Zero effort plants?
- Thread starter Aquaguy
- Start date
For me the easiest plants are the floaters, if it will float it will grow easy and fast as long as yah haven't got fish that love to eat plants.
Sab_Fan;3753536; said:
I have quite a bit of hair algae on some driftwood and rocks... will plants like the java fern, java moss, or anubias take over and "force out" the algae, or do I really need to try and remove as much algae as possible prior to putting the plants in the tank?
aquaculture;3757228; said:
I'd have to agree, reason being is that since they float they are closest to the light, thus do not demand that you have a strong light source.
If you are having a hair algae problem or any algae for that matter, the floating plants will provide some shade that will prevent the rapid growth of algae.
I recently put in mini water lettuce in my planted tank, they have beautiful roots that shoot down into the water.As far as i know these plants do well to out-compete algae for nutrients. I have noticed that within 3 days the roots were getting longer.
aside form this plant, I also recommend anubias nana, I have tied mine to a piece of driftwood and have watched it grow slowly buy steadily. they have thick hardy leaves which you can clean if any algae ever grows on them.
do not get hornwort. seriously. if it dies it is the worst thing ever. Biggest POS plant ive had.
lol you didnt like it shedding in your tank? hornwort is more of a pond plant and can be picky when moved/shipped.
Speaking from experience - I'm new to this, and anything that stays alive in my tank, I'd consider 'extremely easy'.
The aformentioned Java fern, couldn't be easier, and attractive, too. Make sure to tie it to a rock or wood, don't bury it.
Urticullaria graminofolia, called mouse's ear over here - never see this plant getting any love online! It's one of the nicest plants I've had, with beautifully shaped leaves. Seems extremely hardy, and small fish seem to love the shade it creates, and create mini territories where leaves overlap and make semi- enclosed spaces above ground level. It even stayed alive in my axolotl's 16 degree celcius tank, left floating, with about 20 mins of window light a day, for months! Grew roots and clung to the filter intake in the top corner, haha.
I never see anubias over here in NZ, maybe Mouse's ear is our equivalent easy broad leaf plant. I love it!
Personally I'd stay away from java moss, looks a bit yuck in lower lighting, and almost always ends up, bit by bit, inside the filter, clogging the impellor. I've never been able to convince it to grow tied onto wood, rather than float away on the current. I guess it's free-spirited
Also temple plant, grows fast, and tall if the light is low. Bushier if light is higher. Looks lush, and being fast growing, helps discourage algae.
The aformentioned Java fern, couldn't be easier, and attractive, too. Make sure to tie it to a rock or wood, don't bury it.
Urticullaria graminofolia, called mouse's ear over here - never see this plant getting any love online! It's one of the nicest plants I've had, with beautifully shaped leaves. Seems extremely hardy, and small fish seem to love the shade it creates, and create mini territories where leaves overlap and make semi- enclosed spaces above ground level. It even stayed alive in my axolotl's 16 degree celcius tank, left floating, with about 20 mins of window light a day, for months! Grew roots and clung to the filter intake in the top corner, haha.
I never see anubias over here in NZ, maybe Mouse's ear is our equivalent easy broad leaf plant. I love it!
Personally I'd stay away from java moss, looks a bit yuck in lower lighting, and almost always ends up, bit by bit, inside the filter, clogging the impellor. I've never been able to convince it to grow tied onto wood, rather than float away on the current. I guess it's free-spirited
Also temple plant, grows fast, and tall if the light is low. Bushier if light is higher. Looks lush, and being fast growing, helps discourage algae.
