Which plants do you guys suggest for a tropical fish aquarium?

Which plants do you guys suggest for a tropical fish aquarium?

 

Really depends a ton on what your tank can provide for them, IE lighting and substrate, ferts and c02 etc.

Isabella has posted a excellent low light non co2 link for starting out.


If you plan on higher light and c02, I can help you out the best I can or point you in the direction of some execellent links on fert methods and lighting etc.

 

MrWaxhead: Do you have any experience in dealing with algae growing primarily on the plants?

 

If you plan on higher light and c02, I can help you out the best I can or point you in the direction of some execellent links on fert methods and lighting etc.

Mr. Waxhead, I am thinking of getting some CO2 system for my tank as a "backup" plan in case my plants start dying (just placed an order for a lot of new plants and don't know if all of them will do well, but nevetheless I'm giving it a try). I have no slightest idea about CO2 systems (as of now), so I'll need some help with that. I think I'll have to ask you some questions soon (if you don't mind). You seem very knowledgeable about planted tanks (and CO2) and your tank pictures attest to that fact. I'd like to hear your opinion on my setup as well

(Stradius, sorry to have hijacked your thread.)

 

In my search for the same question I came across this site.

They offer an Aquascape Design for 20 bucks. You give them all your details (size, lights, co2, etc) and they plan appropriate plants and even draw you a planting guide for where to plant them in your tank. You give them a budget on plants and 20 extra dollars and you get your budgets worth of plants and a nice design blueprint. I'm going to give it a try when I get my 45 going. You might look into it.

 

My initial suggestions are pretty much always as follows:
Anacharis is an excellent plant for a beginning tank. It can survive nearly everything. About the only thing that can kill it, as far as I can tell, is (ironically) an additive for planted tanks. I believe the offending substance is Flourish Excel, or something like that. Anyway, it's a floating plant, and provides a good place at the top of the tank for upper level fish to hide.
Java Fern is also really difficult to kill. It just needs to be tied to a piece of driftwood or to a rock.
Java Moss shares Java Fern's traits.
MicroSword has been doing pretty well in my beginning tank, as well.

 

Hey hey, pistorta basically if algae is growing on your plants or tank in general, a level of some sort is out of balance. If your tank is cycled and has healthy plants and proper nutrients and no ammonia spikes you should not get algae at all. About the only time I ever get algae is if my c02 runs out and I don't notice for a couple days. If that happens I get it up and running and dose a bit of excel on the problem areas directly with a syringe and I stop putting in sinking food for my bottom feeders, and my SAE, shromp and ottos whipe it out real fast and the c02 stops more from coming back.

And Isabella by all means send me a pm or I can post you a link to a irc channel to talk things over real time.

And ya sirdarksol, excel can and does kill certain plants, it sends my riccia into a downward spiral very fast. I only treat with excel like in my earlier post, and directly onto the plants I want it on with the filters slowed down to slow the spread, at times I will even put a tupperware container weighted down over the plant I want to treat and inject the excel under it. Its also brutal for shrimp when you dose high enough to kill algae. I try to use it as little as possible, I have only used it once so far this year. And it was a spot treatment for 3 days.

 

And Isabella by all means send me a pm or I can post you a link to a irc channel to talk things over real time.

OK, thank you Mr. Waxhead

P.S. Stradius, I like your avatar a lot

 

MrWaxhead - I inject CO2 to the point that I am bringing the pH to 7.5 from ~7.9. Alkalinity (carbonate hardness) factored in with the high initial pH, makes increasing CO2 levels difficult.

I am using both metal halides (2 x 150W) and Power Compact Bulbs (2 x 96W) on a 4' x 2' x 2' tank - 120G. The lights are on less than 10 hrs./day. The algae seems a lot worse on the plants than anywhere else in the tank (ie rocks, driftwood, gravel). It appears to be a green hair algae of some sort and/or a beard algae. I use Tetra FloraPride and monitor iron levels in the water to assure overdosing does not occur.

Do you think RO/DI water might be one way to solve the algae problem? If you still feel a deficiency is the cause, do you have any suggestions on what I should look for?

I appreciate any help you can offer.

 

Pistorta, you're still getting algae with CO2 injections? How is your plant growth? I thought CO2 was supposed to aid the speed with which the plants grow. That is, the faster the plants grow - with the aid of CO2 injections - and the faster they consume the nutrients, the less nutrients are left for algae, and therefore you get less algae (or none at all if you're that lucky, lol). Anyway, I'd love to see some pictures of your tank You've very high lighting, which means you must be using beautiful high-light plants

 

Isabella, everything you mentioned in your post is true but you have to keep in mind that CO2 concentrations are based on the relationship between kH and pH. I remember you mentioning an interest in injecting CO2. This may not be necessary based on your current water chemistry, as you do not want to exceed ~20 ppm CO2. Your water may naturally already have this concentration. What is your pH and kH now or what would be the best way for me to get you a .pdf graph of this relationship?

