Thoughts on plants

[lovleeko]

So I want some live plants for my tanks. I have java fern and moss. I am looking for something that needs no additives. No ferts, no special lights or substrate (I have been switching to sand in all my tanks). So these are the ones from research I have been doing that I plan on trying. I want some input on rather or not they are good for these qualifications I'm looking for. Though I have read that they are I dont have much experience with plants. So input is appreciated. So we have the java fern and moss, I have read other plants good for these conditions are water wisteria (this one I really like the look of) And amazon sword, money wort. Any thoughts, suggestion ??

[mac]

I find Giant Hygro to be very easy to grow. I never need to add anything in my tank for this plants. I mean no ferts.

All I have is medium lighting.

mac

[lovleeko]

WOW!! Thanks mac!!! I love that plant. I hope I can find some in the shops:18:

[korith]

I like water wisteria myself, it has a nice bushy look to it. Maybe some hornwort, if you don't mind chopping it down to size every few weeks. I got some pennywort about a week ago, it looks ok, haven't had it long enough to know how it'll do in my tanks yet.

[Fishalicious]

I have a little list here:
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[fishbum]

I have had a lot of success with wisteria myself.The first time I tried live plants,it is the only thing that survived.Now I have trimmings from that first plant in a few other tanks as well.Hornwort will eventually need ferts.I have had good luck with moneywort as well.I have a melon sword in a hightech tank,never had amazon,but I would think it would eventually need ferts as well,root tabs would probably work though.Easy to add,and you only have to add them every month or so.

[LosC]

anubias nana, penny wort and jungle val are good too. I've grown these plants under 1wpg of light, no ferts.

[Lady Hobbs]

I also find the hygro and vals do great in sand but they will require something other than just hood lights. I also think the 1 watt per gallon would be enough for these.

[Wild Turkey]

The moss will pretty much live under any light whatsoever. The fern is pretty undemanding are far as light type. It can grow under stock lighting but really a little upgrade to lights could really expand your possibilities. Amazon sword though, isnt gonna grow under stock lighting well.

[lovleeko]

Wow, guys thanks so much for the input and suggestions. I am making a list. I am itching to buy plants now. I love the thought of being able to have plants with no special lighting or ferts. I spend so much money on this hobby already LOL. I guess for most of these plants lighting stats dont matter but I can't post them on my two biggest tanks because I have no idea. They are the original lights that came with them but they are fluorescent but on my smaller tanks I replaced the original incandescent hood lights with those little fluorescent bulbs via recommendation by cocoa and wild turkey. Thanks for that by the way because the light just looks way better on the tank. I used to buy colored incandescent because i despise the yellow dingy light. And hopefully this will help a lot with growing even the low light plants. Well on the tanks that I replaced the incandescent they now have 2wpg. The ones that came with the bulbs I have no way of knowing though.

[fishbum]

2 WPG will be enough for all the plants mentioned.One thing.How old are your other light bulbs?If they are as old as your tanks,and the tanks are more than a year old,I would replace the bulbs when you get your plants.I would imagine that the bulbs are T8,and very easily and cheaply replaceable.Go to Lowe's or Home Depot,they will cost a lot less there than at a LFS.

[lovleeko]

None of them are over a year. They blow to darn often to last that long. LOL I drop the hoods a lot. I just bought a new hood for my biggest tank and I'm trying to keep it in good shape and not sling it around too much. And like I said, on some of the tanks I just have the compact fluorescents and I just got them like two weeks ago. I'm not sure what the watts are on the biggest tank. They came with the hood. I'm guessing it would not be too many. Maybe 1wpg. I probably wont put too much in the bigger tank because of that. Maybe the moss and water wisteria. Thanks for the tip. I will definitely check them out and I'll bet they are cheaper.


2 WPG will be enough for all the plants mentioned.One thing.How old are your other light bulbs?If they are as old as your tanks,and the tanks are more than a year old,I would replace the bulbs when you get your plants.I would imagine that the bulbs are T8,and very easily and cheaply replaceable.Go to Lowe's or Home Depot,they will cost a lot less there than at a LFS.