View Full Version : Plants for Beginners
cichlidgold83
10-29-2005, 10:08 PM
I am new to the world of real plants and was wondering if anybody had any examples of easy plants for beginners. Thanks.
ballsmcgee1234
10-29-2005, 10:27 PM
broad leaf ludwigia, cabomba, some swords...
sandtiger
10-30-2005, 12:04 AM
Elodea, anacaris, duckweed, Echinodorus bleheri (Amazon sword species) and Cabomba caroliniana (Fanwort).
Oddball
10-30-2005, 2:12 AM
If you don't want to change from standard lighting, try bolbitis, java fern, and anubius. These 3 need only low intensity lighting. Plus, you can attach them to driftwood or rocks. Another plant not needing any special care is the FW onion plant. They put out good strong roots and the leaves can grow over 4 ft long yet stay 3/4" wide.
Anacharis, cabomba, duckweed, and the like need high intensity lighting. Check the laws in your state as quite a few states have prohibited anacharis/elodea as a nuisance species.
DeLgAdO
10-30-2005, 2:15 AM
java moss is good
its grows fast though but its very pretty when its spread over the tank
Also anubias and the valliseria. If you pot the dwarf pond lilies and pygmy japanese lotus
sandtiger
10-30-2005, 9:37 AM
Anacharis, cabomba, duckweed, and the like need high intensity lighting. Check the laws in your state as quite a few states have prohibited anacharis/elodea as a nuisance species.
With the exception of duckweed all of these plants are sold at the LFS around here, even Petsmart.
All I know is I suck with plants but with these I have had no problem at all. I have no idea how much light they need but i do know that the grow constatly and won't stop.
HarleyK
10-30-2005, 1:10 PM
I am new to the world of real plants and was wondering if anybody had any examples of easy plants for beginners. Thanks.
Howdy,
check it out:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8334
HarleyK
Banana lillies?!?! I have them in a 16gal and they overgrow the top of he tank lol!
So i am afraid to put them in my 75 gal haha
gomezladdams
10-30-2005, 10:24 PM
cabomba,elodea,ambulia, alleasy to get and grow like mad
hosoonhee
11-03-2005, 1:17 AM
i am having a 2ft tank with only 15w of fl lights,i am keeping java moss and taiwan moss,both are growing well although at a slower pace compared to other's tank with more lights installed. :)
ballsmcgee1234
11-03-2005, 1:21 AM
duckweed's a pain in the butt, keep it under control or it will take over the surface of your tank...
hosoonhee
11-03-2005, 1:50 AM
duckweed's a pain in the butt, keep it under control or it will take over the surface of your tank...
frogbit might be better,not as messy as duckweeds
kentobizmol
11-03-2005, 2:44 AM
amazon swords are my favorite, it depends on what fish you are going with(if you ned fish)
fish like angelfish tend to look better with tall thin aquatic plants, not short and stubby ones.
and carnivores don't look too well in a planted tank, rocks are better(unless you are really going to PLANT it!)
downset21
11-09-2005, 12:14 AM
I switched from an african cichlid tank to a planted tank. I've found that java ferns and amazon swords (most kinds) grow fairly easily. Java moss is supposed to grow easily too. I actually think some predators look better with a heavily planted tank. my dats use the amazons and bog wood as ambush areas for the feeders. They seem more at home too.
redwingbum19
11-13-2005, 4:44 AM
didnt have time to read anything but the title so i'm gonna give you the basics, pretty much east to grow plants and low light plants are always going to cost more than allmost anthing els. Your best bets are Anubius-low light plant that flowers a white tulip underwater and is also terristerial, its the heartiest plant you can ever get and comes in nano or large, barly any fish will eat it due to its sour taste, the only downside is it grows pretty slow and if you plant the risone under the gravle you can kill it. Next is ANY JAVA-this includes java frens and java moss, all are low light and grow great, the java moss is allmost impossible to kill once it establishes itself and is actually a neusence if you dont keep it trimmed, it will grasp onto anything you want including plants so be carfulle, the java ferns are great for a background covor, there is also a dwarf lace species that stays small. Only downside is the large java ferns seem to get a little bit of brown on the edges of the leaves and the also kind of look like a weed in your tank. Last is Bolbitus-This is a great low light low maintance plant, its a deep green lacey plant, grows really tall like the java fern and makes a good background covor, downside is that it grows kinda slow under low light. These are the best plants to start out with, once you get the hang of these you can move on up and eventually get a high light system to do all of those nice red and purple plants. Keep in mind that anything is possible all you need to do is go by trial and error. Good luck and PM me with any other questions.
~Zack~