I know I promised you pictures and will take them shortly.

 

I posted pictures in the "Aquarium Fish Pictures" section.

 

hI everyone,
I wus thinking of puchasing some live plants for my aquarium tomorrow but I really have no idea which ones to get or how to plant them in gravel? Also are all plants safe to tropical fish and is ther anything that I shouldnt purchase? thanks

 

HI lou!

We need a little info. What kind of lighting do you have? T8, T5, compact fluorescent, etc.

How many bulbs do you have? What is the wattage for each bulb?

Not all plants are safe for fish. Some people try growing certain house plants in their aquarium. Not really a good thing. Other plants are meant to be grown emersed and not submerged. Emersed plants do well in a terrarium, they often don't do well in an aquarium. Some plants can be grown emersed as well as submersed, their leaves just look different according to how they were growing at the time. A plant that has been growing emersed will usually loose all of it's leaves when it becomes submerged but will grow new ones. The new ones will look different than the old leaves did. This type of plant is fine to use in an aquarium.

Keep in mind when you go shopping for plants, that the ones often sold in pet stores are not always really meant to be in aquariums. These types of places also provide plants for people who have terrariums, and the plant may be only suited for that purpose.

Plants that are sold in tubes in pet stores are emersed types of plants. So, these plants you need to be careful of, even though they will be in the fish section. Some will be safe to buy, others will just rot if the whole plant goes under water. Research the plant if in doubt.

Plants that are being sold in the store that are already submerged under water, are usually true aquatics or emersed plants that can be grown submerged. These plants are usually safe to buy.

Some plants like to be planted in the gravel, other plants like to be tied to things like driftwood and rocks. Java Fern and Anubias are good examples of plants that like to be tied. There are also species of floating plants. It also depends on the type of plant on how much of it gets planted. Bulbs and rhizomes are usually only partially placed into the substrate with the rest above.

Once we know what kind of lighting you have, and how much, we will be able to guide you towards plants that are suited to that type of lighting. I guess that is another thing you need to watch out for. If it turns out you have a low light tank, you do not want to buy plants that require moderate or high lighting or you'll have to upgrade your lighting, or loose the plant.

 

HI lou!

We need a little info. What kind of lighting do you have? T8, T5, compact fluorescent, etc.

How many bulbs do you have? What is the wattage for each bulb?

Not all plants are safe for fish. Some people try growing certain house plants in their aquarium. Not really a good thing. Other plants are meant to be grown emersed and not submerged. Emersed plants do well in a terrarium, they often don't do well in an aquarium. Some plants can be grown emersed as well as submersed, their leaves just look different according to how they were growing at the time. A plant that has been growing emersed will usually loose all of it's leaves when it becomes submerged but will grow new ones. The new ones will look different than the old leaves did. This type of plant is fine to use in an aquarium.

Keep in mind when you go shopping for plants, that the ones often sold in pet stores are not always really meant to be in aquariums. These types of places also provide plants for people who have terrariums, and the plant may be only suited for that purpose.

Plants that are sold in tubes in pet stores are emersed types of plants. So, these plants you need to be careful of, even though they will be in the fish section. Some will be safe to buy, others will just rot if the whole plant goes under water. Research the plant if in doubt.

Plants that are being sold in the store that are already submerged under water, are usually true aquatics or emersed plants that can be grown submerged. These plants are usually safe to buy.

Some plants like to be planted in the gravel, other plants like to be tied to things like driftwood and rocks. Java Fern and Anubias are good examples of plants that like to be tied. There are also species of floating plants. It also depends on the type of plant on how much of it gets planted. Bulbs and rhizomes are usually only partially placed into the substrate with the rest above.

Once we know what kind of lighting you have, and how much, we will be able to guide you towards plants that are suited to that type of lighting. I guess that is another thing you need to watch out for. If it turns out you have a low light tank, you do not want to buy plants that require moderate or high lighting or you'll have to upgrade your lighting, or loose the plant.

thanks for the info I have no idea what kind of lighting it is alls I can give you is what it says on the bulb which is Arcadia original tropical FO18 - (24" 600MM) HIGH PERFORMANCE AQUARIUM LAMP THE PLANT GROWTH LAMP. Hope this helps.

 

just a couple of suggestions get a c02 tank that would very much help your plants if you don't have sand in your tank. I will go look for that one that grows like crazy. brb.

