strongest and hardiest aquatic plants

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 11, 2006
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I'm redoing some of my monster tanks, and i'm wondering what would be the best larger aquatic plants, to put with some of my larger more aggresive cichlids 14"+. i don't want any shredded plants. and as cheap as possible. i have some moderately high powered lighting, and would preffer not to have to use any nitrates, special substates, or C02. the substare consists of large river rock stones.

thanks Ed
 
Cheap : Pick your own, or Elodea

Cheap, in store: Elodea

Cheap, tough, hardy, Elodea :)
 
i yahooed them, and they look somewhat small, what is there max size and how fast do they grow. also what is the best way to ancor plants in place, so they won't be moved by any large curious fish.
 
Elodea grows VERY FAST!!!! (Cold or warm water) The leaves are small, yes, but the mass increases exponentially - you will have to weed it out regularly if it's happy.
Does NOT need strong light.

Anchor by putting the bottom in gravel, put a rock on top of that. (Normally it is free floating, but this looks nice, too.) It will send out roots, too.
 
santoury;1027739; said:
Elodea grows VERY FAST!!!! (Cold or warm water) The leaves are small, yes, but the mass increases exponentially - you will have to weed it out regularly if it's happy.
Does NOT need strong light.

Anchor by putting the bottom in gravel, put a rock on top of that. (Normally it is free floating, but this looks nice, too.) It will send out roots, too.
Click to expand...

thanks, any others you can think of?
 
It's the only one that has really held up for me. All others either don't grow very fast, or they deteriorate. I don't "take care" of aquatic plants, so if they live, great, if not, fine. Elodea is the only one that is always a winner, no matter what happens.
 
Another possibility is Bacopa caroliniana.
Then for a grass-like plant, Corkscrew Vals.
 
Bacopa caroliniana is a moderately hardy plant, but does need nutrients. Anubias species are great for their hardiness, but they do not grow fast. Amazon swords can take quite a beating, and they are not easily uprooted once settled in. Vals as a whole are not that hardy. Now my main question for you, what type of lighting do you have, and how many watts are the bulb(s)? Also, how big is the aquarium?
 
WyldFya;1028125; said:
Bacopa caroliniana is a moderately hardy plant, but does need nutrients. Anubias species are great for their hardiness, but they do not grow fast. Amazon swords can take quite a beating, and they are not easily uprooted once settled in. Vals as a whole are not that hardy. Now my main question for you, what type of lighting do you have, and how many watts are the bulb(s)? Also, how big is the aquarium?
Click to expand...

the main tank i'm looking to plant is a 125, and the lighting is a couple of these.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produ...ll&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1

i think each bulb is 25 watts, but they give off a good amount of light.
 
Nothing but Elodia in that tank could survive with the big cichlids, and the lighting. when you think about it its NOT even 1/2 watts per gallon so most plants will not grow well in thaose conditions.... especially having Jags and oscars tearing them apart. so Elodia would be the best and cheapest choice like the others have said.

GL
 
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