Help with plants

[Chef]

For starters I do not know dip about aquatic plants. But I've caught the fish hobbyist bug. What I was hoping for is someone who is willing to donate aquatic plants or point me in the direction of someone who has aquatic plants for sale. I'm not trying to run any co2 setup but I do have adequate lighting. I've got a 55g tank and I've got some pea gravel as substrate. So any volunteers?

Vince

[Enin]

Petsmart sells plants and they say there are no snails. Petsmart is cheap and everywhere.

[davemonkey]

Be on the look out for swords (Echinodorus) and Vallisneria (Eel grass). Crytocorynes do very well in low-tech set-ups and some stems may do well for you as well, such as Rotala or Anacharis.

I don't have any of these available for you, but they are easy to find at most pet shops and you might see some offers in the sale/swap area.

[bschulle1]

anacharis is a great plant for aquariums. we found some at Hermann Park. there is usually bits and pieces floating on top of the lake, if you tie these in a bunch and anchor them into your gravel they will root. anacharis is a great oxygen producer without a co2 setup. we have some in our 65, 29, and in our betta bottles

[Sea-agg09]

Planted tanks are so much easier than most people think. Basically you take the principles of fish keeping, throw them out the window, and enjoy! My 75 gallon leaf fish tank has giant swords (sorry no splitters for ya now), and I have to throw water-sprite away every month or so because it will take over the tank (I can save some for you next time around). This is all in a single 48 watt flouresent (.5 watts per gallon), which according to most shouldn't grow anything.

Basic principles of plants:

Light is good. If you have been shunning your tank from the light of the window, open the blinds up. It is basically free full-spectrum light. If it's a new tank, think of putting it by a window. This saves on the ridiculously expensive fixtures people try to sell you. Don't mistake light intensity for duration. Plants need the dark just the same. Invest the 5 dollars in a basic timer. I set mine to our normal sunrise/sunset(maybe an hour or so later in the winter).

Food. Plants regularly out-compete algae for nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus mostly), so basically your plants will grow where algae once was. Most filtration removes nitrates in one way or another. Reducing (not completely removing) biological filtration helps encourage plant growth. Also reducing (again not removing) carbon is a good idea. Carbon removes metals and trace elements that build up in your tank. Plants need these metals and minerals just like we do. Even if you have a heavily planted tank, you definitely cant remove all the filtration. I would suggest spending the 5-7 dollars and buy fertilizer tabs. They are pretty cheap, last between 1 and 4 months, and cover 90% of all the nutrients you would want to add. There is no real dosing, and you just stick the tab an inch or so into the gravel.

Plants I would suggest:
Java Ferns
Swords
Anubias
Vals

Petco regularly has a tank of random plants, which I can usually find a cheap Anubia or Val. Otherwise DEFINITELY read the scientific name on the labeled plant, specifically the genus (first word). The salesman should know the genus of the plants your looking at if it isn't, otherwise don't bother buying from them.

Do NOT buy these plants:
"Ground cover plants", such as Baby Tears, Hair Grass
Red plants, such as some Ludwigia, or Rotala
Banana Plant, or Moss Balls.
These plants require heavy nutrient addition and very heavy lighting. The last two I have never had any luck with, and are quite finicky. They grow very slow, but will die very fast. They are common at stores, because they look cool, but really aren't worth the effort.

Petsmart sells plants in plastic tubes that are labeled as aquatic plants. I honestly would not buy them, because most are simply not true aquatic plants. After researching some of the common ones they sell, I found that most are very tropical, but not aquatic. They would be good in something like a dart frog exhibit, but not a fish tank. If you do go this route remember this simple rule. Variegated plants (green leaves with white lines) are NOT aquatic. There is only 1 species I have found that is, but the light requirements are worse than even red plants.

Most plant problems arise from people just throwing a few plants in a tank and hoping it will work. Remember not to settle on whatever a store has in stock. Having patience will pay off. With a bit of planning, and a few pieces of extra equipment, plants grow like mad.

[Sea-agg09]

Also...Before you add ANY plant to your tank, mix a small bleach solution (I use 1 Tbl spn to 4 cups of water). Dunk your plants for around 30 seconds to 1 minute. This will kill any snails/parasites/other crap that resides on the plant. 1 snail can turn into a hundred before you notice, then good luck getting rid of them.