What Plants Are Suitable For 1-2 Watts Per Gallon?

[BenVernon]

Hey,
 
So I just got a new 10 gallon today which has a maximum wattage of 15 watts giving me 1.5 watts per gallon. I am hoping to create a planted tank for my neons and a few shrimp. What low light level and maintenance free plants could I get? 
 
I was thinking Java Fern, Jungle Val, Amazon Swords, Dwarf Hairgrass? 

 

[bluesword23516]

I have a Java, that should work. Mine is three and has had just a ten gallon light source with the 15 watts. I have a type of sword, but I just got it so it's too early to tell. 

 

[Ch4rlie]

15 w in a 40 litre / 10 gal tank is about 0.375 watts per litre. 
 
This is basically low to med light tank, so low light plants would work best.
 
Crypts, Java fern, Anubias, Moss balls, Vals and also stem plants like elodea, water wisteria will be perfectly fine.
 
Hairgrass is more medium to high light type plants.
 
Amazon Sword will eventually outgrow your 10 gal tank.

 

[TallTree01]

1.5 w per in a 40 litre / 10 gal tank is about 0.375 watts per litre. 
 
This is basically low to med light tank, so low light plants would work best.
 
Crypts, Java fern, Anubias, Moss balls, Vals and also stem plants like elodea, water wisteria will be perfectly fine.
 
Hairgrass is more medium to high light type plants.
 
Amazon Sword will eventually outgrow your 10 gal tank.

I wouldn't say crypts are maintenance free. They do much better with root tablets.

 

[daizeUK]

I wouldn't say crypts are maintenance free. They do much better with root tablets.

That depends what liquid fertilisers you dose. I use inert substrate and no root tabs and my crypts flourish with proper water column fertilisation.

The OP asked for maintenance free plants but few plants are truly maintenance free! Most will benefit from regular ferts of some kind and others will need occasional trimming.

Since your tank is small I'd try to get some of the smaller java fern varieties like this one http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/microsorium-mini-p-5976.html

Anubias nana or petite would be another good choice to try but may need algae wiping off the leaves occasionally.

 

[BenVernon]

I am in exactly the same situation with my 10 gallon which I also purchased recently. Like you, I will also be having neons and a few red cherry shrimp and I am limited to 1.4 watts per gallon. Over the past week I have been doing some research into what plants will be suitable and I have narrowed it down to 4 main plants:
 
Java Fern
Ozelot Sword
Dwarf Subulata
Anubias (Needs a rock or wood to live on, non-rooting)
 
The only problem being that the Anubias and preferably the java fern do best on a rock or piece of drift wood. They can be planted but won't do as well. This may mean that you will have to go and buy some wood which could take up a significant amount of space in the tank. However, the shrimps like wood too so this shouldn't be too inconvenient. 
 
Hope I helped!

 

[mike455555]

anubias and java fern don't NEED  wood, they do just as well on top of the substrate (a small pebble would do if you did want to attach them). personally i think they look better on wood and wood/ rock add a natural feel to the tank   
 
as for other plants you could use heres a short list
 
bacopa caroliniana
rotala sp. vietnam
Barclaya longifolia - recommend 
limnophila aromatica
Glossostigma elatinoides  (more light makes it look better but will grow in low light) 
Hygrophila angustifolia
cabomba (depends on water will love or hate) 
Microsorum pteropus (java fern)
Microsorum pteropus windelov
Microsorum pteropus "trident"
Microsorum pteropus "needle"
Microsorum pteropus "mini" 
Microsorum pteropus philippines
Microsorum pteropus narrow
Anubias barteri
Anubias barteri var. “nana gold”
Sagittaria Natans
Vallisneria Spiralis (depends on water will love or hate)
Vallisneria americana (depends on water will love or hate) 
cryptocoryne wendtii "tropica".
Cryptocoryne parva
Cryptocoryne Balansae (grows massive) 
Echinodorus quadricostatus
Echinodorus amazonicus
Aponogeton Crispus  - recommended for large background plant  
aponogeton (family) 
Elocharis acicularis
Fissidens fontanus  (phoenix moss)
Vesicularia ferriei (weeping moss)
Frontinalis antipyretica (willow moss)
Vesicularia montagnei (christmas moss)
Taxiphyllum alternans (Taiwan Moss)
Monosolenium tenerum (Pellia)
Riccia fluitans
Cladophora (moss ball)
echinodorus tenellus

 

[Ch4rlie]

as for other plants you could use heres a short list
 
bacopa caroliniana
rotala sp. vietnam
Barclaya longifolia - recommend 
limnophila aromatica
Glossostigma elatinoides  (more light makes it look better but will grow in low light) 
Hygrophila angustifolia
cabomba (depends on water will love or hate) 
Microsorum pteropus (java fern)
Microsorum pteropus windelov
Microsorum pteropus "trident"
Microsorum pteropus "needle"
Microsorum pteropus "mini" 
Microsorum pteropus philippines
Microsorum pteropus narrow
Anubias barteri
Anubias barteri var. “nana gold”
Sagittaria Natans
Vallisneria Spiralis (depends on water will love or hate)
Vallisneria americana (depends on water will love or hate) 
cryptocoryne wendtii "tropica".
Cryptocoryne parva
Cryptocoryne Balansae (grows massive) 
Echinodorus quadricostatus
Echinodorus amazonicus
Aponogeton Crispus  - recommended for large background plant  
aponogeton (family) 
Elocharis acicularis
Fissidens fontanus  (phoenix moss)
Vesicularia ferriei (weeping moss)
Frontinalis antipyretica (willow moss)
Vesicularia montagnei (christmas moss)
Taxiphyllum alternans (Taiwan Moss)
Monosolenium tenerum (Pellia)
Riccia fluitans
Cladophora (moss ball)
echinodorus tenellus
 

 
a SHORT list? 
 

 

[mike455555]

well it could be longer? 

 

[Ch4rlie]

well it could be longer? 

 
For sure, thats true.

 

[BenVernon]

Plants are sorted. I decided to go with some dwarf sagittaria, crypt parva and over the next few days I will also be picking up some crypt wendtii. I just hope that they don't melt.

 
I am in exactly the same situation with my 10 gallon which I also purchased recently. Like you, I will also be having neons and a few red cherry shrimp and I am limited to 1.4 watts per gallon. Over the past week I have been doing some research into what plants will be suitable and I have narrowed it down to 4 main plants:
 
Java Fern
Ozelot Sword
Dwarf Subulata
Anubias (Needs a rock or wood to live on, non-rooting)
 
The only problem being that the Anubias and preferably the java fern do best on a rock or piece of drift wood. They can be planted but won't do as well. This may mean that you will have to go and buy some wood which could take up a significant amount of space in the tank. However, the shrimps like wood too so this shouldn't be too inconvenient. 
 
Hope I helped!
 

 
I just realised, I replied to my own thread. LOL I'm so stupid!

 

[daizeUK]

Lol shhh... nobody else noticed!
 
The crypt parva can be tricky so good luck with that one!