Livebearer Plants

[FishHobbyist1564]

Hi i recently found out that some live plants would help out my tank, so i am trying to decide which ones to get. I have guppies and mollies, so what are some really good "nitrate-eaters" that would go good with livebearers?

 

[helterskelter]

Java mos is the best plant for any levearers.

 

[theotheragentm]

I second Java Moss. It takes very little care and almost no special lighting. If you don't mind almost never being able to be rid of it, Duckweed floats at the top and grows out of control. It's damn near impossible to take the stuff out of the tank as a small speck will become a batch on top of the tank prety quickly. You can continually scoop it out if you need to get rid of some.

 

[three-fingers]

But java moss can hardly be considered as a 'nitrate-eater', it's a slow grower. It's good to have though, if you give it time to grow it provides an excellent refuge for fry .
Duckweed is a floating plant enjoyed as food by nearly all fish and it grows extremely fast - making it a prime 'nitrate-eater'. However it can block out light to other plants, so it depends on your lighting.

What lighting do you have on the tank? And are you prepared to use a plant fertilizer?

Another really easy, fast growing plant is Hygrophila polysperma, it does well in nearly all tanks .

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

Thanks guys i think i might get some java moss, because duckweed is a little too out of control lol!

 

[theotheragentm]

A much easier to control floater is Amazon Frogbit. It's much larger in size than Duckweed but works the same way. It can block out light from other plants. I wouldn't even worry about Java Moss though for light as long as a bit breaks through. Check out Plant Geek for some more suggestions.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I've got hygrophila in all my tanks now. Grows really quickly and doesn't really seem to mind if it's planted or floating at the top (fry cover).