Planted Aquariums

[Zeoth]

I've been keeping plastic plants for awhile ,( I know, I know , your thinking plastic plants?! Eww, what kind on fish keeper is he!), and I want to add some real plants. So if you could give some suggestions on some great starter plants for the tropical aquarium that'll be great.

 

[K.J.]

Anubias, java fern, java moss. They all attach to rocks and are easy to grow. Good starter plants, but if you want to have plants that go in the ground, I suggest buying root tabs or nutritional substrate. It's not necessary but certainly benefits the plants.

 

[Matty P]

Anubias afzelii, Anubias barteri, Anubias gigantae, Anubias gracilis, Anubias nana, Aponogeton longiplumulosus, Aponogeton undulatus, Congensis, Cryptocoryne wendtii, Golden nana, Java moss, Petite nana, Water Hyacinth

 

[Zeoth]

Also do I need a specific substrate, and how deep should the substrate be? Right now I have gravel which is about an inch thick.

 

[BigC]

I always use fine gravel (not pea or sand)
Place about 25mm of fine unwashed gravel mixed with garden loam (or one of the prepared Laterite mixes from your Lfs) on the aquarium base then cover this with about 35mm of washed fine gravel. This is a good substrate for your plants.
An easy undemanding plant to start of with has to be Hygrophila polysperma.
Regards
BigC