Best Low Maintenance Plants For 20 Gallon Long?

[Alex562]

Open to suggestions on how to stock my 20 gallon long. I'm looking to use gravel I have led lighting and I don't plan on using co2. I had amazon sword and anubias before in this tank but they turned yellow and grew blackish blue algae. I want easy plants that I can just plant and occasionally put root tabs.

 

[Ihsnshaik]

bamboo

 

[Alex562]

I'm thinking amazon swords and money wart but am open to other suggestions.

 

[freak78]

Water wisteria, water sprite, hygrophila corymbosa.

 

[Manu8__too]

Lighting will ultimately dictate what you can/can't grow in your tank. To say you have LED lighting isn't very informative. What type of LED lighting?

 

[Alex562]

Here are the specs on my light:•
Includes 189 LEDs

• 174x 10000K cool white

• 15x 460nm Actinic

• Lumen : 2450

• Super energy efficient 0.10 watt LEDs

• Extendable bracket - 48"-60" max extend

• Splash guard

• AC110-240V AC adapter

I will look into your suggestions.
Thanks guys.

 

[rooto56]

The actinic is what caused the algae to grow. Switch it out for 6500k temp T5-HO bulbs. Those leds won't grow plants either. They're too weak. If you want an led that can grow plants, you'll need at least a ten watt.

 

[Manu8__too]

Agree with rooto56. That LED fixture doesn't appear to be geared towards growing live plants; at least in Kelvin rating(s). If you're willing to spend $39, you could do the following. www.Aquatraders.com sells very decent 30" Dual T5HO fixtures for this size tank. They even come with 6700k bulbs included in the fixture. I use this exact fixture on my 20G long and it's worked perfectly for me, especially at 1/3 the cost of other "name brand" fixtures (many of which are actually lower quality). Granted, in order to keep your tank low light/low tech, you would need to run just one bulb in the fixture. Running both of them would put you in the extremely "high light/par range", therefore requiring you to run Co2. Also, you can easily bend the brackets so that the fixture sits higher above the tank. I've done this with mine, because I run both bulbs (upgraded) on a high tech tank. Many years ago, the Odyssea Brand got a bad rep for low quality ballasts, and poorly made bulbs. Over the last couple of years, they've come a long way with their fixtures. I've posted a picture of my set up below. Take note of the elevated fixture (roughly 17") above the substrate. I've also posted a chart (not mine) that shows PAR values for planted tanks. It can be very helpful when deciding how much light you can manage with your tank.

 

[Alex562]

Thank you. Your tank is beautiful!