Live Plants In Tank

[AngKat]

I want to add more Plants in my tank to give my fishes more placed to hide. I much prefer the look of live plants, but I've no idea what is involved in keeping them. I also don't know if my fish will be munching on them constantly. Can anyone give me some advice please?

My current fish are

1 male betta
2 female balloon mollies
1 female platy
5 male guppies

 

[minnnt]

Your fish won't bother them.

As for plants, try some Vallis, Java Fern and Anubias. They're all easy to keep plants and don't really take too much caring for!

The Fern and Anubias will need tying or super gluing to either a rock or wood as they need their roots exposed to the water column.

Cryptocoryne and mosses are also worth a look.

 

[Greg_DS]

I had a kind of fern looking thing (not sure what it was) and my platys constantly nipped at it and I had a lot of bits floating about, ended up taking it out. Stick with bigger leafed specimens that won't fall apart easily.

 

[AngKat]

Thank you! So do I just plonk them in the tank? Won't they float? Do they require any kind if care? Will they need replacing at some point? Sorry for all the questions!

 

[minnnt]

Vallis, crypts etc need planting in the substrate.

 

[FishNChimps]

To nourise them I use plant tablets buried under the gravel, and add aquarium plant food (liquid, from King British) to my weekly water change. So far, so good.

 

[AngKat]

Thank you for your help!

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Yet it is still possible to recreate a very natural looking environment using false plants. I do it with my 120L tank, yes the better, more 'real' looking plants do cost more money, but if you do your research into what is available to you then it is very simple to have mostly fake plants.. be them 'rooted' or 'floating' (i have both).

Hope this helps,
Terry.

 

[AngKat]

Thanks Terry, is it the silk plants you mean?

 

[bigfish-smallpond]

My rule of thumb is... if it fits in their mouths... Its lunch! My guppies stripped my fine leaved plants but never touch wider leaf ones .

 

[The Taffy Apple]

Thanks Terry, is it the silk plants you mean?

They are an option, yes, and i have 1 of them. But what i mean mostly is trying to avoid the cheap looking (and cheap costing) fake ones you may find in your local pet store (dedicated fish/aquarium stores tend to sell much better ones).

Obviously, real plants can look better in your tank and if you have the time and effort then a planted tank maybe your option.

Terry.

 

[Reret]

I use a big clump of horn wart and it grows as fast as the guppys eat it but it is messy I use it for breeding

 

[AngKat]

Thanks retet, no way I intend on breeding though! I already have over 60 fry after unintentionally buying 2 pregnant balloon mollies 5 days ago!!

 

[minnnt]