Plant List?

[TonyO]

Ok, so I'm not looking to do a full-blown planted tank, but I do want to have some areas with a little thicker growth, I was looking for some taller plants, and then a couple of others. . .

There are some issues. . . I was planning a low-light set-up with sand. Now, I have no problems with putting a better growth substrate in parts or putting it below the sand, so that's really not a problem.

Anyone have some species suggestions? I have a list in mind, but wanted to see what you all would suggest before I mentioned what I was looking for.

I will have some driftwood in the tank.

[magicfishy]

Just a few suggestions for low light.... various anubias, various moss', and of course java ferns. Couple cript will work too like the wendtii or the spiralis.

[Sea-agg09]

My 2 largest tanks don't use a planting substrate. To compensate, I bought fert tabs that go in the soil. I put them pretty close to the roots of my plants, and things are working out really well so far. The package says the tabs last a month, but I forget sometimes and things don't fall apart.

Plants:
Anubias (any of them)
Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus)
Java Moss is the most common moss, but there are others as well.

These plants are also cool because they don't need soil. You can put them in the soil, but they won't really develop roots any faster and they won't pull nutrients out. This means you don't need the root tabs (though they would still be a good idea since the nutrients dissolve into the water). You can fasten these to your wood for an interesting effect. Some use rubber bands, but I always manage to slip and things don't end well. Instead, I use clear fishing line. Once things are in the water, you can't see it at all. Take the extra time/towels and take the wood out of the water to tie your plants on.

Other plants that do utilize the substrate:

Crypt. wendtii var. green. Don't get the red variety, in low light it might survive, but it will not grow big at all...

"Balansae Plant" (Crypt. crispatula). Growing very well in my gf's tank, with no fancy lighting or ferts.

I am managing to grow dwarf sagittaria in a low light tank, though many say that shouldn't be. They did not replicate at all until I started adding the root tabs. Now they are slowly taking over the bare areas of my tank.

[TonyO]

Good! Java moss, Java fern, Cryptocoryne wendtii (green), and Anubias (my favorite, and one genus I typically suggest). . . were all on my list. I was thinking about Bolbitis, as well. The one I didn't see on this list was Vallisneria.

The thing about the dwarf sags that concerned me when I was doing the research. . . would these be more likely to grow vertically in low-light conditions?

I can put root tabs in there. That's not a big deal. . . or dose with whatever.

[Sea-agg09]

I like root tabs because they are easy. I am not a botanist, but I think many plants pull a majority of their nutrients from the soil, like land plants. Anubias and java ferns are different because they don't. I use to fertilize my tanks with a liquid fert, but I didn't see much result, probably because I didn't stick to a strict regiment. Root tabs are easy because it's just once a month.

My dwarf sagittaria is growing a bit taller now, but it is still only 2-3 inches tall at max. Maybe not "dwarf", but it's still definitely not as big as my green crypt. The red crypt I have in my low-light tank is still smaller than the dwarf Sag. though...

Val's are often easy to grow, or so I've heard. I don't have any so I can't speak to the validity of that.


Addition: I actually didn't know what Bolbitis was until just now when I googled it. That stuff is kool! I want me some of that...

[TonyO]

Bolbitis is a cool fern.

[wesleydnunder]

I have relegated all my tanks to low light and here are the plants that do well for me. My lamps are all 6500K and 6700K N.O. fluorescent.

Anubias
Crypt wendtii bronze
Crypt spiralis
Sag subulata
jave fern
bolbitis
java moss
rotala indica

Mark

[TonyO]

I guess my instincts were pretty good! I've been trying to get this tank going for awhile now. . .

[screename]

Wisteria and vals if you want some height.

[black_knight]

Bolbitis can be difficult. I've killed alot of it. Needs O2 to do well. Hair grass (regular type). It will grow well even in 1.5-2 watts per gallon in just sand, just remember to spread it out some. Narrow leafed java fern can be tied or super glued (just a small amout of the gel) to malysian root, drift wood, rocks, or tile, which can be placed in the sand. I kill plants alot , but these have done ok for me. I'm sure one of the former NASH guys will chime in at one point.
Crypts are awsome plants, they like low light, steady water paramters, rish substrate and warm water. Be warned they will melt. Most of what you buy has been grown emersed and will go through the "Crypt. Melt". In other words it will die off. But don't pull them out. Wait... they'll grow back. They can take over a tank no CO2. I love these plants (coming from a guy who kills Java moss regularly ) ).

[TonyO]

I've had Bolbitis in the past, and that was one species I had some issues with. I'd like to give it another shot! LOL!