Problems with plants

[goatboy]

Sorry, I'm a bit of a dunce.

I can't even claim I'm just starting out as I've had my tank for about 3 years. However, I'm just starting to take it a bit more seriously. So...

What are the best plants to put in your tank to not get eaten/destroyed? I mean apart from plastic ones, I'm not too impressed with them in general.

I've got a 50 litre tank with 2 x tinfoil barbs (big guys, but I would find it hard to say goodbye), 2 x bronze corys and 4 x golden algae eaters. Yeah, I'm aware this is a bizarre set-up, but I've kinda inherited things.

Cheers

goatboy

 

[Lateral Line]

Certain fish will nibble on a plant from time to time, others would include a good bit of plant material in their natural diet, others are known to be total lawnmowers.

TinFoil Barbs fall into the third category, they will eat plants. They also get big, (300mm/12" +), and strong, which means they will eat some plants that smaller mowers won't.

Java Fern is avoided by some fish. It is cheap and easy to grow, so it might be worth trying that. Anubias species are also a possibility, but they are very slow growing.

Including a lot of better vegetable food for them might keep their attention averted, but probably not for long. Shelled peas are very popular with them.

 

[goatboy]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try.

I've tried giving them other veg, but generally I just end up with untouched bits of veg floating about. I've not tried peas however!

Again, thanks.

 

[BigC]

I would go with Java Fern, Most fish tend to leave this plant alone, its leaves are very robust, and it's pretty easy to grow..
Hope this helps.

 

[Discomafia]

Yea, java fern will be your best bet. Also, I read somewhere that the taste drives fishes away, not too sure how people came up with that though...

 

[sub.42]

Just don't ever, ever put Rainbows in there.

They are like a four-gang football pitch mower. Nothing is safe. They eat everything, and I mean everything.

My two make sure my Ludwigia Repens stays about four inches tall.

Wisteria, no problem.

Crypts, all those juicy new leaves......mmmmmmmmmm.

They are soooooo greedy.



Sub.

 

[goatboy]

Woah! Java ferns totally work. Although at my LFS (Dobbies) I had to buy a bit of bogwood with it on, it's definately surviving.

Top Hole! And many thanks everyone!

 

[jimbooo]

rainbows dont seem to be a problem in mine, never eaten a leaf and dont get fed much either. strange.