Adding Live Plants

[imgrammietofive]

yes i have a 10 gallon tank with 7 very fat female sword and platies i have some plastic plants but was thinking on adding live plants as i havent seen any babies thinking they might be getting eaten what kind of plants should i get if that is a good idea

 

[Sean W.]

go to your fish store and see what kind of plants u like and put those in ur tank... not really that complicated

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Sean, you really don't know what's involved in keeping real plants, do you?


As to the original question, it would help if we could get a basic idea of the tank, like how long it's been set up. With live plants one of the first things you need to figure out is your lighting. What is the wattage on the bulb you're using?

 

[Sean W.]

thats what i did and all my plants are growing like crazy

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Considering some places sell plants that aren't even aquatic as 'ok' for fish tanks, it's a better idea to research first than end up getting something that is going to just rot, or finding out you don't have the lighting setup to have plants, as happened to me when I first started keeping fish. Six one foot long plants with tiny leaves falling apart in your tank is not fun, nor the hours of netting all that crap out of your tank and cleaning your filter.

 

[spectrum]

Sean they probably grow like crazy because your tank conveniently already has a good lighting system, I bet you will find that not ALL plants do so well in your tank. What you said is quite right though because the majority of plants sold by LFSs are usually pretty hardy and require little care/lighting/Co2 to thrive, plants such as Bacopa Monniera. So in answer to your question imgrammietofive then yes, just go have a look in your pet store after finding out which ones are hardiest (Through research or pet store staff), then buy away. Alternatively order some from a site such as this

http/java-plants.com/

Most online stores are far cheaper than Pet stores, but you can see what you're getting from a pet store. Its up to you really.

Hope this helps

 

[utajoker]

i bought 25 plants off ebay for £5, they are all growing really well, i havent changed my lighting from the standard bulb that came with the tank.

 

[imgrammietofive]

imy tank is a standard 10 gallon with the lighting that comes with the tank set up that i have had set up for like 2 years ive never had live plants. what im wanting help with is what kind of plants to use when there are babies to hide

Sean, you really don't know what's involved in keeping real plants, do you?


As to the original question, it would help if we could get a basic idea of the tank, like how long it's been set up. With live plants one of the first things you need to figure out is your lighting. What is the wattage on the bulb you're using?

my tank has been set up for like 2 years and the light bulb is a pre tested 15w/120v incandescent aquarium clear

 

[spectrum]

That lighting will be more than adequate for several of the more common plant varieties. I too have low light, (A bit less than yours on one tank) my profile has a list of plants I own and that do well with the lighting I provide.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

I was under the impression incandescent lights weren't that great for plants, fluorescents were what you should use?


Also you may want to get this moved to the planted tank section.

 

[Honeythorn]

I have a 15 watt in my betta tank and have Crypts, Java moss, Elodia and what I believe to be Limnipholia all growing well in there. I just bought some Juncus Repens for the tank so I'll see how that does in the mid front centre.


If it's a hiding place for fry you want, then I would definitely say get some Java moss. You tie this firmly (but not so tight as to cut in ) to wood or rock with some fine fishing line ( wood seems to work best ) and leave it to grow. Simple as that. In a month orso it will be a good sized clump of moss.

Floating plants are also a really good idea for fry as well, as many fry like to hang out near the surface I have noticed. In which case a couple of good plants to try are Riccia, and Water lettuce.


You can of course always get yourself a couple of large breeding nets for your females to drop their fry in, and remove the adults when all the fry are born. Then keep the fry in there until they are a little bigger and can swim well and hide.