Live Plants

[magpie]

A new hobbyist could definitely do live plants! You can do a lot without CO2. All you need to do is a little research to be sure that you're picking easy keepers/low light plants (several were mentioned above). There are floating plants, too, which I am always trying to push on people. LOL

There are liquid fertilizers (Flourish) and root tabs out there - easy ways keep them happy.

I am a huge fan of live plants - they help with water quality, look great, and I think that most fish enjoy having them to swim around in and help keep them feeling more secure. Also, when you set up your new tank it will cycle much faster if you have a bunch of live plants in there.

Go for it!

 

[jonah h2o]

don't get discouraged If they shrivel up and die thought, go with some clay gravel and a decent light.

 

[duanes]

If you want plants, it is best to get plenty right away, and this can be problematic, because some of the best plants are more expensive than fish, If you only get 1 or 2 the algae will out compete higher plants. It is best to get at least 8 or 10, The suggestions about Anubius and java fern are good, I have also found cryptocorne to be planes that don't need special care or heavy lighting, although they sometimes melt away if a drastic changes occurs, but then usually come back.
Some species of cichlids will attack almost any plant though. Cineichthys peace and bocourti will eat java fern or at times Anubius. Oscars will sometimes attack any plant out of boredom if the tank is small (under 100 gallons)
I find some of the best places to get plants, are at local aquarium club functions. Those plants have grown up in local waters, better taken care of, and are usually larger and more grown out than store varieties .

the large leaf plant above is Anubius,@ 15" tall. Below java fern in the foreground

Cryptocorne

some Crypts with purple leaves, and Vallisneria behind

Sometimes Anubius will grow right out of the tank

and even produce flowers

 

[Hendre]

Java moss, Java fern and anubias. These are the 3 easy plants in the hobby by general consensus.

I have all 3 on wood and they grow fine

 

[jclyde13]

I've never been able to intentionally grow Java fern, even in high tech tanks with supposedly much more demanding species that were thriving. When I attach a rhizome to anything, the leaves die off and nothing ever grows from it. The only situations in which I've gotten new leaves from Java fern were when I just tossed the plant in the aquarium and let it settle on its own, and then didn't bother it for months. With that method, I'd get about 6-8 tiny leaves (2-3") from a plant that was originally 8"+, and then it would just stop growing. I've never understood how it could be considered an easy plant, or how other people did so well with it.

 

[Timmy]

Basic plant to start with is "banana plant" will thrive in almost every condition without any special treatment. I buy them at petsmart. I do nothing for them and they thrive....

 

[Hendre]

I've never been able to intentionally grow Java fern, even in high tech tanks with supposedly much more demanding species that were thriving. When I attach a rhizome to anything, the leaves die off and nothing ever grows from it. The only situations in which I've gotten new leaves from Java fern were when I just tossed the plant in the aquarium and let it settle on its own, and then didn't bother it for months. With that method, I'd get about 6-8 tiny leaves (2-3") from a plant that was originally 8"+, and then it would just stop growing. I've never understood how it could be considered an easy plant, or how other people did so well with it.

Mine grow slow but are surviving and I have 2 smaller ones that I got from runners. It takes a long time to grow even in medium lighting

 

[Fat Homer]

I've never been able to intentionally grow Java fern, even in high tech tanks with supposedly much more demanding species that were thriving. When I attach a rhizome to anything, the leaves die off and nothing ever grows from it. The only situations in which I've gotten new leaves from Java fern were when I just tossed the plant in the aquarium and let it settle on its own, and then didn't bother it for months. With that method, I'd get about 6-8 tiny leaves (2-3") from a plant that was originally 8"+, and then it would just stop growing. I've never understood how it could be considered an easy plant, or how other people did so well with it.

Never kept any in my high tech setup, but in my low tech tanks they grow really well and even multiply quite happily...

Im almost tempted to try growing some in my high-tech tank, but dont want to ruin the scape lol...