Java fern?

[graceluvsplatys]

For my betta breeding tank, i want to get a plant, but after breeding, i dont know what to do with it. my 29 gal has horrible lighting ( 20 watts!) cause i never needed any more.
is there any plant that could survive
1) little lighting
2)a tank switch
no gravel to gravel?
82 degrres F to 77 degrees F?
i was thinking java fern, but can even that survive?

[troy]

Java fern would work. Another suggestion would be java moss.

[Pamela_S.]

Another idea might be water sprite. I really love this in my low light tank (so I suggest this alot), it seems to do well through tank switches (has travelled well from LFS to home, plus numerous times I have moved it around in the tank) and it can be used as a floating plant! Plus my platy fry love it, they nibble at it all the time and hide in it.

[Drip Loop]

Count my vote for java moss

[Devon Greatwolf]

you could also check into Hornwort if your interested in a floating plant. Also, various anubias species should be fine for low-light along with select cryptocorene. Check my profile for my tank stockins...they all have the standard lighting that typically comes with a "tank setup". I.E. a total of 30 watts on my 55's and 18 watts on my 30's and 20's. If you would like to know more about low-light plants please don't hesistate to ask I have had a lot of luck in my ultra low-light tanks!!!

[graceluvsplatys]

oh okay! i will check these out next trip to lfs...dont ya have to anchor java moss onto something?
do plants require extra care over fish?

[Devon Greatwolf]

I have java moss growing just fine lightly rooted in both gravel and sand. Actually the healthiest specimen is rooted in the sand of my 30 gallon tiger barb tank.

As for plant care, nothing to extreme with the lowlight plants, I do however use a 1/4 dose of Flora Pride in my tanks. Just remember if leaves start to die remove them or they will decompose and foul up your tank.

A word of caution or two:

With java ferns i have seen all the leaves on most of my plants wither away within the first few weeks after transplanting, don't worry if this happens. Just remove any browned leaves that do not have daughter plants sprouting from them and the rhizome should sprout new leaves quickly.

Make sure to keep the glass/plastic lens of your hoods very clean in order to gather all the light possible. I actually placed aluminum foil between the bulbs and reflectors of all my fluorescents to help redirect as much of my sub-par light into the tank as possible.

With any of the low light plants I mention and have listed in my profile do not look for rapid growth. Java ferns appear to be the fastest growers at around 3-4 new leaves a month. Where as my anubias only grow 1 new leaf every 2-3 months. The exception to this is my floating, common hornwort, which seems to grow several feet of runners a month (most likely due to its proximity to the light source). PLease note that the amazon sword plant listed in my profile is not technically a low light plant. However I have succesfully kept some rather healthy, if small, plants in my tank by using substrate plant tabs.

Lastly, be careful when doing a substrate vac. Do not get within more than a couple of inches near any plant base. This ensures no damage to the roots occur and that your are not robbing the plant of any nutrients. If there is a build up of unsightly material near the plant base or actually in the plant base, just gently place you gravel vac on the debris to remove it. Do not however insert a gravel vac into the substrate near a plant.

This is just my personal thoughts and opinions. If you require any further info please feel free to ask. And I would also suggest that you thoroughly research any plant you plan to keep just as you would any fish.

[Gemini]

I keep Java Fern in one of those little ceramic pots that they come in at the LFS. I just put a tiny bit of gravel in to keep it rooted and it's growing like nothing else!! I've never had any problems with it browning, and it gets little plants, like 3 a month I take off it!!! And it's only in less than 1watt per gallon. 5W light on a 6G tank.

[cocoa_pleco]

java moss is perfect, i had it in a 2g betta tank with no tank lights, and little room lighting, but it grew

[Devon Greatwolf]

Just a note from personal experience...

Watts per gallon is not the best way to measure light for a tank. U+I find it has much more to do with the depth of a tank. I.E. 75 watss on a 24" high 75 gallon tank would note promote plant growth as well on an 18' high 75 gallon...

Once again just my $0.02...

[country_boy454]

I have kept java moss, java fern, and anubias barteri in my 29 gallon tank with the standard lighting it came with. I just got a bulb that was for plant growth.