded. Just go cheap now. Get a seachem substrate, I would say just get the Fluval aquasky but the 60 is deep and won't penetrate. It's doing okay in my 54. I also use florite by seachem (I think is florite) dose it according to the directions. You're plants might look like they are be dead the first week, but they are just acclimating to the tank. Keep up on those water changes too btw. And if you have carbon, get rid of it or it will eat up the fertilizer. Any questions just ask. Here to help.

P.S. Bonus eelView attachment 522434View attachment 522435View attachment 522437View attachment 522438View attachment 522439

That Jungle Val looks awesome! Thanks for sharing! I think I am officially going to get Jungle Val for the background, staurogyne repens for the carpet, and some flame moss for my remaining ornaments. Thanks for all the help!

Here you go! There's amazon swords on the left near the heater (though they don't look great right now), the bamboo things in the middle with java fern kind of behind them, and anacharis on the right that's hooked on the anubias so it looks like it's planted. lol Of course the fish is blocking the anubias and he didn't want to move for the picture...

That looks awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Found a fun surprise yesterday morning. The two java ferns I had were still green but not growing much after four months. So, I took them out of the substrate, and discovered there were four or five of them wrapped so tightly together with thread that they were getting tangled. Pair that with the gravel they were buried under, and easy to see why they weren't growing. So, I separated them, removed all the plastic plants from the rock structure, and tied them on! (Picture Attached)

 

[Thunder_o_b]

I would advise you not to get involved with java moss. It is very invasive and will require a lot of work in keeping it from over running your aquarium and clogging your filter. A better choice would be Christmas moss.

A good easy to care fore plant is wisteria.

I can post photos when I get home if you like.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

I would advise you not to get involved with java moss. It is very invasive and will require a lot of work in keeping it from over running your aquarium and clogging your filter. A better choice would be Christmas moss.

A good easy to care fore plant is wisteria.

I can post photos when I get home if you like.

Hey Thunder! I actually decided against java moss and am going to go with flame moss. It has a slow growth rate and similar shape as christmas moss. Jungle val and staurogyne repens are going to be the other two as long as I can find them.

 

[Thunder_o_b]

Hey Thunder! I actually decided against java moss and am going to go with flame moss. It has a slow growth rate and similar shape as christmas moss. Jungle val and staurogyne repens are going to be the other two as long as I can find them.

Where are you getting your flame moss? The plant suppliers I use are always out.

EDIT: keep in mind that replens need strong light.
If you are willing to come south to Akron I can give you some nice plants. I have some rather energetic red myrio. But they do need strong plant lights that put out strong red. I use the Finnex 24/7 CC plant LED, and Seachem suplaments.

I also have more Anubis than I know what to do with. In a month I will be looking to find a home for some wisteria but not yet.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

I actually just ordered a 48 Inch full spectrum light to prepare for just that! That plant is so pretty to me though. If I can't find it at the local store I think may have it, I'll take a chance ordering it on amazon.

 

[Thunder_o_b]

I actually just ordered a 48 Inch full spectrum light to prepare for just that! That plant is so pretty to me though. If I can't find it at the local store I think may have it, I'll take a chance ordering it on amazon.

Cool. The reviews for flame moss on Amazon say that it seems to come from the same supplier as the Walmart site and the health is better at Walmart. I have bought moss (not flame moss) from Walmart and It was in good condition when it arrived. Sadly my boy Beast (9 year old ABN) developed a tast for it.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Huh.... Maybe I'll check walmart out! I never thought to do that, and I have one right down the road from work. Guess I know what I'll be doing on my lunch break! I'm afraid my tiger barbs are going to mess with it too, evil little buggers, but its worth a shot!

 

[Thunder_o_b]

Huh.... Maybe I'll check walmart out! I never thought to do that, and I have one right down the road from work. Guess I know what I'll be doing on my lunch break! I'm afraid my tiger barbs are going to mess with it too, evil little buggers, but its worth a shot!

That was the Walmart on line store.

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Ahhh gotchya

 

[ETNsilverstar]

Found a fun surprise yesterday morning. The two java ferns I had were still green but not growing much after four months. So, I took them out of the substrate, and discovered there were four or five of them wrapped so tightly together with thread that they were getting tangled. Pair that with the gravel they were buried under, and easy to see why they weren't growing. So, I separated them, removed all the plastic plants from the rock structure, and tied them on! (Picture Attached)

I need to do that with my java ferns too...I noticed the string one day and face-palmed, but I feel like if I separate things the goldfish will have a field day with it...lol

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

I need to do that with my java ferns too...I noticed the string one day and face-palmed, but I feel like if I separate things the goldfish will have a field day with it...lol

Haha I wouldn't feel too bad about it. I checked the packaging (yes I kept it) and there was nothing to indicate that was the case. It was only after researching aquarium plants for a week and a half that I even thought to look at it! Going to tie them to your bridge?

