I am doing my research to start my first planted tank. I keep mostly medium to large cichlids that dig, so having rooted plants in substrate is out. Other than Java fern, Java moss and Anubia, what other plants can be grown tied to rock and driftwood.
Plants that don't need substrate
- Thread starter viejafish
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I have done exactly this.
for starters just don't get normal java fern unless you like it. I highly recommend needle leaf java fern. Stunning plant and doesn't suffer from the black spots that normal thick leaf java ferns do. They also grow quicker too.
You can do bolbitis heudelotii, another really awesome plant. Don't forget about the many different bucephalandra.
You can also do crytocorynes, but i have only tried a few types.
for starters just don't get normal java fern unless you like it. I highly recommend needle leaf java fern. Stunning plant and doesn't suffer from the black spots that normal thick leaf java ferns do. They also grow quicker too.
You can do bolbitis heudelotii, another really awesome plant. Don't forget about the many different bucephalandra.
You can also do crytocorynes, but i have only tried a few types.
I think those are your best bet, and there are different types / shapes of anubias so you could vary how it looks.
I think that water sprite might not need to be planted in substrate, too. Might be worth a google.
You could also do floating plants like water lettuce, brazilian pennywort, etc.
I think that water sprite might not need to be planted in substrate, too. Might be worth a google.
You could also do floating plants like water lettuce, brazilian pennywort, etc.
Here is a short video of my tank currently. At the end or near it you can see I have used terrestrial plants as a way to add beauty to my tank as well as a nitrate remover. They grow amazing fast and look great if you like this sort of thing I highly suggest you try it.
My GT loves swimming in the roots, I like that it shades the tank and adds more dimension to the lighting. I think it will only look better and better as the roots fill the water. Doesn't prevent him from having a lot of space to move around either.
You are correct that water sprite can be grown as a floater... i've done it before...
The problem you may run into is that the softer floating plants my end up getting torn up depending on what cichlids you keep
I am aware of many species of anubias, but never know that there are multiple species of java fern. What is the scientific name of normal versus needle java fern.
I have seen it done nicely in bonsai planters, but I prefer the natural look of plants emerging from rocks and drift wood.