Fast Growers For A First Timer

[Alps]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some fast growing plants that I can put in my 20g when I clone tanks from my 10g. It is a 20 long so isn't very tall/high, but was wondering what you guys would recommend? I have never had plants, but have been researching. I will be using eco-complete also.

Thanks,

Jon

 

[George Farmer]

What lighting do you have? Fast growers are "fast" only with sufficient lighting.

Hygrophila species
Ludwigia species
Rotala species
Egeria species
Brazilian Water Ivy
Small Ambulia
Mexican Oak Leaf
Water Sprite
Hornwort
Floating plants (careful they don’t block too much light)

 

[Alps]

What lighting do you have? Fast growers are "fast" only with sufficient lighting.

Hygrophila species
Ludwigia species
Rotala species
Egeria species
Brazilian Water Ivy
Small Ambulia
Mexican Oak Leaf
Water Sprite
Hornwort
Floating plants (careful they don’t block too much light)

It will have about 2 - 2.5 wpg and I'm just looking too prevent algae when I first start. The ph is about 7.8 and I keep the temp at 80 fahrenheit/ 27 celsius. Variety in leaf shape would be nice too. I'll just look up whatever you guys recommend.

- does creeping jenny grow fast?

 

[George Farmer]

You'll need CO2 injection with over 2wpg to stand the best chance against algae.

Creeping Jenny isn't the fastest grower but will do ok with your light and CO2.

I can recommend Hygrophila polysperma, Limnophila sessiflora (small ambulia) and Hydrocotyle leucocephala (water ivy). These all have interesting leaf shapes and will grow fast in most conditions. Water ivy can be floated too.

 

[Alps]

You'll need CO2 injection with over 2wpg to stand the best chance against algae.

Creeping Jenny isn't the fastest grower but will do ok with your light and CO2.

I can recommend Hygrophila polysperma, Limnophila sessiflora (small ambulia) and Hydrocotyle leucocephala (water ivy). These all have interesting leaf shapes and will grow fast in most conditions. Water ivy can be floated too.

yah, i am going to use a nutrafin unit as the tank is small. What about vallis for a fast grower? Do they like high ph?

thanks for your help

 

[George Farmer]

Vallis is unpredictable. Some cannot stop it taking over their tank, others cannot grow it with seemingly ideal conditions.

Providing you can grow it, and you seem to have hard water which it prefers (high pH generally means hard water), then yes, it is a fast grower. Worth a try I'd say.

 

[Alps]

ok, thanks for all the help. Now i just need to order