 

[ETNsilverstar]

Haha I wouldn't feel too bad about it. I checked the packaging (yes I kept it) and there was nothing to indicate that was the case. It was only after researching aquarium plants for a week and a half that I even thought to look at it! Going to tie them to your bridge?

That's what I was thinking about, though I have an idea for something 3D printed that they could go on so they're "planted" like other plants. But it's just an idea right now. I still need to set up the 3D printer and figure out how to design the thing...lol

 

[MamaLlama76]

Good Luck at your local fish shop.
We got my son some sort of reddish plant that was a medium tall growing plant, when I was at PetSmart last time (FYI it was a 120 mile trip one way, the end of Feb or early March in South Dakota...so weather wasn't great for me and light is low in winter here, our LED hood isn't too bright.) It struggled to convert to being completely underwater/low-medium low light in a tank with goldfish. I just took all we had left of the live plants in our 10 gallon, out to give the plants themselves some TLC. My daughter had one of those 1 gallon triangle shaped betta keeping tanks (she got it herself at a thrift store and couldn't keep a fish alive in it. So, I put some seed starting mix (for garden plants) in it and then some old gravel on top and water from a water change. Put a little box filter in it for oxygen exchange/water flow and planted by laying the plant on top of gravel held in place with small polished pebbles to grow new roots at the leaf nodes. Lighted it with a desk lamp (stronger than our hood light.) Did this Thursday and added a tsp or so of aquarium plant fertilizer that I had in the basement for about 14 yrs. and I am seeing new leaves as of last night. Plants are separate from our fish at the moment to recover from being abused by our goldfish. When I move the goldfish from the 10 gallon to a bigger tank, I plan to try some tougher plants (right now I am back to the ugly florescent fake ones the kiddos picked out with their dad...looks gross to me, but it gives them hiding spots until I find the right plants.)
Just wanted to give you an alternative idea to try to recover plants that aren't taking to complete submersion and get the stem plants to propagate for you and perhaps make baby plants that will grow happily underwater, rather than throwing a whole plant out when it melts back during the submersion process.

 

[Blue-Green]

Wow so many fun plants! I dunno if you’re still looking for more types of plants, but I’ll put in a good word for ludwigia and frogbit. Mine are growing super super fast. Keeping my nitrates at 0—which is great, since the water comes out my tap with 40+ ppm! And I’m a total newbie, so it’s not like these are difficult to care for!

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Good Luck at your local fish shop.
We got my son some sort of reddish plant that was a medium tall growing plant, when I was at PetSmart last time (FYI it was a 120 mile trip one way, the end of Feb or early March in South Dakota...so weather wasn't great for me and light is low in winter here, our LED hood isn't too bright.) It struggled to convert to being completely underwater/low-medium low light in a tank with goldfish. I just took all we had left of the live plants in our 10 gallon, out to give the plants themselves some TLC. My daughter had one of those 1 gallon triangle shaped betta keeping tanks (she got it herself at a thrift store and couldn't keep a fish alive in it. So, I put some seed starting mix (for garden plants) in it and then some old gravel on top and water from a water change. Put a little box filter in it for oxygen exchange/water flow and planted by laying the plant on top of gravel held in place with small polished pebbles to grow new roots at the leaf nodes. Lighted it with a desk lamp (stronger than our hood light.) Did this Thursday and added a tsp or so of aquarium plant fertilizer that I had in the basement for about 14 yrs. and I am seeing new leaves as of last night. Plants are separate from our fish at the moment to recover from being abused by our goldfish. When I move the goldfish from the 10 gallon to a bigger tank, I plan to try some tougher plants (right now I am back to the ugly florescent fake ones the kiddos picked out with their dad...looks gross to me, but it gives them hiding spots until I find the right plants.)
Just wanted to give you an alternative idea to try to recover plants that aren't taking to complete submersion and get the stem plants to propagate for you and perhaps make baby plants that will grow happily underwater, rather than throwing a whole plant out when it melts back during the submersion process.

Wow so many fun plants! I dunno if you’re still looking for more types of plants, but I’ll put in a good word for ludwigia and frogbit. Mine are growing super super fast. Keeping my nitrates at 0—which is great, since the water comes out my tap with 40+ ppm! And I’m a total newbie, so it’s not like these are difficult to care for!

It has been quite some time since I posted this. I have since planted, and seen successful growth in this tank. Also, read Diana Walstad's "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" from cover to cover. Then set up a planted tank. I'm at the point now, where I'm trying to plan how I'm going to get rid of trimmings in the near future!

 

[ETNsilverstar]

It has been quite some time since I posted this. I have since planted, and seen successful growth in this tank. Also, read Diana Walstad's "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" from cover to cover. Then set up a planted tank. I'm at the point now, where I'm trying to plan how I'm going to get rid of trimmings in the near future!

Share a pic!!

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

Share a pic!!

ETNsilverstar I will definitely take one tonight and share

 

[SeanyBaggs123]

ETNsilverstar I will definitely take one tonight and share

Didn't get a chance to take a picture of the gravel tank (which this post was originally about), but here are pictures of the planted tank!