thoughts on good plants for my cool, hard water native fish tank???

[Magnum Man43 157]

the blue spot sunfish, like a planted tank ( they are going to have caves, until the plants grow in ), and any plants will have to over winter at 59 degrees, and lower light levels…

I’m thinking of starting with java fern, as they are almost hard to kill, but have been browsing through plants looking at stuff to add, typically the sellers don’t talk about water parameters much, usually just light levels… but with summer water temps going well into the 80’s, and winter temps holding in the upper 50’s, and the water coming from the hard water well, and the light is adjustable during spring, summer, and fall, but will be lower during the winter, when the temperature drops, but should never go below mid 50’s F.

thoughts of plants that should thrive???

base set up can be seen and discussed in my 3 season porch thread…

3 season porch tank with native fish…

I’ve hinted around this in a couple previous threads, but now that it’s actually coming together, any further updates will be here… the tank is a glass 55 gallon tank, it’s going into a screened porch, up against the house below a window, being against the house in the screened roofed area...

www.fishforums.net

 

[GaryE3 1]

I would consider native plants, but be aware they die off here, to return every Spring. Our local sunfish like to clear sand circles in stands of Vallisneria americana, hornwort, and Elodea canadensis, but on the first kayak of the Spring, not a plant's in sight. Very quickly after, it's a jungle.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford41 157]

I would look at plants from North America. Vallisneria sp. and Egeria densa (Anacharis) come to mind.

 

[Boundava]

American Vallisneria comes to mind with temp range from 61-82 F, but they may need decent lighting
Elodea and hornwort will work as well with less light.

 

[TwoTankAmin37]

From the Google AI:

Cold-Tolerant Aquatic Plants

• • Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana): This popular aquarium plant grows well in water as cool as 59°F and handles low-tech setups easily.
  • Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum): A fully submerged oxygenating plant that tolerates temperatures down to 50–59°F and survives winter dormancy under ice. [1, 2]
  • Anacharis / Elodea (Egeria densa): A hardy, classic oxygenator that stays green and active in cool water down to 50°F. [1]
  • Water Hawthorn (Aponogeton distachyus): A pond plant that actually prefers cool weather, often blooming from fall through early spring in chilly water. [1]
  • Hardy Water Lilies (Nymphaea): When placed below the freeze line in a pond, their roots easily survive cold winter temperatures. [1, 2]
  • Vallisneria (Vallisneria sp.): A true aquatic ribbon plant that adapts well to temperate and unheated cool-water environments. [1, 2]

I also looked at these and it appears some might work but others not. So you would need to investigate further on most of the below.

Most indoor unheated aquariums stay between 60°F and 68°F, meaning plants suited for 59°F will thrive. Because indoor tanks lack natural sunlight and wind movement, you need plants that handle both cool water and lower light.

Top Plants for Indoor, Unheated Aquariums

• Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus): Very hardy plant that tolerates temperatures down to 60°F. Do not bury the roots; attach them to rocks or driftwood.
• Anubias (Anubias barteri): Slow-growing, tough plant that adapts well to unheated water. Keep its thick horizontal stem (rhizome) above the gravel.
• Java Moss (Vesicularia dubyana): Thrives in cool water and creates a great carpet or cover for shrimp and small fish.
• Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum): Excellent nutrient absorber that can float freely or be anchored into the substrate.
• Marimo Moss Balls (Aegagrophila linnaei): Actually an algae form that naturally prefers cold water. They require very little light or maintenance.
• Vallisneria (Vallisneria americana): Tall, grass-like plant that grows quickly in unheated tanks and creates a natural background wall.

 

[Magnum Man43 157]

I found these, and they seem to check all the boxes for me… needle leaf java fern… they have a “val” look, but the ease of a java fern to grow… I have 6 pots coming from Buce plants right now…