 

get this one! find it love it and it will grow like crazy it grew half its size in 1 week!
Ludwigia, Needle Leaf (Ludwigia arcuata)

 

just a couple of suggestions get a c02 tank that would very much help your plants if you don't have sand in your tank. I will go look for that one that grows like crazy. brb.

this is maybe the 4th time i've seen you suggest co2 to someone.....who probably doesn't need it. you really just can't make broad statements like that. most people that keep plants do not need co2....as their setups are not high-tech/high light. the people who have crazy high lighting and want to grow hi-light plants know they'll need co2.

 

thanks for the info I have no idea what kind of lighting it is alls I can give you is what it says on the bulb which is Arcadia original tropical FO18 - (24" 600MM) HIGH PERFORMANCE AQUARIUM LAMP THE PLANT GROWTH LAMP. Hope this helps.

Yes it does help thank you! This is a T8 18watt bulb, (not sure what the FO means). Do you have 1 of these bulbs or 2?

If you have one 18w T8 light over a 24G tank, this would be a low ligh tank. Java Fern, and Anubias both do well with low light conditions. Both plants prefer to be tied to something instead of being planted because they like their roots to float free. I'm not sure it's available in your area, but Windelov is a nice variation of Java Fern, and it would also do very well with that lighting.

Unfortunately those are the only plants that I'm familiar with that do well in low light tanks, but they can look stunning, so I hope you can find some.

 

btw I would not get a c02 tank, lou. you have mollys and having a low pH isn't great for them .

 

First of all, everyone take a deep breath and calm down. At this point, if you have nothing to say in response to Lou's original question, then don't post anything. I believe that the following points will put to rest arguments about CO2 (if not, feel free to quote and argue with me)

Second of all, a few comments about the topic at hand:
Lou has low light. He doesn't need CO2. If he were to add more light to the tank, CO2 might be helpful, but at this point, it wouldn't really matter.
You can have CO2 in a molly tank. Properly done, CO2 won't negatively impact the pH, particularly because mollies can tolerate hard water (which will buffer the pH-dropping effects of CO2).
Good low-light plants for almost any tank have been suggested. Anubias, Java fern, Java moss, Christmass moss. Some others that can do well (though do best in halfway-decent substrate) are crypts and water wisteria. These are just the ones I have had success with. I'm sure there are many, many others.

 

thanks sds oh, I like floating plants too....such as water sprite, guppy grass and sometimes anacharis. though it grows like a weed. I recently got some dwarf water lettuce and frogbit...very pretty!

 

thanks everyone iv bin waiting for some replys before actually going out and buying any I will write down your suggestions and take them with me tomorrow and see if I can get holds of any of these plants il let you know how I get on .

 

Hi,

I am thinking of getting some floating plants for my 26 gallon tank for my gourami to hide in but I can't decide on water lettuce or asian watergrass. Do you have a preference on either of these plants?

Thanks,

 

My experience with water lettuce is that it needs lots of light. Not sure what asian watergrass is. Sorry I couldn't help more.
Carol

 

Do you know of any other floating plants with long roots?

 

Red root floaters.

 

Anacharis works well for me

 

Here's a few.

 

Thanks everyone

 

I am using rotala, moneywort, java fern and anubias for my betta as floating plants, I think they like it since they hang around it a lot

 

I really like watersprite. Here are some other suggestions
Carol

 

I am now debating between water lettuce and red root floater. I am leaning a little bit towards red root floater only because it seems like it won't take over my tank.

 

Would it do ok under 15watt lighting?

 

So I redid my 29 gallon as a small community tank and would like to know what plants would be best to try.

It has pool filter sand and LED light hood. No CO2.

Fish are Zebra Danio, Cherry Barb, Neon Tetra, Dwarf Gourami, Platy.

Was looking at ad for;
Bacopa, Hornwort, Wisteria, Java Fern, Java Moss, Pennywort, Anacharis

Which of these would work? also wouldn't mind any other plant recommendations.

I know nothing about plants in the fish tank so if CO2 is easy to do/cheap and not to easy to mess up I'd be willing to try it.

 

The plants you are looking at are all pretty easy to take care of. For the Java fern, don't plant the rhizome, or the woody part that has the roots coming off it under your substrate, that likes to be above. CO2 can be relatively easy, it depends on how extravagant you want to get. I personally really like bacopa, java fern and wisteria. Mine grow faster than weeds.

 

Ok think you. I'm hoping they just stay alive . If they grow like weeds I'll just have to put live plants in all my tanks .

 

I'll also add anubias to the list of easy low light plants. Like java ferns they need their rhizome above the substrate, I rubber band mine to driftwood or rocks.

 

Ok thank you will do I'll tie the Anubias and Java Fern to my tunnel thing.

And just to make sure there's no limit to plants you can add at one time is there?

 

Not that I'm aware of, I've added like, 15-20 at once with no problems.

 

Plants don't produce waste like fish have bioload, so there is no limit,
Well basically until when you feel like it is too full

 

Thank you guys.
I was guessing that but its better asking to make sure then thinking I was right and taken a chance. Thinking of adding about 25 plants at one time lol. Hoping it calms my gourami down atm hes just swimming up and down, back and forth along the wall non stop and still really white.

