What rooted plant would work?

[foxgirl158]

Hello!
I’m starting my first planted tank at my high school library. It’ll be a 10 gallon long, with 4 male platies, a nerite snail or two, and possibly a couple shrimp once the tank balances out. I’m currently planning on trying to find red root floaters and anacharis, and putting duckweed or frogbit in as well. The substrate will be sand. Is there another rooted plant that would do well in this tank? pH will probably be around 7-8, not sure about hardness. Thank you!

 

[Sgooosh]

Hello!
I’m starting my first planted tank at my high school library. It’ll be a 10 gallon long, with 4 male platies, a nerite snail or two, and possibly a couple shrimp once the tank balances out. I’m currently planning on trying to find red root floaters and anacharis, and putting duckweed or frogbit in as well. The substrate will be sand. Is there another rooted plant that would do well in this tank? pH will probably be around 7-8, not sure about hardness. Thank you!

small sword plants
carpeters
any stem plant

 

[Colin_T]

What sort of light?
How long will the light be on for?
Are you adding aquarium plant fertiliser?

--------------------
You could try Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma and narrow Vallis.

--------------------
You should get the teacher to put a sign on the tank saying "No Cleaning products to be used on or near the aquarium", and have them ask the janitors/ cleaning staff not to touch the tank or clean the tank with anything.

 

[Wills]

I'd second Colins recommendation of Vallis great and easy plant An other few to try would be Limnophilla Sessiflora and Cardamyne Lyrata.

Wills

 

[foxgirl158]

What sort of light?
How long will the light be on for?
Are you adding aquarium plant fertiliser?

--------------------
You could try Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma and narrow Vallis.

--------------------
You should get the teacher to put a sign on the tank saying "No Cleaning products to be used on or near the aquarium", and have them ask the janitors/ cleaning staff not to touch the tank or clean the tank with anything.

It'll be in a locked storage room, behind a window so no dumb kids think "oh haha I'm going to mess with/drop things in the fish tank", but I'll make sure that the janitors don't go in as well. Thank you for the suggestions! I'll check on my lights when I get a chance.

 

[foxgirl158]

Sorry! I forgot to get back to this. I have a 15W generic pink aquarium lightbulb that came with the tank, and I recently purchased a 5000K, 60W daylight bulb that’s on its way.

 

[Byron]

You need to ascertain the GH, as platies need moderately hard water. If you happen to have very soft water, they will not be in good shape. Provided the GH is say 10-12 dH or higher, a good plant is Vallisneria.

 

[foxgirl158]

You need to ascertain the GH, as platies need moderately hard water. If you happen to have very soft water, they will not be in good shape. Provided the GH is say 10-12 dH or higher, a good plant is Vallisneria.

Looks like the water is between 141 and 145 mg/L, but I’m not sure what measurement that is.

 

[Essjay]

If it's mg/l calcium carbonate, 141 to 145 = 7.9 - 8.1 dH. That's the upper end of soft.

American water providers' websites and test kits normally use mg/l calcium carbonate, though there are other units such as mg/l calcium (common in the UK) and even mg/l calcium oxide (though this one is rare)

 

[mbsqw1d]

Brazilian Pennywort is a versatile plant, can be grown rooted/planted, even carpeted. It can also be grown as a floating type too