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[mark7616]

Well not being green fingered and more into large predatory fish I have not dabbled in plants until now, and when I have I have always ended up with those semi-aquatic ones that just rot and die lol. So I am after a little bit of advice. I am in the process of setting up a 4ft tank for an Asterophysus batrachus (gulper cat) I am going to try it with a few tank mates so I am going to try a few Microlepsis tigers now I know these like to hide so will be adding some slate rock work. Now for the planty bit my wife wants it to look nice with some nice looking plants in there now this is where you guys come in. I have 2x T8 tubes and don’t want to upgrade the lighting same as I don’t want to be dealing with ferts and co2 maybe just some plant food in the water. So I am looking for easy low light plants that I wont kill I am thinking of getting some Java fern on a piece of bogwood but other than that I am at a loss. I would like to have some nice tall plants along the back with a couple of smaller ones in the foreground, not to many though as the gulper will spend most of the time on the bottom. Thanks in advance.

 

[Esfa]

for the background, you can have vallis both twisted and normal lol.

for smaller plants, you can have things like java moss, anubias and java fern. also some crypts

if you want some floating plants, you can have things like amazon frogbit or water lettuce.

good luck

 

[aaronnorth]

anubias sp.
cryptocoryne sp.
elodea/ egeria densa
hygrophillia polysperma
echindorous sp.
bolbitis sp
java fern
java moss & some other moss sp.

take a look here aswell:

http/www.fishforums.net/content-page/226...ination/page/0/

 

[Honeythorn]

I've had great success with Aponogenton uvulaceus(sp?) it has HUGE foot long leaves and long stems, and the leaves are curly/crinkly, which fish may like to hide inside. My Krib does Also the floating pond plant Salvinia is nice and I have kept that successfully in my aquarium . It can go mad like duckweed though so you may end up pulling bunches out regularly if you have it. Good for the compost bin though Cabomba is a nice fine/fluffy leaved plant, and when it really takes off it can look very nice indeed.

 

[mark7616]

Right I have ordered some plants from Java Plants they are very cheap hope they are ok. I have bought:

For the back ground
10 x Amazon Sword

For the foreground
5 x Crypt Ciliata
5 x Pygmy Chain Sword

To attatch to my bogwood
5 x Java Moss

So hopefully should give the tank a bit of colour now will these plants grow ok in playsand or would I need to change the substrate to something a bit better???

 

[Esfa]

now will these plants grow ok in playsand or would I need to change the substrate to something a bit better???

most of the plants you have ordered are heavy root feeders, so yeah. a better substrate would probably be needed. something like eco-complete.

if you cant afford it / dont like it, then tetra plant is a good substrate to put under the sand.

or you can just use root tabs.

 

[DarkEntity]

with playsand you could just use root tabs or liquid ferts to aid the plants along.

 

[aaronnorth]

You dont need a nutrient substrate but i noticed when i put my amazon swords into the JBL substrate, there were a vast improvement.

 

[Esfa]

or you can just use root tabs.

with playsand you could just use root tabs

 

[fry_lover]

not sure if it has been covered just speed reading through it, but you should consider Onion Plant (Crinum thaianum), one of my absolute faves and as tough as old boots

http/www.aquarium-villeurbannais.fr/imag..._thaianum_g.jpg