I got in to fish again because of my house plants so I can't really have to many plants unless there's no room/fish don't have room with that mine . But if this 29 does ok with that plants I can all way start adding some to my other tanks. I don't know if my catfish would like them but if they try to grow to fast on me I can always try some with them. I don't think they were grow that fast tho with my set up being very basic.

 

Hello Yasha:

When I think of planting my aquarium, I think about the natural environment of where the fish I keep come from. I want them to feel "at home" and safe. If you keep your aquarium environment close to the region where your fish come from, it will all look and work well together as an enclosed system. It sounds like you should check out plants that will do well in low to medium light. Depending on your bioload and set up, you may not need to fertilize the plants either. Another thing to keep in mind:



I have all of the plants you have listed in my low-tech dirted tank. They are all thriving. Depending on where you place them in the tank and how deep your tank is (meaning how close the light source will be to the base of the plants), they should do well for you.

 

Thank you
I did check info on all the plants I listed and most say there low light. A few are medium so not to sure how they will do but I'm going to try them I guess.

Interesting about the gouramis and plants I was told they would make him feel safer/happier. I'll just have to keep a eye on them I guess and see how he does. ATM he really doesn't seem happy to me and I'd be happier finely trying a planted tank so I'll just have to see what happens.

This tank is one of them 29 gallon kits with the flat LED light top and HOB.
I added a bubble pump and 3 in 1 Multi-Function Water Pump 160 GPH

The Platy was going to be my sisters but she ended up not taking it.

BTW don't have the shrimp in there was thinking of adding them with the plants.

 

I have RCS. I try to keep all fish below 1.5" in size so that only tiny newborn shrimp may get eaten. Shrimp will hide if they feel they have to swim for their lives every day and may not breed. I think the Dwarf Gourami will eat any shrimp it can. My research has paid off in my 55 gallon community tank. My shrimp are ignored once they are juvenile and adult sized. My best advice is decide if you want shrimp or fish. If the Dwarf Gourami is more enjoyable, then don't get shrimp. If you want the shrimp to thrive, don't get the Dwarf Gourami! :

 

The dwarf gourami wasn't planned my mom saw it liked it and got it for me lol. It really seems to dislike my tank and seems like it may not work with the plants or shrimp so he may just have to go. My plan was no center piece fish tho I also really like the rams. Do you think the shrimp would still be ok with the Daino and Cherry barbs? My neon should get to big so I don't think they would be a problem. I could try it with a few ghost shrimp 1st and see how they work out but I'm guessing the fish wouldn't really see them as well as cherry.

 

I agree that Ghost Shrimp may be the place to start with. Mine were small when I first got them and my Betta had never been out of a small betta cup so he was very curious. Sometimes he'd follow them around. He used to follow my Three-lined Cories around too and eat whatever they stirred up. Ghost Shrimp are harder to see than RCS and if your tank is well planted, I would think if they're Zebra Danios, they should be okay. Adonis, my Betta, totally ignores them now. I only keep Ghost Shrimp in my Betta 16 gallon. The Cherries are much smaller and I have them with small fish in my 55 fully-planted tank. Zebras can have an aggressive member sometimes. Make sure you have more than 7 and they get less aggressive in a larger group. If you have too few, Zebra Danios can be very nippy and nervous.

 

I'll have to add a few more Danio then. I have 6 atm all Longfin but 3 are zebra, the other 3 is a mix of Golden Zebra and Leopard. They do like to chase each other a lot but just over all swim A LOT. The leave each other alone just about as much as they chase each other. No one is missing any fins or anything. I have then right under the TV so there easy to watch

Cherry Barb are also 6, 3 female 3 male. They don't really group much. mostly seem to just swim all over on there own and now and then chase each other.

Neon Tetra are in a group of 10. The always seem to be in the group tho now and then a few stray. They tend to stay in one place or swim back and forth in the front of the tank close by the sand.

The gourami still is just swimming up and down the walls like a animal trying to break out of a cage.

Have a few really poor plants in it atm.

 

Yes, I think the fish are feeling too exposed right now. If you want shrimp, they'll need more cover too or else they will feel very insecure and hide all the time. They need moss too. Mine love the Java Moss and the Marimo Moss Ball. I also have Foxtail Red (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) that they love. All my fish love it! It's easy to grow too. I got mine from . They have good prices and the plants are very healthy. I know setting up a tank takes time. You will get a good balance going in your tank and your fish will be happy.

By the way, Michigan is my home state. I was born in Kalamazoo.

 

How about some broad leaf hygrophila? Beautiful full bushy plant that grows insanely fast in low light, propagate propagate propagate.